Mykki Blanco: Mercury Lounge, January 16, $10
Bending genre and gender, New York MC Mykki Blanco (a.k.a. Michael David Quattlebaum Jr) is one of hip-hop's rising stars. With last year's cult hit, "Wavvy" and an EP titled Cosmic Angel: The Illuminati Prince/ss, the mercurial rapper showed he was more than just a diverting persona. Catch him at Mercury Lounge before he really blows up.
Wednesday, January 16, 9:30 pm, Mercury Lounge, 217 East Houston Street (between Essex and Ludlow streets); 212-260-4700.
Jessie Ware, Rochelle Jordan: Bowery Ballroom, January 17, $18
Last summer, British chanteuse Jessie Ware had a cult hit with her brakeout LP, Devotion, and she hasn't slowed down since. Mixing the sleek style of Sade, beats from the London bass scene, and breathy vocals, Ware is the sort of breakout pop star we wish we saw more of.
Thursday, January 17, 8 p.m. Bowery Ballroom, 6 Delancey Street (between Bowery and Chrystie Street); 212-533-2111.
John Cale with Wordless Music Orchestra, and more: BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, January 16, 18, and 19 ,$20+
Legendary Velvet Underground member John Cale is playing a rare three show run at BAM this week featuring a ridiculously stacked roster of special guests. One the 16, there's a one-night-only tribute to Nico titled "Life Along the Borderline," featuring the likes of Magnetic Fields, Sharon Van Etten, Yeasayer, Peaches, Kim Gordon, and more. Then, the following two shows will see Cale play his classic album, Paris 1919, in its entirety,joined by the Wordless Music Orchestra. Both performances are once-in-a-lifetime type events.
Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, January 16, 18, and 19, 8 pm, BAM Howard Gilman Opera House, 30 Lafayette Avenue (between Ashland Place and St. Felix Street), Brooklyn; 718-636-4100.
Photos Via: Mykki Blanco, Diplo, Lou Reed