It’s time for the December Music Calendar. The usual ground rules apply: listings on the calendar are for venues in New York City and for bands that I can personally recommend or which I have reason to believe are worthwhile. All shows listed here are free or have tickets which cost $40 or less. I’ve tried to list the set time for each band. If all I have is a time when the show starts or when doors open, I’ll list that and so note it. As usual, this calendar will be updated from time to time during the coming month. Expect already announced New Years Eve shows to sell out, but some shows will be announced shortly and there will be some open houses around as well. Meanwhile, get your calendars out and start planing December.
Latest Update: Dec. 26
Dec. 1 – Ana Egge – Rockwood Music Hall – 8pm
Dec. 1 – Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Dec. 1 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Hagar Ben-Ari, Josh Dion – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm
Dec. 2 – Leave A Lasting Mark Tribute to The Band and The Last Waltz – The Bitter End – 7-9pm
Dec. 2 – The Sirens of Brooklyn Choir – Plymouth Church – 7:30pm
Dec. 2 – Poundcake – Living Room – 8pm
Dec. 3 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Dec. 4 – Spottiswoode and His Enemies – Rockwood Stage 2 – 7pm
Dec. 5 – Heap – Bowery Electric – 7:30pm
Dec. 5 – Call and Response – ‘answer songs’ to the Rolling Stones’ Sympathy for the Devil by Natalia Zukerman, Susan Hwang, and Ben Arthur – Rockwood Stage 3 – 8:30pm
Dec. 5 – Jessi Robertson (CD Release Show) – Union Hall – 9pm
Dec. 6 – The Seeds: Pushin’ Too Hard (a documentary) – The Bell House – 7:30pm
Dec. 6 – Karen Kuhl – Beast of Bourbon – 9pm
Dec. 6 – Fife & Drom – Rockwood Stage 2 – 10:30pm
Dec. 7 – NYC Holiday Benefit for Toys for Tots with Jay Stolar, Mieka Pauley, Drew Yowell, Jenni Alpert – Rockwood Stage 2 – 6pm
Dec. 8 – The Lascivious Biddies – Rockwood Music Hall – 7pm
Dec. 8 – The 9 Songwriter Series featuring Jes Hudak, Abby Ahmad, Joel Streeter, Bryan Dunn, Justin Trawick, Ina May Wool, Andy Mac, Markeisha Ensley, Jacqueline Pie Francis – Rockwood Stage 3 – 7pm
Dec. 8 – Julia Haltigan and Emmet Haltigan – Rockwood Music Hall – 8pm
Dec. 8 – Jim Keller’s Revolving Door – Rockwood Stage 2 – 8pm
Dec. 8 – Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Dec. 8 – Milton – Pete’s Candy Store – 9pm
Dec. 9 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Living Room – 9pm
Dec. 10 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Dec. 11 – Puss n Boots Christmas Extravaganza Take 3 – The Bell House – doors 7:30pm / show 8:30pm
Dec. 11 – Bucky Hayes – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Dec. 12 – Alex Battles and The Whiskey Rebellion – The Bell House – 9pm
Dec. 12 – The Jacks of Kings County – The Way Station – 9pm
Dec. 12 – Andi Rae and The Back River Bullies – Hank’s Saloon – 11:30pm
Dec. 13 – The Return Of The Aimee Mann Christmas Show with Aimee Mann, Ted Leo with special guests Susanna Hoffs, Jonathan Coulton, Fred Armisen and more to be announced – Town Hall – 8pm
Dec. 14 – Eric “Rosco” Ambel – Treehouse at 2A – 9pm
Dec. 15 – Winterpills – Rockwood Stage 3 – 7pm
Dec. 15 – Adam Levy and the Mint Imperials – Rockwood Stage 2 – 8pm
Dec. 15 – Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Dec. 15 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm
Dec. 15 – Dirty Water Dogs – Ear Inn – Midnight
Dec. 16 – Members of The Spring Standards, Northwood, and Friends play Lucinda Williams‘ Car Wheels Gravel Road – Rockwood Stage 2 – 9:30pm
Dec. 17 – The Looking – Rockwood Stage 3 – 8pm
Dec. 20 – Thomas Bryan Eaton and Hobson’s Choice (Record Release Show) – Living Room – 9-11pm
Dec. 21 – Alex Battles (solo acoustic) – Freddy’s Bar – 4pm
