Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on (and near) the Lower East Side this week:
Heavy Trash – Thursday, April 29 | 7:30pm at The Mercury Lounge
Hardcore rockabilly super-shredders Matt Verta-Ray and Jon Spencer team up for Heavy Trash, a wild mix of old school rhythm & blues, and energized, post-punk wailing. Spencer has made a name for himself by crunching sounds with a slew of bands, not the least of which is his own devoutly followed Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. At one point, Verta-Ray’s band Speedball Baby toured with the Blues Explosion, and the two have been collaborating in various ventures ever since. Sure to be blood-pumping performance, this Mercury show is not to be missed.
$12 | 217 East Houston Street
TANYA MORGAN – Friday, April 30 | 8pm at Crash Mansion
Hip Hop/Spoken Word trio Tanya Morgan’s entire existence is based on the use of words and the telling of stories. So, it makes perfect sense that the group, highly acclaimed for last year’s fantastic recording, Brooklynati, gladly take the stage on Friday at Crash Mansion in support of First Book, a nonprofit working to spread literacy by providing access to new books to children in need.
$10 | Crash Mansion – 199 Bowery
MADELEINE PEYROUX – Wednesday, April 28 – Sunday, May 2 | 8pm & 10:30pm at The Blue Note
Madeleine Peyroux tends to drop in and out of public view without warning. This week, she’s back on the scene with 5 nights of performances at the famed Blue Note (131 W. 3rd St.). Peyroux’s music clearly takes inspiration from classic jazz vocalists and composers like Edith Piaf, Serge Gainsbourg and Billie Holiday, but her most recent studio album Bare Bones, produced with Larry Klein, is her first release with all original material. With 2 shows a night for 5 nights, she’s sure to mix her sets with lots of new and old, but all well steeped in her signature lazy jazz style.
$45 at Tables, $30 at Bar, $5 minimum
Splitting his time between performing and producing, contributor Ken Beasley primarily plays with his own roots/rock band, Ken Beasley & Co., as well as the power punk outfit Missy Sport, while also curating the Underground at the Abrons music series on the Lower East Side.
