Artist Feature
by Stefanie Smith

This Week’s NYC Clippings, Including Alex Battles and The Whisky Rebellion’s Johnny Cash Birthday Bash

Alex Battles
Photo by Jack Hirschorn

Now that you all are hopefully recovered from a packed weekend of amazing shows — including Friday’s awesome grass clippings winter warm up and Southpaw’s four-night Americana Pie 2 festival — it’s time … to do it all again.

There may not be as much on the docket this week, but a definite must on your calendar should be one or both nights of Alex Battles and the Whisky Rebellion’s tribute to Johnny Cash, marking what would have been the icon’s 80th birthday. Battles and his band are bringing the show to both The Bell House and Littlefield.

And until then, if you need something to make your week pass a little faster Sarah Jaffe — who will be opening up for The New Multitudes in their March tour — will play a set at Mercury Lounge on Wednesday. Check out the below music video for Jaffe’s ‘The Way Sound Leaves a Room.’

Yellowbirddd’s a band definitely worth a listen, and they’ll take the stage at Union Hall the following night. Go warm your feet by the fire before heading down to the show, or check out one of the other bands makin’ the rounds in the city this week.

Happy show-hunting!

Monday, February 20

Thieving Irons, The Famous Winters — The Rock Shop, 8 p.m.

Tuesday, February 21

The Cabin Down Below Band Presents:  Stones Fest 2012 – With Norah Jones, Adam Green, Jesse Malin, Nicole Atkins, Will Forte, Jason Sudeikis, Jessie Baylin, The Sheepdogs, Jon Herington (of Steely Dan),  The Tangiers Blues Band, Sammy James Jr., Tad Kubler (of the Hold Steady), Justin Long, and many, many, many more — 8 pm, Webster Hall

Wednesday, February 22

Sarah Jaffe, Echosuite — Mercury Lounge, 7:30 p.m.

Marketa Irglova — Joe’s Pub, 7 p.m.

Thursday, February 23

Regina Spektor — Rose Theater, 8 p.m.

Laura Cantrell – Hill Country, 9 p.m.

Yellowbirdd, The Field Effect, Chris Lorraine — Union Hall, 7:30 p.m.

Friday, February 24

Sharon Van Etten, Shearwater — Music Hall of Williamsburg, 8 p.m.

Alex Battles and The Whisky Rebellion (The Johnny Cash 80th Birthday Bash) — The Bell House, 8 p.m.

Elysian Fields, Hannah Cohen — 8 p.m., Le Poisson Rouge

Dead Fingers, Leland Sundries, Lou-is — 8 p.m., Union Hall

Saturday, February 25

Alex Battles & The Whisky Rebellion (The Johnny Cash 80th Birthday Bash – “Live At Folsom Prison”) — 8:30 p.m. at Littlefield

Micah P. Hinson (Supporting The Twilight Sad and Forest Fire) — Music Hall of WIlliamsburg, 9 p.m.