#nycfreaks — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #nycfreaks, aggregated by home.social.
-
Been doing these FDO's since the pandemic, probably 25+ of em at this point. I think today's was maybe the best, musically, of all of them. Three bands doing a set of high-level pure improvisation. Three very different styles, but they all sort of fit together. Rain stopped, skies cleared, lovely breeze. The livemusicgods smiled down on Red Hook today.
Next Freaks Day Out is 8/9.
-
NYC area folk: the next Freaks Day Out is Saturday and features a killer threefer of jammers: Emergency Group, Elkhorn, and a first-time quartet of James Buckley, Jacob Drab, Luke Marantz, and Jeremy Gustin. Gonna be a stellar afternoon of music and hangs in Brooklyn.
Starts at 3, Valentino Park in Red Hook. Grab a sandwich at Defonte's and come hang. All are welcome.
-
NYC area folk: the next Freaks Day Out is Saturday and features a killer threefer of jammers: Emergency Group, Elkhorn, and a first-time quartet of James Buckley, Jacob Drab, Luke Marantz, and Jeremy Gustin. Gonna be a stellar afternoon of music and hangs in Brooklyn.
Starts at 3, Valentino Park in Red Hook. Grab a sandwich at Defonte's and come hang. All are welcome.
-
Last night I got to see Julian Lage in very close proximity at the Stone, accompanying the legendary Greg Cohen on bass. Special stuff.
There really is no place like the Stone. A perfect music venue in almost every way.
-
Last night I got to see Julian Lage in very close proximity at the Stone, accompanying the legendary Greg Cohen on bass. Special stuff.
There really is no place like the Stone. A perfect music venue in almost every way.
-
Last night I caught a *sick* Simulacrum set at Roulette. Simulacrum being a Zorn project featuring Medeski, Hollenberg, and Grohowski playing the heaviest shit imaginable. Bonkers how much range Zorn has.
-
Last night I caught a *sick* Simulacrum set at Roulette. Simulacrum being a Zorn project featuring Medeski, Hollenberg, and Grohowski playing the heaviest shit imaginable. Bonkers how much range Zorn has.
-
Checked out the new jazz club, the Pocket tonight. Unfortunate location pretty much requires a walk thru Times Square which was extra hairy this evening with World Cup revelry. Inside is nice, though, on the swankier side, as you might imagine given the address.
Band was worth it: Joel Ross Good Vibes with Chris Potter, Miguel Zenon, Yvonne Rogers (!!), Kanoa Mendenhall, and Jeremy Dutton. They played 3 songs in an hour's time, largely due to so much talent each needing their solo time. But, such talent!
-
Checked out the new jazz club, the Pocket tonight. Unfortunate location pretty much requires a walk thru Times Square which was extra hairy this evening with World Cup revelry. Inside is nice, though, on the swankier side, as you might imagine given the address.
Band was worth it: Joel Ross Good Vibes with Chris Potter, Miguel Zenon, Yvonne Rogers (!!), Kanoa Mendenhall, and Jeremy Dutton. They played 3 songs in an hour's time, largely due to so much talent each needing their solo time. But, such talent!
-
Also, Freaks Day Out today was a blast with two killer sets of music - from Drew Gardner and Vague Plot - and positively perfect weather for outdoor hanging.
This morning ended being quite hectic, doing DIY shows on your own is no picnic, but worth it in the end. Next one is 7/11, you should come!
-
If you're in NYC this weekend, special early edition of Freaks Day Out, open to all... Done by 4:30, chill hangs, killer jams, and cool people.
Grab a sandwich from Defonte's and come hang!
-
If you're in NYC this weekend, special early edition of Freaks Day Out, open to all... Done by 4:30, chill hangs, killer jams, and cool people.
Grab a sandwich from Defonte's and come hang!
-
I had no business leaving my apartment today, recovering from the weekend and some sort of vertigo, but it was 5 minutes away and I knew it'd be an easy 8-9pm hour of the kind stuff and that it was. New Masada Quartet never not astounding. Tonight, magical evermore for a sold out and rapt Roulette.
