Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side this weekend:
RADIO RADIO – Thurs., Oct. 21 | 1am at Arlene’s Grocery
Their disco guitar riffs and danceable beats can easily draw comparisons to Belle and Sebastian or Franz Ferdinand, but the French-Acadian trio Radio Radio are a lot more (for lack of a better word) funky. Their second album Belmundo Regal offers up an extremely catchy array of songs, peppered with heavily French-accented raps and hot layers of synth loops. They hit up Arlene’s Grocery, as part of the M for Montreal CMJ showcase. 95 Stanton St.
THE WIYOS – Fri., Oct. 22 | 7pm at Joe’s Pub
The Wiyos take their name from one of the original badass turn-of-the-century New York street gangs, the Why’os. Their plucky washboard style of music has led them to tour with heavyweights like Bob Dylan and Willie Nelson. Not 100% Old-Timey, the Wiyos mix all sorts of genres and sounds, and come up with a sound that’s foot stompin’ and fun. $15 // 425 Lafayette St.
POWERGLOVE – Sat., Oct. 23 | 8:15pm at Fontana’s
CMJ’s Metal Sucks showcase at Fontana’s fills its headliner slot with the thunderous cos-rockers known as Powerglove. If Gwar and Satanicide had a goofy, hyperactive little brother, who steered clear of giant inflatable orifices on stage and always finished his homework, it would be Powerglove. With songs like “Inspector Gadget” and “Mortal Combat for the Mortal Man,” their affection for the 80’s era couch-potato-dom of our youth is clear. And though they might keep their koopa-shelled body armor clean of blood capsules, these Boston boys swing their battle-axes with mind-boggling speed and ferocity. $10 // 105 Eldridge St.
Splitting his time between performing and producing, contributor Ken Beasley primarily plays with his own roots/rock band, Ken Beasley & Co. (**playing this Sunday at Rockwood Music Hall), as well as the power punk outfit Missy Sport, while also curating the Underground at the Abrons music series on the Lower East Side.
