Brad Cohan has been providing super-intrepid and thoughtful reportage of the new/creative music scene here in NYC, and wrote the following about this week’s shows!

Last month, the Observer highlighted The 15 Best Metal Bands in NYC with sludge-metal crushers Bassoon leading the way. Not only will you get your chance to see Bassoon inflict its Melvins’y damage on May 2 at Gold Sounds, but the night before protean bassist/composer Stuart Popejoy shows off his avant-jazz chops as he joins forces with guitarist Brandon Seabrook and Talibam! drummer Kevin Shea for free-improv fireworks at Gowanus’ jazz hub, ShapeShifter Lab.

Don’t fret if you miss those gigs because come May 7, Popejoy, alongside an avant all-star group that includes violinist Sarah Bernstein, alto saxist Avram Fefer, trombonist Steve Swell and drummer/vibesman Kenny Wollesen, celebrates the release of the sprawling Pleonid.

A single, hour-long composition birthed from software Popejoy himself developed and broken up in seven-minute intervals, Pleonid’s mesmerizing angularity, dizzying patterns and conversational back and forth is both cathartic and intense.

http://observer.com/2017/05/month-in-weird-may-best-avant-garde-concerts/