Cory Graves
Don't Save Haim at Trees.
Twenty-five-year-old Ben Brast-McKie hasn't owned a cell phone in four years. By choice, mind you. He doesn't use social media, either.
His reasoning? He wants to avoid life passing him by while he'd otherwise have been busy, transfixed by his Facebook profile.
Thing is, Brast-McKie doesn't really ever see himself re-joining the land of the smartphone-connected. The hardest parts about his phone-free lifestyle, he says, are constantly explaining himself to others, experiencing the ridicule of others and the difficulty making plans with others.
Now, we can't promise you won't be ridiculed if you go out tonight — hey, there are assholes pretty much everywhere — but at least we can guarantee you won't suffer the annoyance that comes with planning your evening without the benefit of technology. To that end, take a peek at the list of goings on below. Then maybe shoot your buddies a text and tell them where to meet you.
Red Baraat at Cambridge Room
If the Dap Kings incorporated a few more world music styles and Hindi lyrics into their throwback, soul-influenced sound, they might sound a bit like pioneering Brooklyn eight-piece Red Baraat. Rest assured, the band's dhol drums and blasting horns will have you dancing and singing along with the band, even if you aren't quite sure what words you're actually singing. Just go with it. — Cory Graves
Local Natives and Wild Nothing at House of Blues
When going to an all-ages show like this one, it's a pretty good idea to get there early: When you can't drink, there isn't much to do besides stake out a great spot in front for the show. Not only that, but when indie rockers Wild Nothing were here last year there were a lot of youngsters camped out in front of the stage at Dada. And the band's got what those fans were looking for, too: Sure, it took the band a bit to warm up, and they weren't terribly electric on stage, but in the end they managed to play their brand of dream pop pretty well. All in all, their set along isn't a terrible way to spend a Tuesday. Add in the fact that Wild Nothing's just the opening act here for Local Natives — still the band to have best incorporated the word “encyclopedia” into its lyrics, far as we've ever heard — and this one's bound to be a well-attended affair. — Jeremy Hughes
Netherfriends and The Up & Ups at Crown and Harp
Unlike Sufjan Stevens, who gave up on his 50 states project only two albums in, Chicago native Shawn Rosenblatt saw his slightly less ambitious 50 Songs 50 States project through to the end. Rosenblatt, who tours almost continually, wrote and recorded a song and performed a live show in every state during a one-year period between 2010 and 2011. Sure, his Texas song might be about a show he played in Austin, but try not to hold that against him. When we caught him at a DIY space in the mid-cities during that 2011 tour, we found Rosenblatt's use of multiple looping pedals to create massive-yet-intricate soundscapes pretty remarkable. — CG
HAIM at Trees
Judging from the way our social media feeds blew up over the weekend, sisters Este, Danielle and Alana Haim were pretty much the big hit at ACL's opening weekend. Rightfully, too, we imagine: The indie-pop sister act's brand new album just debuted at No.1 on the charts in the U.K., knocking Justin Timberlake's 20/20 Experience — 2 of 2 off in the process. You better bet that if these ladies can win over celebrity fans like Katy Perry and the thousands of folks who caught their ACL set, then tonight’s sure-to-be-packed crowd at Trees is in for a treat. — CG
City and Colour at the Granada Theater
If Dallas Green's post-hardcore outfit Alexisonfire was somehow too heavy for you, good news! He's done with that outfit! These days, the singer-songwriter is fronting his decidedly softer former side project, City and Colour, and touring the country once more. If you've already got your ticket, you're in for a treat: In addition to access to this show, you'll also receive a free digital download for Green's June-released The Hurry and The Harm LP. If you don't already have your ticket, you're SOL: This sucker's sold out. — Pete Freedman
Godfather II at The Magnolia
Say what you will about it being one of the greatest sequels ever made or winning a bunch of awards. No matter how many times you've seen a movie like The Godfather II, it's always cool to see a classic film that came out before you were born on the big screen, the way it was truly intended. — CG
To find out what else is going on today, this week and beyond, check out our events page.
