The Bad Plus, KRS-One, subdudes, Foxygen, and the Facial Hair Battle
Our highlights of a very busy week in New Orleans.
There is a lot to do this week, starting with Foxygen, who we're pleased to present on Monday. But the week also includes a subdudes reunion in honor of the late Johnny Ray Allen, soul singer Lee Fields, power pop hero Paul Collins, and the first Beard and Mustache Competition.
Friday: Kelcy Mae, NYCE!, 10 p.m., Carrollton Station: On this year’s Half-Life, Kelcy Mae pares back the wordiness of previous recordings and gives her lyrics more complete musical frames. The songs have more wit, emotion and style for the effort. Also on Friday: Hells Bells, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets); Liberated Soul Collective w/ Tank and the Bangas, 10 p.m., Gasa Gasa (tickets); the subdudes, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s (tickets); Roadkill Ghost Choir, The Eastern Sea, 10 p.m., Freret Street Public House (tickets); Noisewater, 10 p.m., Circle Bar; Bee vs. Moth, Autotomii, Doombalaya, 9 p.m., The BEATnik (tickets); Break Science, Space Jesus, Quickie Mart, midnight, The Republic (tickets)
Saturday: Odesza, Ambassadeurs, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: The Seattle-based EDM duo were introduced to the world opening for Pretty Lights last year, and their calling card is shaping folk music into dance music. (tickets) Also on Saturday: The Airborne Toxic Event, In the Valley Below, 8 p.m., Civic Theatre (tickets); Earphunk CD-release party, Stone Rabbits, 10 p.m., Tipitina’s (tickets); Noise Complaints, The Honorable South, Hello Nomad, 10 p.m., Gasa Gasa (tickets)
Sunday: The Bad Plus, 8 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: The jazz trio undertook its most ambitious project to date when it remade Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring earlier this year. They just released a new album of all original music, Inevitable Western. (tickets) Also on Sunday: KRS-One, Truth Universal, Marcel P. Black, 10 p.m., The Maison (tickets); Andy McKee, 7 p.m., House of Blues (tickets)
Monday: My Spilt Milk Presents Foxygen, Dub Thompson, 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks: The Los Angeles-based psychedelic rock band borrows sounds and styles from across the musical spectrum to beautifully trippy purposes. They’re touring in advance of the release of their new album, Foxygen … & Star Power. (tickets)
Tuesday: Paul Collins Beat, Red Sneakers, King Louie’s One Man Band, 7 p.m., Siberia: Paul Collins’ power pop pedigree is impeccable, starting in the ’70s with the L.A. trio The Nerves with Jack Lee and future Plimsoul Peter Case, then The Beat, which released two albums that split the difference between garage rock intensity and The Beatles’ polished pop. (tickets) Also on Tuesday: The Apache Relay, Coyotes, 8 p.m., Gasa Gasa (tickets); Lee Fields and The Expressions, 8 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets); Shonen Knife, The Bills, 8 p.m., The BEATnik (tickets); Citizen Cope, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets)
Wednesday: The Head and the Heart, 8 p.m., Civic Theatre: The Seattle-based folk rock band rode the Mumford wave to unexpected success, and last year’s wary Let’s Be Still reflected that with lyrics fearing a world moving too fast while making the most immediate pop songs of their career. (tickets) Also on Wednesday: Luke James, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets); Joe Kile, The Lonely Lonely Knights, 9 p.m., Gasa Gasa (tickets); Present Lake Street Dive, Lucius, 9 p.m., Tipitina’s (tickets); Gringo Star, Gold and The Rush, 9 p.m., Freret Street Public House (tickets)
Thursday: Nicki Bluhm and the Gramblers, David Shaw of The Revivalists, 8:30 p.m., Tipitina’s: The San Francisco-based band shows a lot of love and talent for the ’70s California rock sound. (tickets) Also on Thursday: Bone Thugs-N-Harmony, John Doe, Nino Wavey, 8 p.m., House of Blues (tickets)
Other Stuff
Friday, One Eyed Jacks hosts the New Orleans Beard and Mustache Championships, which crown winners in a number of categories including Full Beard, Partial Beard, Freestyle, Natural Mustache, Styled Mustache, and Whiskerina—a faux hair competition for the ladies. The bearded Jonathan and Brian Pretus and the clean-shaven rest of The Breton Sound will perform. 10 p.m., One Eyed Jacks (tickets)
Like most reality competitions, NBC’s Last Comic Standing is hokey, and the challenges often work against the funniest person winning. But this is a good time for stand-up comedy in New Orleans, so the Last Comic Standing Local Showcase Saturday night should be good. (8 p.m. tickets)