-
Tonight was a special one. Glenn Branca’s Symphony No. 13 for 100 Guitars, also known as Hallucination City. Holy fuck, what an intense and cathartic piece, and loud as fuck. Taken to the great beyond in my brain in the beautiful Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center tonight. A pay what you want show, too. Best city ever, man.
-
Tonight was a special one. Glenn Branca’s Symphony No. 13 for 100 Guitars, also known as Hallucination City. Holy fuck, what an intense and cathartic piece, and loud as fuck. Taken to the great beyond in my brain in the beautiful Geffen Hall at Lincoln Center tonight. A pay what you want show, too. Best city ever, man.
-
I will never tire of seeing Kevin Morby play live. Probably my favorite songwriter of the past 10 years. Another great one at BK Steel.
-
Not sure how many "sets of the year" you're allowed to have in a single week, but this one's had quite a few of em, even given my "oh, he likes everything" proclivities. But tonight's Marc Ribot Ceramic Dog set was something especially fierce and may have trumped them all.
-
Great weekend of outdoor music in deep corners of the outer boroughs.
Saturday afternoon I finally caught Real Young and Lazy Horse at Industry City. They do a very good job of doing the Crazy Horse thing. Lots of deep cuts and long ragged guitar rock outs. Would see again.
Saturday night was Ghost Funk Orchestra playing at the New York Botanical Garden. I think it might be the first time I've seen music in the Bronx? Part of their "Flower Power" exhibition this summer. Excellent liquid light show, very chill vibe, lots of room, band sounded great. They've got three more great shows there this summer (including Woods!). Can recommend.
Sunday was a gorgeous afternoon in Red Hook for Freaks Day Out. Couldn't have asked for a better day/vibe/crowd. Both bands sounded great.
Huzzah!
-
If you get a chance to see the band Flea is currently touring with, do not, for one second, hesitate to go. Show of the year candidate. Wow!
Doesn't hurt that his band is fucking sick: Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Josh Johnson, Deantoni Parks. Killer set of ambient jazz and experimental funk and many points in between.
-
If you get a chance to see the band Flea is currently touring with, do not, for one second, hesitate to go. Show of the year candidate. Wow!
Doesn't hurt that his band is fucking sick: Jeff Parker, Anna Butterss, Josh Johnson, Deantoni Parks. Killer set of ambient jazz and experimental funk and many points in between.
-
An absolutely lovely afternoon...
Got wise to an afternoon show happening in a parlor in Clinton Hill, my favorite Marta Sanchez in duo with Maria Grand. Felt like I was intruding on a secret gathering, but everyone was so kind and generous, plus cheese and wine. I should be so lucky to join the club.
The music matched the loveliness of the hosts and parlor, two sets of standards and originals that opened into conversant exploration. As I joked to the host, this is why you keep the piano tuned and ready in your Brooklyn brownstone.
Was such a pleasant afternoon, I scrapped the rest of my plans for the day and night. I mean, how lucky am I?
-
An absolutely lovely afternoon...
Got wise to an afternoon show happening in a parlor in Clinton Hill, my favorite Marta Sanchez in duo with Maria Grand. Felt like I was intruding on a secret gathering, but everyone was so kind and generous, plus cheese and wine. I should be so lucky to join the club.
The music matched the loveliness of the hosts and parlor, two sets of standards and originals that opened into conversant exploration. As I joked to the host, this is why you keep the piano tuned and ready in your Brooklyn brownstone.
Was such a pleasant afternoon, I scrapped the rest of my plans for the day and night. I mean, how lucky am I?
-
Yesterday: nice little day/night little/big Canada/Australia double-header with two longtime faves.
First: matinee performance from a stripped-down version of Broken Social Scene at Rough Trade. First time to the newish performance space there. I know exactly how long it's been since I first saw BSS because that night my son was there in vitro and he just turned 22. Man, they still got it, big time. New songs were fab, old ones were powerful, Kevin Drew sounded great.
Then: Courtney Barnett just blazing hot rock and roll at a sold out Kings Theater. Same as above, the mix of old and new was perfection. Her trio fucking rocked. Killer show.
