Monday, April 29 at Apollo Theater, how to destroy angels_, DIIV, $49.50
Trent Reznor's new group how to destroy angels_ features his wife Mariqueen Maandig on vocals and his frequent collaborator Atticus Ross on programming and keyboards. Soundwise, it's more beat-oriented and less outwardly explosive than Nine Inch Nails. Presentation-wise, it's even more out there. Interestingly enough, destroy also counts amongst its ranks designer Rob Sheridan, Reznor's long-time art director. He's been given full control of both the album art and the live show, and according to Wired he will be onstage manipulating a wall of LEDs and the projector, constantly light-shifting the images you see of the band as they play. So expect the Apollo Theater to feel like something from MOMA's 2113 collection for a few hours.
Friday, May 3 at Santos Party House, Marky Ramone's Blitzkreig featuring Andrew W.K., $20
OK, this thing is kind of weird and possibly distasteful, but think about it this way. Marky Ramone wasn't an original member of The Ramones, but he played with them from 1978 through the end of their career, so if anyone alive deserves to cart around their catalog, it's him. And if there's any group of songs that aren't truly complete until a group of sweaty pinheads are screaming "hey ho!" in unison, it's The Ramones catalog. And if there's any singer best suited to capture the reckless, innocent glee of The Ramones….it's Joey Ramone. But Andrew W.K. will no doubt do Queens' Favorite Son proud. This will be a night of shameless rock dork joy.
Saturday, May 4 at Cafe Rouge, Brian Eno, $5
There's a famous, possibly true, possibly apocryphal story that, during the recording of his famous Berlin-based trilogy of albums, David Bowie was so worn out by the rigors of the rock 'n' roll lifestyle and various personal issues that he could barely make decisions anymore. His producer and collaborator at the time, Brian Eno, created the Oblique Strategies, a box set filled with instructions such as "Not building a wall; making a brick," and "Try faking it!" This is apparently the advice that Bowie needed at the time, as it helped him make three of his most beloved records ever. Various artists and musicians have since cited the Oblique Strategies as a major influence on their work, so if Brian Eno is actually going to show up and give his insight in to any subject whatsoever, it behooves you to show up and listen. The man knows what he's talking about.