Dec. 21 – Emily Duff, Jahn Xavier – Treehouse at 2A – 8:30pm
Dec. 21 – Karlie Bruce – Rockwood Music Hall – Midnight
Dec. 22 – Jill Sobule – Subculture – 8pm
Dec. 22 – Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Dec. 22 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm
Dec. 22 – Kelli King – Pete’s Candy Store – 10pm
Dec. 23 – The Jewbadors play The Last Schmaltz with Ari Hest, Julian Velard, Toby Lightman, Jay Jay French, Rosi Golan, Allie Moss, Chrissi Poland, Amanda Brown, Colin Smith, Wes Hutchinson and Jamie McClean – The Highline Ballroom – doors 6pm / show 8pm
Dec. 23 – Exile on The Bowery Holiday Party with Bakersfield Breakers, Certain General, Charlie Roth, Deborah Frost, Deer France, Jahn Xavier, James Wynbrandt, Jana Peri, The Rousers, Tom Wynbrandt, Tuff Darts, Walter Lure and Walter Steding – The Bowery Electric – doors 7pm
Dec. 23 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Hagar Ben-Ari, Josh Dion – Living Room – 9pm
Dec. 24 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Dec. 26 – Jessi Mechanic – Rockwood Music Hall – 7pm
Dec. 26 – Jeff Litman – The Bitter End – 8pm
Dec. 26 – Interrobang with Zach Jones, Chris Kuffner, Martin Rivas – Rockwood Stage 2 – 10:30pm
Dec. 27 – Jahn Xavier and The Bowerytones – Beast Of Bourbon – 10pm
Update: Dec. 27 – The Pin Ups – Bowery Electric – 10pm
Update: Dec. 28 – The Radigan Roundup with Terry Radigan, Gerald Menke, Jim Campilongo, Daniel Menke and special guests – 12th Street Bar and Grill – 7pm
Dec. 28 – Field of Stars with Dina Regine, Robin Aigner, Kelli King and Monica “Li’l Mo” Passin – Treehouse at 2A – 8:30pm
Dec. 29 – Elliott Murphy – Rockwood Stage 3 – 8pm
Dec. 29 – Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Dec. 29 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Rockwood Stage 2 – 10pm
Dec. 30 – The Pin Ups – Arlene’s Grocery – 7pm
Dec. 30 – Poundcake – Living Room – 8pm
Dec. 30 – Jim Campilongo Electric Trio – Living Room – 9pm
Update: Dec. 30 – Mancie – Mercury Lounge – 7pm
Dec. 31 – Elizabeth & The Catapult, Dear Georgiana – Rockwood Stage 2 – 8pm
Dec. 31 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
January 2015 and Beyond
Jan. 1 – Chuck Prophet – City Winery – doors 6pm / show 8pm
Jan. 2 – Karla Moheno – Hank’s Saloon – 9:30pm
Jan. 5 – The Lascivious Biddies – Rockwood Music Hall – 7pm
Jan. 5 – Tony Scherr Trio with Anton Fier and Rob Jost – Rockwood Music Hall – 9pm
Jan. 5 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Rockwood Music Hall – 10pm
Jan. 6 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Living Room – 9pm
Jan. 7 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Jan. 9 – Mary Gauthier – Rockwood Stage 3 – 8:30pm
Jan. 9 – Luke Wesley – Rockwood Music Hall – 11pm
Jan. 9 – Bryan Dunn – Rockwood Music Hall – Midnight
Jan. 13 – Thomas Bryan Eaton and Hobson’s Choice – Living Room – 8pm
Jan. 14 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Jan. 15 – Jessie Kilguss – Living Room – 8pm
Jan. 17 – The Kennedys – Rockwood Stage 3 – 7:30pm
Jan. 17 – Nick Africano – Rockwood Stage 3 – 11pm
Jan. 20 – Jim Campilongo Trio with Chris Morrissey, Josh Dion – Living Room – 9pm
Jan. 21 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Jan. 22 – Israel Nash – Mercury Lounge – 8pm
Jan. 22 – Alejandro Escovedo performing Gravity- City Winery – doors 6pm / show 8pm
Jan. 23 – Alejandro Escovedo performing Thirteen Years – City Winery – doors 6pm / show 8pm
Jan. 23 – Ana Egge –The Living Room – 8pm
Jan. 24 – Alejandro Escovedo performing With Theses Hands – City Winery – doors 6pm / show 8pm
Jan. 28 – North of Amarillo – Skinny Dennis – 9pm
Feb. 5 – Freedy Johnston – Rockwood Stage 3 – 7pm
Feb. 10 – Jay Farrar – Living Room – 10pm
