The Eleven Best Concerts in New York This Weekend, 7/10

For more shows throughout the weekend, check out our New York Concert Calendar, which we update daily.

Friday, 7/10
Mates Of State
Bowery Ballroom
8 p.m., $15
Husband and wife team Jason Hammel and Kori Gardner have been making sweet,twee pop tunes for nearly two decades as Mates of State, but for their latest EP You’re Going To Make It, they decided to pull out all the stops and go for anthemic hits, though still built from their trademark meld of drums, synth, and playful vocal harmonies. In support of the release, they hit Bowery Ballroom with another dynamic duo in tow – cello and acoustic guitar sister act Good Graeff, who made a name busking on street corners from their hometown of Sarasota, Florida to Hanoi, Vietnam, where they still have a strong following. Hey Marseilles, a six-piece orchestral folk ensemble from Seattle, are also along for the (likely very crowded) ride. – Lindsey Rhoades

Rainer Maria
Saint Vitus Bar
8 p.m., $15
In the mid-Aughts, Rainer Maria had a practice space at North Six, the venue that would later become Music Hall of Williamsburg. When the band played their last show there in 2006, lead singer Caithlin De Marrais referred to it as “home,” but this time around, after three reunion shows in NYC, Chicago and Philly last year, the indie rock trio have opted to play much more intimate venues. The first of those will be at St. Vitus; traditionally a metal club, it sold out in less than a hour, so a second show at Shea Stadium the following night was added. They seem to be keeping mum about whether there will be another Rainer Maria release (or more extensive tour – the NYC dates are the only ones they’ve announced so far) so treat this as a rare opportunity to catch the energetic ensemble while you can. – Lindsey Rhoades

Archers of Loaf
Music Hall of Williamsburg
9 p.m., $22 – $25
It takes guts to call your EP The Greatest of All Time, but strength is something the Chapel Hill, North Carolina foursome Archers of Loaf have in excess – at least in terms of their music. “Got nothing to say, and you say it anyway,” singer Eric Bachmann growls during “Lowest Part is Free!”, one of their finer moments from their Nineties heyday. These indie hard rock titans reformed in 2011 and began rereleasing their catalogue through the label Merge, giving their unappreciated gems another chance to be heard. And as their current tour is gliding without the release of any new music, it appears the fans have spoken. – Silas Valentino

Balkan Beat Box
Brooklyn Bowl
6 p.m., $17 – $20
A familiar brass horn break arrives about a minute into Balkan Beat Box’s gypsy funk song “Hermetico.” Originally released in 2007 off BBB’s sophomore album Nu Med, this snake-charming riff is the hook on Jason Derulo’s hit single “Talk Dirty” — and it’s not the only case of earworms when it comes to this Brooklyn-via-Tel Aviv trio. Their Mediterranean-inspired music is a party rumpus full of wind instruments and dance floor gravitations. This is the second of two back-to-back nights at Brooklyn Bowl and their infectious rhythm just might be what it takes to finally bowl that 300. – Silas Valentino

Saturday, 7/11
Say Anything + Modern Baseball + Cymbals Eat Guitars + Hard Girls
Best Buy Theatre
6:30 p.m., $23 – $26
For those who once (or still) worshiped at the alter of pop-punk, the antics of Max Bemis served as the stuff of legend in the early 2000s. The oft-unstable Say Anything frontman was formidable, to say the least, but nonetheless a pioneer in advancing the emo/pop-punk genre beyond its stereotypical confines (see generally: 2007’s In Defense of the Genre). Bemis’ latest output went even further on Hebrews, Say Anything’s string-accompanied album from last year, which the group is currently supporting on the road. With the show billed as “A loud interpretation of Say Anything songs, old and new, featuring both a string quartet and guitars,” expect exactly that—an intimate glimpse of the band’s past and future. Modern Baseball, Cymbals Eat Guitars and Hard Girls open. – Jill Menze

