Labor Day has come and gone and the days of summer are numbered.  That being said, there are still a couple free shows worth checking out this weekend, as well as a couple that you'll have to shell out a few bucks for, but it's better than sitting at home with your 40oz of malt liquor watching Top Model reruns, ain't it?
 
Titus Andronicus at Lit Lounge (92 Second Ave. Manhattan) Friday 9/05 9pm $tba
 

 

After a summer filled with some great shows, it's almost over.  This week McCarren Park Pool hosts it's last show ever, The Giraffes and The Stalkers lead a bunch of drunks out on the Hudson River, and one of early 2000's most hyped bands plays Santos.

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
at Santos Party House (100 Lafayette St. at Walker St. Manhattan)
Monday 8/25 at 10pm $tba
 
Andrew WK's club has been hosting some pretty good shows lately, and, depending on your opinion of ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail of Dead, this Monday might be a perfect time to check out the place.  After flirting with mainstream popularity early in the decade, Trail of Dead have kept a lower profile, although continuing to release albums of arty guitar rock.  Having left Interscope, it is not certain who will release their upcoming LP, but their rabid fanbase will be out in full force to catch this one.

The Giraffes & The Stalkers
Rocks Off Concert Cruises (W. 23rd St. and FDR Dr. Manhattan)
Friday 8/29 11:45pm $20
 
The Giraffes and The Stalkers bring a rock 'n roll party to the seas this Friday, playing a midnight show aboard the Half Moon as part of the Rocks Off Concert Cruises (www.rocksoff.com).  Although the combination of open water, a moving vessel and two crazy rock bands may seem like a recipe for disaster, I'm sure you won't find a better excuse for drinking till you vomit than you will at this one.

Sonic Youth at McCarren Park Pool
(Lorimer St. between Diggs and Bayard Williamsburg)
Saturday 8/30 at 5pm $35

Finally, say goodbye to McCarren Park Pool in all it's decrepit glory with Sonic Youth this Saturday.  Their show at Central Park this summer was incredible, and you can't find a more quintessential NYC band than these 25+ year indie rock veterans.  Bring some sunscreen, a towel, and something to throw at the assholes with water guns, and say goodbye to summer (at least as far as the pool is concerned). 

Siren Fest is done.  The McCarren Park Pool Parties have already hosted The Hold Steady, Ronnie Spector, The Breeders, and The Liars. Ted Leo already played his amazing show at Castle Clinton last week. We're at the half-way point of summer concerts already, starting the slow decline into Fall.  Not much on the free side this week unless you are up for waking up at the crack of dawn on a Friday and stumbling over to Bryant Park before work.  In fact, the shows this week all seem a little on the pricey (and slightly pretentious) side, but don't blame us, we don't book 'em, we just tell you what's going on.

(details after the break)

We certainly hope that you aren't against seeing outdoor shows this week, considering that three out of the four that we are recommending are going to get you back to nature.  Well, that is if you consider "nature"  a couple urban parks and a polluted theme park beach.  Oh, and the other show is in Jersey!  I apologize in advance...

I'm going to go ahead and officially declare this week the first week of summer shows!  It's debatable who has given me the power to do so, but with the glut of package shows, free in-stores, cult band reunions, and a performance by one bonafide music legend, I'll give you the absolute essentials this week.  So let's get going....

Alejandro Escovedo at Highline Ballroom Wednesday 07/09 at 7pm $25

This Wednesday, Alejandro Escovedo, former leader of seminal cow-punk band Rank & File and solo country/folk/rocker will be playing at Highline Ballroom in support of his 9th solo album, Real Animal.  After his well publicized bout with Hepatitis C, Escovedo is back in good health and playing much more frequently.
 
The Vaselines at Maxwell's Wednesday 07/09 at 9pm $20
(07/10 at Southpaw)

Frances McKee and Eugene Kelly
 
Also this Wednesday, if country isn't your thing, The Vaselines will be playing at Maxwell's in Hoboken (and the next day at Southpaw).  The Vaselines were formed in 1986 in Edinburgh, Scotland by Eugene Kelly and Frances McKee.  The band was relatively unknown outside of record collecting circles until being championed by Kurt Cobain in the early 1990's.  Their twee-pop has influenced bands like Belle & Sebastian, among others.  Fresh off of their performance in Seattle at Sub Pop Record's 20th Anniversary show, these gigs mark The Vaselines' first East Coast performances ever.
 
Elf Power at Cakeshop Friday 07/11 at 8pm $7

One of the classic Elephant 6 collective bands (along with others like Neutral Milk Hotel and Apples in Stereo), Elf Power plays an intimate show at Cakeshop this Friday.  For lovers of catchy lo-fi indie pop (including fans of the above mentioned Vaselines), this show is not to be missed.
 
Brian Wilson at Hammerstein Ballroom Friday 07/11 at 7pm $125
 
 Brian Wilson, the heart and soul of The Beach Boys and writer of songs that will melt even the coldest, jaded hipster heart, will be playing this Friday at Hammerstein Ballroom.  Despite well-documented mental health and physical issues, his performances are still top-notch, with a killer backing band.  Tickets are pricey at $125, but compared to seeing whats left of the Rolling Stones or Madonna for twice that amount, consider it a worthy investment.
 
 
The Dirtbombs & The Fleshtones at Maxwell's Friday 07/11 at 9pm $15
 
In addition to their free show at Fort Greene Park this Saturday, The Dirtbombs will be joined by The Fleshtones on Friday at Maxwell's for a crazy mess of rock 'n roll greatness.  Supporting the new album We Have You Surrounded, The Dirtbombs are one of the few bands around today that can evoke the kind of ass-shakin' that only a fusion of soul music and high energy rock 'n roll can deliver. 
 
The Breeders at Other Music Friday 07/11 at 8pm FREE
(07/13 at McCarren Park Pool with Matt & Kim)
 
Continuing their reunion that started with the release of Title TK in 2002, The Breeders are all over the place this summer, playing in support of this year's Mountain Battles.  This week they play a free show at Other Music on Friday, as well as another free show at McCarren Park Pool as part of JellyNYC's Sunday shows.  The McCarren Park Pool show also includes alterna-dance idiots Matt & Kim.
 
Fuck Yeah Tour at Highline Ballroom Saturday 07/12 at 5:30pm $17
(07/13 at Club Exit)
 
And finally, this Friday and Saturday brings us the New York dates of the Fuck Yeah Tour 2008.  The lineup includes The Circle Jerks, Dillinger Four, Team Robespierre, Monotonix, and Matt & Kim (who the hell likes this crap?  And why are they playing three fucking times this weekend?).  The jury is still out on whether or not The Circle Jerks will make fools of themselves, but this show gets a nod solely due to Dillinger Four's presence on the bill.  After all, who doesn't like goofy yet political hardcore punk played by fat sweaty guys?
 
 
There you go for this week.  On next week's Gimme Noise, I will find a new hipster band to hate (and give Matt & Kim a break).