-
Then finally over to Manhattan for Mark Guiliana at the Vanguard. The dude is just an inhuman drummer. Nothing more to be said. Played all new (unnamed) material with his stellar band, but really just comes down to trying to piece together what MG is doing on drums. I had to give up because it was breaking my brain. Thankfully he also writes a great song. Amazing stuff at the VV.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #jazz #villagevanguard #markguiliana
-
Then finally over to Manhattan for Mark Guiliana at the Vanguard. The dude is just an inhuman drummer. Nothing more to be said. Played all new (unnamed) material with his stellar band, but really just comes down to trying to piece together what MG is doing on drums. I had to give up because it was breaking my brain. Thankfully he also writes a great song. Amazing stuff at the VV.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #jazz #villagevanguard #markguiliana
-
From there, a completely different kind of album release show with my favorite-of-the-moment Yvonne Rogers, playing solo at the intimate Seeds. She said it was only the second time playing solo and I am quite certain it won't be the last. Amazing, occasionally fully mind-boggling, beautiful, challenging... Just wow! all the way through. She seems to get more impressive each time she plays... And she plays a lot!
Can't wait to listen to the album (out today)
-
From there, a completely different kind of album release show with my favorite-of-the-moment Yvonne Rogers, playing solo at the intimate Seeds. She said it was only the second time playing solo and I am quite certain it won't be the last. Amazing, occasionally fully mind-boggling, beautiful, challenging... Just wow! all the way through. She seems to get more impressive each time she plays... And she plays a lot!
Can't wait to listen to the album (out today)
-
Killer threefer last night, each show was top-tier.
First: earlier in the week caught wind of a free Hiss Golden Messenger album release show happening at one of my favorite rooms in Brooklyn, thankfully early enough to RSVP and conveniently working from home that day so got there in time for a great spot.
Wasn't sure what to expect, could've been solo or just a few songs, but this was just an absolute monster set at Skinny Dennis. New songs, some jams, a very cool cover of Dixie Chicken sandwiched in one, special guest (the fab Stephanie Coleman on fiddle). MC was in high spirits, the band sounded so good. Can't say enough about this one, so glad I made it.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #hissgoldenmessenger
-
Killer threefer last night, each show was top-tier.
First: earlier in the week caught wind of a free Hiss Golden Messenger album release show happening at one of my favorite rooms in Brooklyn, thankfully early enough to RSVP and conveniently working from home that day so got there in time for a great spot.
Wasn't sure what to expect, could've been solo or just a few songs, but this was just an absolute monster set at Skinny Dennis. New songs, some jams, a very cool cover of Dixie Chicken sandwiched in one, special guest (the fab Stephanie Coleman on fiddle). MC was in high spirits, the band sounded so good. Can't say enough about this one, so glad I made it.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #hissgoldenmessenger
-
All last week I was deeply occupied with the Long Play Festival in Brooklyn. I consider it to be a little cousin to Big Ears, but leaning a little more classical and, most importantly, almost perfectly geographically centered on my apartment. Almost feels like something someone put together for me personally. Caught about 20ish sets of mind-blowing music at the cutting edge.
Too much to list, but highlights included a Steve Reich 90th celebration with a piece performed by an expanded Dither (10+ guitars!) that blew me away, Kris Davis on another planet, a magnificent Philip Glass performance, Secret Chiefs 3 closing out with a wall-melter set of heavy fusion jams and much much more. Deeply enjoyable and moving.
Looking forward to next year!
-
Next pair is Scott Colberg themed. This bassist is low-key the #1 no-lose guy around town, just never disappoints. Tuesday it was back to Richardson after Loove Annex, another set of magic improvisation with Zach Lapidus and Rob Mills (keys + drums). It legitimately doesn't seem to matter who else is playing and the jams really run the gamut, but they are just so fucking good.
Then last night at Dada in Ridgewood late set Colberg backing Elias Meister (guitar) with Jeremy Gustin (drums). This was holyfuckingshit good! Seen this trio there a couple times and just blow it out of the water with their jamming every time.
-
Last night: it's not often you wake up after a night at the Vanguard and "Killing Me Softly" is stuck in your head. The return trip for another Brad Mehldau set may have topped the mid-week set I caught. Not sure a piano trio can perform at a higher level. Thanks to @Cdirksen for the invite!
