What To See This Week
This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.
Merzbow Legendary Japanese noise musician Masami Akita has released more than 100 recordings as Merzbow over the last two decades, most of which would be indistinguishable from one another to the casual listener. That’s why Merzbow has no casual listeners, only devotees. Over the years, the noise guru has traded in his handmade instruments for electronic guitars, and his electric guitars for the digital bliss of laptop production. Several good acts will open the night, including one by Merzbow devotee Jim O’Rourke performing with Carlos Giffoni, and also the psych/kraut/out insane Finnish band, Circle. Tonight at the Knitting Factory (74 Leonard Street, 212-219-3132).
The Exploited and J. Mascis (Save CBGB benefit shows) This is the first leaseless month for CBGB. While owner Hilly Kristal hatches his plans for a move to Las Vegas, a series of benefit shows are taking place to save the space. Did you know that members of Scottish punk band the Exploited – formed in Edinburgh in 1980 and led by Wattie Buchan – were not just still alive but still creating new music? We didn’t, and their 2003 album, “F– the System,” came and went without us even hearing a lick. This isn’t a case of the reunion bug: The Exploited never split up (or at least Wattie never stopped replacing his cast). Also, indie rock legend J. Mascis, who did jump on the senior-rocker reunion wagon earlier this year by reuniting the original trio of the band Dinosaur Jr. for a tour, performs solo on Sunday, with special guests, at CBGB (315 Bowery, 212-677-0455).
Seu Jorge Seu Jorge’s bossa nova treatment of five David Bowie songs on the soundtrack to Wes Anderson’s film “The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou” won him many hearts among the indie set. Not only did Jorge have a starring role as nice-guy-gone-bad Knockout Ned in Fernando Meirelles’s 2002 film “City of God” about the violent slums of Rio (where Jorge himself grew up), but he also played on the soundtrack. To celebrate the release of his new, bossa novainfluenced album, “Cru,” he will appear Sunday and Monday at the Bowery Ballroom (6 Delancey Street, 212-533-2111).
