Here are musician Ken Beasley’s top music picks on the Lower East Side for this weekend:
AARON DUGAN – Friday Feb. 10 | 1am Rockwood Music Hall
Aaron Dugan is an experimental composer/guitarist hailing from Philadelphia. He studied Jazz Improvisation and Composition/Fundamentals with Ben Schacter and Jon Sheridan, and later with Social Research Jazz at the New School. He’s played with everyone from John Zorn and Jason Fraticelli to Matisyahu and Bootsy Collins — so he’s got the cred. And he’s got the chops. Check him out at Rockwood on Friday with guests Mark Guiliana, & Rob Marscher. FREE//196 Allen St.
Big Phony– Saturday Feb. 11 | 9pm at The Living Room
Big Phony’s latest recording “Straight to Bootleg, Vol. 1” hits that magic middle realm of being DIY but sounding like pure cashmere and silk. The man behind that pillowy sound is New Yorker Robert Choy, and it’s clear that he’s no phony by the company he keeps. With a lazy, yet en-pointe voice and knack for good melody, Choy has been hangin’ with a killer pedal-steel player and an anchored percussionist; they’ve all contributed to the satin finish on this record. FREE//154 Ludlow St.
THE LIBRARY – Sunday Feb. 12 | 8pm at Mercury Lounge
The Library is a sharp Brooklyn alt-pop band made up of former members of The Comas and The Mayflies USA. Working with a can’t-go-wrong combo of bass, piano, guitars, and drums, the boys don’t hesitate to add banjos and electronics to the mix. They’ve been compared to the likes of Mazzy Star, which is certainly an apt comparison, but they are happy to be on their own track, and it shows in their breezy, easy going songs. $10//217 E. Houston 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.