-
Last night: it's not often you wake up after a night at the Vanguard and "Killing Me Softly" is stuck in your head. The return trip for another Brad Mehldau set may have topped the mid-week set I caught. Not sure a piano trio can perform at a higher level. Thanks to @Cdirksen for the invite!
-
Tonight: Jose Gonzalez at Brooklyn Steel was magic as to be expected. Just a guy with a guitar in a big warehouse like that and there wasn't a moment I wasn't rapt. 90 minutes just flew by, totally mesmerizing.
-
Tonight: Jose Gonzalez at Brooklyn Steel was magic as to be expected. Just a guy with a guitar in a big warehouse like that and there wasn't a moment I wasn't rapt. 90 minutes just flew by, totally mesmerizing.
-
Last night I caught a set of Yvonne Rogers at LunÀtico and she may be the best thing going in NYC jazz these days. She is a mesmerizing piano player, a great bandleader regardless of whom she's playing with, and seems to be a fountain of amazing compositions, every time I see her it's great new music played in superlative fashion.
-
Last night I caught a set of Yvonne Rogers at LunÀtico and she may be the best thing going in NYC jazz these days. She is a mesmerizing piano player, a great bandleader regardless of whom she's playing with, and seems to be a fountain of amazing compositions, every time I see her it's great new music played in superlative fashion.
-
Tonight:
First stop at the Stone for opening night for Brian Marsella's week. This was a trio with Craig Taborn and Sylvie Courvoisier... Yes, a piano + lots of keys + lots of keys trio. Lots of keys, very little structure. In an only-at-the-Stone kind of way.
Then over for the late Mehldau set at the Vanguard. Holy duck, so damn good. All the structure, flow, and locked-in-ness missing from the first show.
Still Mehldau + Marsella + Taborn + Courvoisier in one night is some top tier pianist action.
-
Tonight:
First stop at the Stone for opening night for Brian Marsella's week. This was a trio with Craig Taborn and Sylvie Courvoisier... Yes, a piano + lots of keys + lots of keys trio. Lots of keys, very little structure. In an only-at-the-Stone kind of way.
Then over for the late Mehldau set at the Vanguard. Holy duck, so damn good. All the structure, flow, and locked-in-ness missing from the first show.
Still Mehldau + Marsella + Taborn + Courvoisier in one night is some top tier pianist action.
-
Alright, I've now hit this Tuesday gig 6 times this year and I've seen enough to say it's maybe the best thing going in NYC livemusic right now. Just hasn't been anything short of remarkable. And I'm discovering a lot of great new local talent. Two weeks ago this dude Mike Robinson on pedal steel was a revelation, the improv melodic and ambient. Last night, Ryan Weiner on guitar and it was some serious thick-necked jamprov.
Highest recommendation.
-
Alright, I've now hit this Tuesday gig 6 times this year and I've seen enough to say it's maybe the best thing going in NYC livemusic right now. Just hasn't been anything short of remarkable. And I'm discovering a lot of great new local talent. Two weeks ago this dude Mike Robinson on pedal steel was a revelation, the improv melodic and ambient. Last night, Ryan Weiner on guitar and it was some serious thick-necked jamprov.
Highest recommendation.
-
Tonight: a special night when you get to go Medeski > Mehldau, two of the greatest keys-men of the common era. But that's what I did tonight.
First, a stellar set of straight improv from Billy Martin and John Medeski. Absolute mastery and superlative chemistry on display.
Then, a couple blocks away to the Vanguard for Gilad Hekselman who was great, but his band... Even better. Mehldau + Morgan + Gilmore = sickest backing band in jazz. Brad was sublime in everything he did. A great night in Manhattan.
-
Tonight: a special night when you get to go Medeski > Mehldau, two of the greatest keys-men of the common era. But that's what I did tonight.
First, a stellar set of straight improv from Billy Martin and John Medeski. Absolute mastery and superlative chemistry on display.
Then, a couple blocks away to the Vanguard for Gilad Hekselman who was great, but his band... Even better. Mehldau + Morgan + Gilmore = sickest backing band in jazz. Brad was sublime in everything he did. A great night in Manhattan.
