WHEN Boy George snarled, “You think you’re better than me?” to the pesky media earlier this week as he tried to sweep the streets, my heart leapt with joy. He’s not aging well, but I just loved watching him doing his job and wanting be left alone. What can top that scene? A slew of amazing music.
TONIGHT, free: Glam proto-punks the New York Dolls – with surviving Dolls David Johansen and Syl Sylvain – perform tunes from their just-released “One Day It Will Please Us to Remember Even This” at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport (rivertorivernyc.com) in a free show. Tralala, a throwback to girl groups, opens for the 35-year-old group.
TONIGHT plus: Brit singer-songwriter, keyboard-, banjo- and guitar-player Ed Harcourt has written some truly, madly, deeply penetrating pop songs. He performs at the benefit series “Live From Home” at Housing Works Used Books Café (126 Crosby St.; [212] 334 3324) with the Damnwells and Dayna Kurtz tonight and, at a free show, tomorrow night at the Living Room (154 Ludlow St.; [212] 533-7237).
TOMORROW plus, free: The 23rd annual “Roots of American Music” festival, presented by Lincoln Center Out of Doors, focuses on blues and soul with Eddie Floyd and Percy Sledge taking the stage at Damrosch Park (Broadway at 63rd Street; [212] 721-6500; lincolncenter.org) tomorrow evening and Mavis Staples on Sunday.
Dipping into country music, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives will close the evening Sunday as rockabilly filly Rosie Flores and Staples join him for a few songs. A second stage will fill North Plaza with rootsy music beginning at 2 p.m. both days.
SUNDAY plus: Gnarls Barkley may rule the world this summer with their retro-soul track “Crazy,” but Houston soulman Archie Bell and his group the Drells held the pop charts hostage in 1968 with his funky, hand-clapping delight “Tighten Up.” His touring with the tune was held up because he was an enlisted Army man. Even though “Tighten Up” had cooled off, Bell and company scored more hits with “I Can’t Stop Dancing” and “(There’s Going to Be a) Showdown.”
In his first New York show in 13 years, Bell performs at Williamsburg’s McCarren Park Public Pool (free, 2-8 p.m.; Lorimer Street between Bayard Street and Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn; thepoolparties.com) on Sunday along with the R&B artist the Mighty Hannibal (whose biggest hit was “Jerkin’ the Dog”), the Dansettes (who will back Bell and Hannibal), and the Fabulous Soul Shakers.
On Monday, Bell performs a more intimate show with the Dansettes – a local ’60s flashback band with three female singers fronting a rock band – at Joe’s Pub (425 Lafayette St.; [212] 539-8770).
WEDNESDAY, old: Don’t cry for Heather’s victim, Paul.
Instead dig out “Meet The Beatles” to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Fab Four’s 1966 appearance at Shea Stadium – shaking up New York, live, for the last time.
THURSDAY, new: Taking things into 2006, the Papercranes emerge from the Florida Everglades with a debut disc, “Vidalia.”
Rain Phoenix, sister of Joaquin and the late River, fronts this six-piece, lifting the synth-tapped, glistening indie-pop band a little closer to heaven with her vocals.
The group performs at Sin-é (150 Attorney St.; [212] 388-0077).
