Bklyn Sounds 12/27/2023—1/2/2024 | See You Next Year
Happy New Year!!! + Shows: Dimitri From Paris & François K / Robert Hood / Darlin' / Tammy Lakkis at 'Disco Tehran' / Lovie & Ayanna Heaven / 178 Product / Deon Jamar / and much more
Happy New Year everybody. Please make it a safe one. As always during the holiday seasons, this week’s listings are free. Whether you are reading in the New York area, or checking in from elsewhere, go out and check some local music.
Thank you for reading, for listening and for following. Please subscribe, and tell your friends to. And please support your local musicians and musickers, independent venues and arts organizations.
I’ll be back in touch in 2024.
This Week’s Shows:
About as good and high-profile a DJ double-bill as you can expect to get the week before NYE features one of our local legends (François K) and one of the best disco-house DJs in the world (Dimitri From Paris, who I still find to be strangely under-rated, especially among younger-generation folks). Dim was a regular at François’ Deep Space party at Cielo, and the one I attended was beyond a blast. Highest Recommendation. (Wed 12/27, 10p @ H0LO, Ridgewood - $35-$40)
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again: Alto saxophonist Tim Berne’s semi-regular Thursday night at Lowlands on 3rd Ave is one of the city’s great secret musical treasures. Berne is always surrounded by an incredible cross-generational cast of NYC improvisers, and the audiences that gather recognize the heat. On this last Thursday of the year, Berne is joined by trumpeter Ralph Alessi, drummer Tim Angulo, guitarist Gregg Belisle-Chi and bassist Chris Lightcap. (Thurs 12/28, 8p @ Lowlands Bar, Gowanus - $20suggested)
178 Product is a loose, years-in-the-running conglomeration of excellent NYC rhythm-music lifers, always centered around Liquid Liquid’s Sal P on drums, Elliot “Ulysses” Taub on electronics and keys, and guitarist Gerald Hammill. This trio is often joined by dance-music instrumentalists of all stripes, making a joyful improvised racket. Monika H will be DJing. (Thur 12/28, 8p & 9:30p @ Sleepwalk, Bushwick - FREE)
Darlin’ is a newish band featuring three of my favorite players in New York City: guitarist Wendy Eisenberg, cellist/bassist Lester St. Louis and drummer Ryan Sawyer. They play a kind of weirdo improvised folk-country — and sing, sometimes. (Think Bonnie “Prince” Billy as a fusion-jazz trio, and you’re in the neighborhood.) Darlin’ is playing a bar on Graham Avenue that is turning into a favorite spot to hear occasional local music. Both musicians and venue are very much worth your support! (Thurs 12/28, 9p @ Ore Bar, Williamsburg - FREE)
An excellent double-bill of Bklyn-transplant selectors who’ve been adding gloss to the city’s new DJing golden era: Lovie’s records hint at the soul- and funk-minded 4/4 vibes, while Jamaica-born Ayanna Heaven’s grooves lean more towards Caribbean and Diaspora sounds. Both have music for days, and fabulous The Lot Radio shows worth your attention whether or not you go see ‘em Friday. (Fri 12/29, 10p @ Jupiter Disco, Bushwick - FREE)
In just a couple of short years, Lifesavers has planted a flag as a consistently excellent techno-/house-minded party, making (or re-establishing) connections between locals and Midwesterners furthering the music’s Black history. Lifesavers 012 will feature DJs (B.Rod, Miguel Cisne, Sugar) associated with the Hamtramck-based Limited Network label (distributed by Submerge #FTWK). They’ll be joined by longtime NYC flagwavers, Kimyon and Sunny Cheeba. (Fri 12/29, 10p @ Bossa Nova Civic Club, Bushwick - $10p before midnight)
One of my favorite young DJs from Detroit, playing one of my favorite underground/RSVP-only parties. Deon Jamar, all night long, at Musicland. Bring your own dancing shoes, a love of musical history, and some extra stamina! Highest Recommendation! (Fri 12/29, 11p @ Musicland, secret Bklyn location - $35 w/RSVP)