-
Tonight: Gillian and Dave playing acoustic Dead tunes a la Gillian and Dave was as perfect as it looks on paper. The greatest catalog of American music played by the pinnacle of folk duos, what could be bad? So much Dave Rawlings channeling acoustic Jerry, what could be bad? For the Deadheads who didn't know Welch/Rawlings that well, I think they probably uniformly had their tie-dyed socks knocked off. I think the pair made some new fans tonight, for sure. Crowd was *into* it. Full, but not awful packed like it sometimes gets at the Cap. Extended Encore with a St Stephen > Not Fade Away? Yessir!
Looking forward to seeing this again at Newport.
-
Caught Go Kurosawa last night, in the round at LPR. First of all, more shows in the round, please! He's got a killer band and it was kind of just a lot of songs opening up into a range of different styles of jamming. Ambient, jazzy, funky, rocking, heavy... Standard instrumentation and then a flute or marimba or sax would break out, not to mention lots of heady percussion. No notes, a fabulous show.
The bummer of Kikagaku Moyo shutting it down has been all but forgotten as the members branch out into uniformly awesome projects. Expecting more and more from these dudes.
-
Caught Go Kurosawa last night, in the round at LPR. First of all, more shows in the round, please! He's got a killer band and it was kind of just a lot of songs opening up into a range of different styles of jamming. Ambient, jazzy, funky, rocking, heavy... Standard instrumentation and then a flute or marimba or sax would break out, not to mention lots of heady percussion. No notes, a fabulous show.
The bummer of Kikagaku Moyo shutting it down has been all but forgotten as the members branch out into uniformly awesome projects. Expecting more and more from these dudes.
-
Tonight: had no idea what to expect for bassist Sam Wilkes at Music Hall tonight. First of all, maybe the only time I've seen seats in the venue. And why that venue? And where did all these people come from?
Quartet with Will Graefe on guitar, Benny Bock on Rhodes and synth, and Craig Weinrib on drums. A synthesis of mid-70's fusion and ambient jazz with some sublime moments. At worst it was very good smooth jazz, at its best it was joyful bliss. The sound profile of the four instruments was *just* right.
But seriously, as many questions as answers.
-
Tonight: socks-knocked-off set from Madison Cunningham. She's always impressed, but somehow that show at Town Hall still vastly exceeded my expectations. Performing in a duo with this guy playing clarinet, bass clarinet, flute, keys - and looping them masterfully. Like a stellar ambient jazz show going on underneath a stellar indiefolk show. She got her start playing with Andrew Bird and she's basically at that grandmaster level, serious 5-tool player as far as I'm concerned. And the simple-but-effective visual scheme, like the whole show was taking place underwater (too dark and too far for any photos, though).
Wow!
-
My new favorite regular gig in NYC is the improv jam going on at the Richardson in Williamsburg every Tuesday. Seems mostly organized by Scott Colberg, who's become my seek-at-all-costs bassist in town. Everything he does seems to be fantastic which is how I feel about Jeremy Gustin, who is often on these gigs as well.
Tonight the trio was those two and this new-to-me dude Abe Seiferth on guitar/electronics. Caught the second set and it was holyshit! good.
Amazing jams will always find a place to live in this town. If the last 25+ years have taught me anything, it's that.
-
And then, as luck would have it, Bill Frisell! Matinee set back at Appel with totally different band and feel. Petra Haden, Ambrose Akinmusire and Tim Angulo creating more magic, vocals and all... Including the most haunting cover of Where Have All the Flowers Gone? imaginable.
So lucky to be able to catch 3 of his birthday shows. All unique in their own way, three lineups, three side of Frisell as a bandleader. A tryptych of Frisellian magic. Grateful!
-
Tonight: completed a trifecta of Newport Folk regulars in one week. Brandi Carlile, then Langhorne Slim, and now Margo Price who absolutely crushed it at Webster Hall tonight. Her band is freakin great, with Sean "Weird Ears" Thompson on guitar. He is something special in 3 completely different bands.
And for those who say there are no protest songs these days, all three of those acts had a current of protest energy flowing through their sets, especially Margo tonight, nearly half her set felt charged with either "fuck em all up!" or "we've got this!" energy, not to mention not one but two Dylan covers.
There are few badasses as badass as Margo Price.
