May 2007 Concert Calendar Highlights

The highlights of the Merry Month of May:

-Celebrate May Day comrades with the first of two nights of current Swede indie pop sensations Peter, Bjorn, and John at Webster Hall. I really liked their album for a few days.

-On May 2nd, The Knitters are at the Gramercy and Bjork is at Radio City, the first of 3 shows over the next week (see the calendar for more details).

-The Arcade Fire and The National, arguably the trendiest bands in Indie-World, will be at the hottest venue in the city right now - the United Palace Theater a week from today and tomorrow. On Wed the 9th, the Arcade Fire play Radio City as part of David Bowie's High Line Festival.

-Grant-Lee Phillips is the best alternative to the Arcade Fire and Amy Winehouse shows on the 9th (personally I don't care for Miss Winehouse, so by all means go see ol' Grant-Lee).

-Friday May 11th is one of the two big days of the month. The Changes are at the Knitting Factory, the Gourds (they of the bluegrass version of Snoop Dog's "Gin & Juice" fame) are at the Bowery, the Giraffes will turn the Mercury Lounge into Hipster Metal Mania, Austin's Asylum Street Spankers are at Joe's Pub, and Les Sans Culottes will do their thing at Magnetic Field. And on top of all that, Sea Wolf at Union Hall.

-Saturday May 12th will see last year's Best New Band, the Changes, head over to Brooklyn to play at beautiful Union Hall. Up the block, the Detroit Cobras will be at Southpaw.

-You have two chances to see Langhorne Slim in May: Union Pool on the 4th, and Filmore Irving on the 12th.

-Silversun Pickups do Webster Hall on the 15th.

-Wednesday May 16th is the other big night of the month. And I mean BIG. I will be at the Nokia to see Elvis Costello & The Impostors. Meanwhile, Suzanne Vega plays Joe's Pub (before a They Might Be Giants record release show), Southern Culture on the Skids and the Dansettes will be at the Merc, !!! will be at the Bowery, and Daniel Johnston will be at the High Line.

-It's not music but it's worth noting that Ricky Gervais will make his American stand-up debut as part of the High Line festival, beginning Thursday the 17th at the Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He'll be there the next night, and at the Theater @ MSG on Saturday night. Is it not too much of a stretch for Bowie to make a cameo of some kind? How about Mr. Costello sticking around the night after his gig? Hey it could happen.

-One of the best reunion stories this year, The Jesus and Mary Chain, will find its way to Webster Hall on May 21st and 22nd.

-As mentioned before, the Love Me Nots will be playing Pianos on the 24th.

-The English Beat, the legendary reggae ska band, will be at Maxwell's on the 27th.

See the full calendar for the stuff I left out here.