Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side for this weekend:
SPOOKY GHOST – Fri, June 17 | 9PM at Rockwood Music Hall
Despite its haunted house connotation, Spooky Ghost is merely the moniker under which Irish guitarist/composer Gerry Leonards produces his solo work. The nickname was bestowed upon him by fellow musician and partner Donal Coghlan because of his ethereal guitar style. That style comes from years of studying the guitar and all its dense tonal, harmonic, and resonant elements. Incredibly active in his collaborations as much as his solo work, Leonard is looking forward to upcoming projects with Duncan Sheik, Jonatha Brooke, Sophie B Hawkins, and Pamela Sue Mann. FREE// 196 Allen St.
MONOGOLD 16 – Sat, June 11 | 8PM at the Bowery Ballroom
As DIY as Brooklyn’s Monogold may be, their sound makes it seem as though they have a team of wunderkind producers and a bunker of 2,000 exotic handmade instruments. For the last few years, in the dark confines of their own homemade studio, they’ve managed to produce some mesmerizing songscapes, dripping layer upon layer of silky guitar, texturizing percussion, and celestial vocals. It makes the fact that they are but a trio of bass, drums, and guitar all the more shocking. $13 advance / $15 door//6 Delancey St.
PAUL BRILL – Mon, June 20 | 9:30PM at Joe’s Pub
New York’s Paul Brill has been busy indeed. The Emmy-nominated songwriter/producer has been on the scene for years now and in that he’s time created his own albums, produced albums for other musicians and created musical scores for a vast array of film and television projects.
His most recent endeavors include composing for A&E’s “The First 48,” producing a CD for the dynamic Brooklyn songwriter Amber Rubarth, and the score for last year’s award-winning documentary, “Joan Rivers: A Piece of Work” (which he also created with Rubarth). A truly skillful songwriter and a monster arranger, Brill’s shows not only never disappoint, but regularly slap you silly. $12//425 Lafayetter 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.