On March 2nd, the world lost the legendary jazz saxophonist and composer Wayne Shorter, part of whose incredible creative life was participating in the continuum of studying with the elders, and passing on to the next generation. Tonight’s Homage to Wayne Shorter features pianist Albert Marques, whose own credits include sessions and appearances with many front-line musicians of multiple generations, and who taught at Institute for Collaborative Education (ICE), a Manhattan public middle- and high-school that’s developed a rep for producing excellent musicians. ICE is where Marques tutored the young saxophonist Ben Sherman, who’ll be accompanying him on music from the Shorter songbook. The Newark Flash would be proud. (Sat 12/30, 8p @ Soapbox Gallery, Prospect Heights - $25)
The last Disco Tehran of the season has a doozy of a line-up. Near the top of the excellent bill is Salt Cathedral, a duo of Bogota-to-Bklyn transplants who play a fiercely odd electronic pop music; and Dearborn-raised DJ/producer Tammy Lakkis, who makes some wonderful Middle Eastern-tinged techno in that music’s hometown. Also: live sounds by New York Gypsy All-Stars, plus DJing by Sarah Ninon and resident Mirza. (Sat 12/30, 9p @ Sultan Room, Bushwick - $30)
Minimal Nation Alert: Co-founder of the mighty Underground Resistance crew, and lead architect of the music that’s come to be known as minimal techno, Robert Hood has over the last two decades come to embody the fight for electronic music’s soul. Less focused on techno, his recordings as Floorplan have moved towards a gospel-house sound, yet remain as pulsating and rambunctious as ever. Guaranteed that Hood will know how to get the most out of the Public Records soundsystem! Also: Limited Network’s Max Watts (Sat 12/30, 11p @ Public Records, Gowanus - $25)
My New Year’s Eve vibe of choice is the tag-teaming DJ set by three of my favorite musicians-musickers that Bklyn is lucky to call its own: Luke Stewart (Irreversible Entanglements, Blacks’ Myths, Assembly) Lester St. Louis (Fly or Die, HxH, Assembly) and John Pugh XI (Center for Psychic Technology, Trans-Pecos) all play music, all produce shows, and all help musicians get on with the hard work of making stuff. They also have great tastes in tunes, which they will doubtless. No genres, but endless vibes. So go support! (Sun 12/31, 8p @ Sisters, Clinton Hill - FREE)
If on the other hand, you are in need of a barn-storming NYE, soundtracked by local legends playing your friendly neighborhood techno club, may I suggest an evening at Bossa. Queens-born Joey Beltram made one of the most popular techno tracks of all-time (“Energy Flash”) and has seemingly been galvanized by NYC’s current energy, playing more often locally than he has in years. Jacky and Kat Analog Soul are two of our standard-bearers. Will get bass-kick-heavy and stay there. (Sun 12/31, 10p @ Bossa Nova Civic Club, Bushwick - $40)
The homey Cesar Toribio has had a pretty huge 2023, and each time he’s done one of his Bring Dat Ass (BDA) parties in the basement confines of Black Flamingo, it’s been more and more rammed. Which is why, hard as it is, New Year’s Eve/Night will mark his good-bye to the wonderful-sounding basement on Borinquen Place with an All Night Long set. There will be sleazy, magnificently DJ’d house-adjacent music. Will. Get. Sweaty! (Sun 12/31, 10:30p @ Black Flamingo, Williamsburg - $20-$30)
Shocked that there are not more sessions on January 1st 2024, as that used to be one of the great dance days in the city. (Let’s please bring this back — and not as a culmination of a 24hr rave.) Thankfully, Danny Krivit’s 718 Sessions New Year's Day party continues its class. The maestro Krivit in the main room, OG Hex Hector in the Bad Room. $5 at the door for the first 100 people before 7p. (Mon 1/1, 6p @ Good Room, Greenpoint - $20adv/$25)