4Knots Music Festival
Pier 84
12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m., $25-$50
Not only is 4Knots getting bigger, longer and West-er (in that we’ve moved from the South Street Seaport to Hudson River Park), it’s growing into an eardrum-blasting rock beast with a serious taste for guitar. Super Furry Animals, Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks, Mikal Cronin, Screaming Females and more will descend upon Pier 84 for ten straight hours of rock of various stripes, so come ready, willing and able to throw your hands up and lose yourself to some of the strongest indie riffs to hit the city in ages. (Bring earplugs. Captain’s hat optional but encouraged.) – Hilary Hughes

The New Pornographers + Thao & The Get Down Stay Down
Prospect Park Bandshell
6:30 p.m., FREE
Ever since the power pop sweetness of the New Pornographers‘ 2000 debut, Mass Romantic, the Canadian collective has been consistent in offering a diverse array of material over the past 15 years. Most recently, the group landed with last year’s Brill Bruisers, the stellar sixth studio album from A.C. Newman and his respectable cohorts including Dan Bejar, Kathryn Calder and, of course, frequent vocalist Neko Case. In support of the album and as part of Celebrate Brooklyn, the New Pornographers are playing a free show in Prospect Park, a fitting setting for the group’s far-reaching hooks and bombastic arrangements. Joining the band are folk rock openers Thao & The Get Down Stay Down. – Jill Menze

Beverly
Riis Park Beach Bazaar
1:00 p.m., FREE
Frankie Rose is one half of the Brooklyn indie pop-rock duo Beverly, and her résumé includes stints in the Crystal Slits, Vivian Girls, and Dum Dum Girls. Whatever she touches turns into guitar-laced gold. Alongside Drew Citron, Rose tosses together chord progressions in a garage-meets-surf combination where catchy backing harmonies are in a seller’s market. Beverly’s debut, Careers, dropped last summer, and a free show near Jamaica Bay might be the best time to catch them before Rose embarks on yet another musical adventure. – Silas Valentino

Sunday, 7/12
Caveman
Riis Park Beach Bazaar
1:00 p.m., FREE
This is the only date currently scheduled for Caveman this summer and it’s a treat for the home base. Hailing from Brooklyn, this indie-pop five-piece keeps it easy with mid-tempo songs layered on top of their vocal melodies. The band’s secret weapon? Bass player Jeff Berrall and his consistent, underlying groove that gives this sprawling music an anchor during escalating, orbital jams. Their self-titled sophomore effort was released in 2013, so expect this show to be grounds for testing new material. – Silas Valentino

Mudhoney
The Bell House
8 p.m., $20 – $25
Mudhoney, the proto-grunge overlords and original “Loser” poster boys who, along with Nirvana and TAD, formed the unrivaled trifecta that propelled Sub Pop Records to global domination, are hitting the east coast yet again. They’re still basking in the glorious punk rock stench of 2013’s comeback LP, Vanishing Point. The SuperFuzz and Big Muff-stomping goons have been dishing the garage rock goods for over twenty-five years now, outlasting most of their peers while inspiring a slew of young guns to carry the grunge torch. Sure, sneering singer Mark Arm, guitarist Steve Turner, bassist Guy Maddison and drummer Dan Peters have day jobs, wives, and kids, but that hasn’t stopped their post-Stooges debauchery. So get ready to enter the mosh pit and lose your shit to classics like “Touch Me, I’m Sick” and “Suck Me Dry” to recent barn-burners like “Chardonnay” and “I Like It Small.” – Brad Cohan

G. Love
The Surf Lodge
5 p.m., FREE
Talented enough to coin a new style of music (“Philadelphonic”) is G. Love and his sunny jams fit for a Corona commercial. Is he rapping or is he scatting? Regardless, when matched with upbeat production, G. Love is a good time that doesn’t require much thought or effort to enjoy. Part of Jack Johnson’s Brushfire Records, G. Love continues to ride some similar chill waves as heard in his most recent album (recorded along with his talented support band Special Sauce) 2014’s Sugar. – Silas Valentino