Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side for this weekend:
EMILY GREENE – Fri, Aug 5 | 10PM at The Living Room
Growing up in Miami, one would expect pianist/songwriter Emily Greene to go the way of Son or Cumbia, but Greene found her voice early in life, and it sings soulful ballads. A natural talent on the keyboard, Greene sings with a confidence and soul about the eccentric people and bustling places that speckle the life of a young urban artist. FREE// 196 Allen St.
THE NOTORIOUS MSG – Sat, Aug 6 | 8PM at The Mercury Lounge
Hard hitting and show-stopping, The Notorious MSG come straight out of Chinatown and provide an Asian Invasion for any occasion. Centered on the core trio of Hong Kong Fever, Down-Lo Mein and the Hunan Bomb, the rock tunes pack a punch, and include hits like “Dim Sum Girl” and “Red Tonight,” about going out for a night of heavy drinking. $10//217 E. Houston St.
SKY SMEED – Sun, Aug 7 | 8PM Googie’s Lounge at the Living Room
Americana balladeer Sky Smeed sounds like the offspring of Graham Parsons and John Prine. In actuality of course, his parents were from Kansas and raised him in an old converted one-room schoolhouse. These days, Smeed lives on the road, playing shows coast to coast.
A thoughtful writer, his songs paint pictures of the countryside, dilapidated towns and rumbling rivers. FREE// 154 Ludlow St.
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