-
Taper's Choice once again tonight. I love so many things this band does, I feel like I want to write paragraphs every time I see them. Tonight I was really zeroed in on how there's no standard "leader" in the band, much to their credit, and how it manifests itself in so many ways. The jamming gets almost *beyond* democratic. There was an extended stretch of improv where the keys and guitar were basically soloing simultaneously. Not a back-and-forth, not one complementing the other, but two guys somehow locked in for like ten minutes of build where they were almost indistinguishable from each other. Never seen anything like that and it blew my mind. Lots of moments like that. Last night was sick, tonight was something else. Wowza and more at Brooklyn Bowl.
#nycfreaks #livemusic #brooklyn #williamsburg #brooklynbowl #jams
-
Tonight: Taper's Choice opens their tour and I was literally smiling from ear to ear the entire set. They just click for me on multiple layers like few others do. Lots of killer jams woven expertly into their proggy compositions. Zach had a Anderson/Bruford/Wakeman/Howe vintage tshirt on and Chris with not just a Grateful Dead tee but more specifically a *Mars Hotel* tee. I don't think you could sum up their sound any better than that unless Dave had a rainbow PH logo shirt on under his leather jacket. Sick progjams at Ardmore Music Hall. Looking forward to more back home tomorrow night.
-
If you're in NYC and want to see jazz played at the highest level, Scott Colley Quartet with Julian Lage, Chris Potter, and Tim Angulo at Dizzy's is a must see. Top of their game, all. And you can't beat that view!
-
Tonight: haven't seen anyone over the past 4 years as much as Marta Sanchez and I don't think I've loved anyone more over that period than I've loved Bill Frisell, but I do not believe I'd ever seen them together before tonight. Needless to say, it was sublime. Trio set at the Stone with Ingrid Laubrock. As with everything in that room could've gone a million ways, but was a total lighter-than-air bliss-out. Three musicians in constant, sweet-nothing conversation with each other. Everything I dreamed it could be and then some. Perfection!
#nycfreaks #livemusic #nyc #thestone #jazz #martasanchez #billfrisell
-
Hey, got offered a ticket to the Cap so I went and I'd do it again, goddammit!
JRAD JRAD'd JRAD'ingly...
-
It's Winter Jazzfest season in NYC. I used to pooh pooh the idea of a jazz festival in a city where every single day is literally the best jazz festival in the world (which remains true while WJF is going on!), but I've come around to its creative booking and programming.
Started last night with the Psychic Hotline showcase show at LPR. 5 short sets each with their own charm, dug em all. Joe Westerlund's rhythmic dreamscape probably my favorite, although William Tyler, Sam Gendel, et al were all pretty great too.
Looking forward to the WJF Brooklyn marathon tomorrow...
-
5 days into 2026, I've already been to The Stone, Barbès, Village Vanguard and Lowlands Bar. Which is to say, same old same old.
Best set by far was Saturday night late set at the Vanguard, Chris Potter with Craig Taborn, Scott Colley, and Marcus Gilmore. Holy fuck that was some next level jazz, Taborn especially wtf! about as good as I've ever seen anyone solo on the piano.
Catching Nels Cline's last gig of his 60's, appropriately an hour of almost pure noise at the Stone with Celine Kang and Josh Mathews, was also a nice "treat."
-
Really enjoyed last night's Phish show! The Tube > Reba > Melt to end the first set was basically the yin + yang + dang! of the band in three pieces. Especially enjoyed the good vs evil dichotomy of the last two.
Second set was a nice freeflow of jam. Ghost! , Ruby Waves!, and Crosseyed!
Went with my son and he thought it was the best he'd seen in a very limited sample size. Can't argue!
Not quite in the 12/30 pantheon, but a solid B+/A- night at the Garden.
-
Finally down to LPR for Medeski, Martin, Metzger, and Cline for a full 2ish hours of non-stop improv. This one hit all the buttons! Formless morass of noise to tight-as-fuck dance jams and almost every point in between. All four dudes got a chance to shine individually and were a formidable force when they locked in, which was more often than not. Love it when a show like this is just weird enough to thin out the crowd a bit. Went from comfortably crowded to perfect crowd size in good time. A great, great set. Glad I finally hit one of these and glad they moved it to LPR.