Good Music New York

Friday, October 14th
10:00 pm
Rodeo Bar
375 Third avenue
Corner of 27th St.
Manhattan
Full Dinner Menu
Free

Wayne "The Train" Hancock has been called "the master of hillbilly swing," a "roots Renaissance man," a "country singer's country singer" and "Hank Williams meets Gershwin." But the phrase most frequently echoed throughout his career is "Wayne Hancock is the real deal." Joe Ely said it, Hank Williams III said it, Bobby Koefer from the Texas Playboys said it, as have countless music fans and writers when referring to Hancock's authentic and original blend of honky tonk, western swing, blues and big band that he calls "juke joint swing!"

Saturday, October 8th
4:00 pm - 2:00 am
The Hook
8 Commerce St.
Between Richards and Columbia
Red Hook, Brooklyn

A North-South battle of the bands to benefit the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC). This annual festival of rockabilly, country, beer and men in oversized caps brings together twenty-two bands from around the country to play music, whine over the lack of unblemished skin left to get tattooed and swill North Carolina Moonshine.

All the proceeds from this years festival will be donated to help musicians who were displaced by hurricane Katrina.

I'm not sure exactly what the schedule is but I do know the bands who are playing.

Thursday, October 20th
Kings County Opry
Freddy's Back Room
485 Dean St. at 6th Ave.
Brooklyn
8:30 pm
Free
Get more info

The evening starts at 8:30 pm with a song circle featuring all the night's acts as they jam and croon away on whatever songs strike their fancy. Following the circle three bands play an hour set. Sir His Highness El Presidente Doc Oscar books amazing bands every month and you can be assured an evening steeped deep in the hills of traditional American song.

Saturday, October 8th
10:00 pm
Lillie's
46 Beard St.
Corner of Dwight St.
Red Hook, Brooklyn
FREE

On the second saturday of every month Alex Battles puts together a great (and free) country music showcase at Lillie's bar in Red Hook. Come on out and join in the fun with this great music and your old friend beer.

The October lineup is:

• 10pm - The Blue State Band
• 11:30pm - The Blue State Band
• 1am - Matt Wissler (of the Wissler Family)

Saturday, September 10th
10:00 pm
Lillie's
46 Beard St.
Corner of Dwight St.
Red Hook, Brooklyn
FREE

The 2nd Saturday of every month will feature a free country music showcase at Lillie's. The September show features Sweet William, The Crevulators, and the Banjorama! Anarchy Jam on the outdoor stage. Come on out and join in the fun with this great music and your old friend beer.

The lineup is:

• 10:00 pm - Sweet William
• 11:30 pm - The Crevulators
• The whole night - Banjorama!/Strong Joe Choina Acoustic Bluegrass Anarchy Jam

Saturday, Sept. 3
10:00 pm
Hank's Saloon
46 3rd Ave.
Corner of Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn
Free

The Lonesome Prairie Dogs are a band of rockin’ hillbillies hailing mainly from the backwaters of downtown Jersey City. They try not to butcher the music of Hank Williams, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and other artists of country, rockabilly, and related genres. Described by one observer as “super vintage,” The Lonesome Prairie Dogs aim roughly for a Sun sound; the lineup is Steve “Luke” Lonesome on acoustic guitar and vocals, “Hellcat” Heidi Lonesome on upright bass, “Guitar” Mike Lonesome on Telecaster, and June “Sticks” Lonesome on snare-and-cymbal. Their sets are usually a combination of classic and obscure covers, traditionals, original compositions, and technical difficulties. They’d love to ride around in a ’52 Cadillac, but settle for wearing cowboy clothes.

Saturday, August 27th
10:00 pm
Hanks Saloon
46 3rd Ave.
Corner of Atlantic Ave.
Brooklyn
FREE

Once in a while an act comes along that is so unsavory in its content, so Neanderthal in its execution, so basely moronic in its very existence that, like a grisly collision between a circus train and a prison bus, it becomes an unintentional freak show, at once alluring and horrific, hilarious for all the wrong reasons. Such is the case with Uncle Leon, a bald, creepy-crooning never-was who obviously took his Mojo Nixon albums a little too seriously. His backing band is pretty good, but unless you’re the sort of dive-bar creep who enjoys gutter-quality, brick-handed meditations on the alleged joys of big butts, monster trucks, or drinking booze, avoid this degenerate at all costs.