It’s a new year, a new decade, and a new me! Just kidding, it’s actually the same old me! I’m glad to be back at it after what was honestly one of the most pleasant and relaxing holidays I think I’ve ever had. I went to Chile, I went to Necochea, I listened to lots of Moondog and Brian Eno. And I didn’t get sick, not even once. It’s summer in the city and for those of us who are around this week, in addition to the sweltering heat, there’s lots of super super hot live music to take advantage of. Here’s this week’s recommendations:
WEDNESDAY 22
América Analógica / Morita Vargas / Minicomponente / Joa Joys
I don’t know about y’all, but this has been the summer I became obsessed with ambient music. So, it was super exciting to learn about this fechazo happening this Wednesday at Matienzo, with four distinct ambient artists. There’s América Analógica, the Buenos Aires Conurbano duo consisting of Selva Ciai and Alan Serué; Morita Vargas, whose Bandcamp tags include “fairytale,” “mystique,” and “potion;” Paula Nieve’s 5th world drone pop minimal ambient music project, minicomponente; and Joa Joys. Come out, close your eyes, and listen, for a change of mental scenery.
8:30pm | $150 | Club Cultural Matienzo | Pringles 1249
THURSDAY 23
Sofía Viola at Café Vinilo
After a year of almost constant touring, with shows in Spain, Mexico, USA, Canada, Chile, and Uruguay, Sofía Viola (native to Lanús) is back, recharged and ready to play in Buenos Aires. Seeing her live show is always surprising, thanks to the natural wit, humor, and stage presence with which she performs her music. Her style of music combines indie and folk with tango, milonga, cumbia, and blues, among many others. On this occasion she will be accompanied by the guitar and charangón, and you can expect to hear a mix of newer songs and Viola classics.
9pm | $350 | Café Vinilo | Gorriti 3780
♡ Hermano Perro ♡ Homage to Luis Alberto Spinetta ♡
This Thursday marks 70 years from the day the late Luis Alberto Spinetta, known lovingly as “El Flaco,” was born. Spinetta was one of the most influential rock musicians of Argentina, and is considered one of the founders of Argentine rock. To honor his life and his beautiful music, La Casa del Árbol is hosting an homage that will feature performances by nine different artists including Un árbol, Muma Casares, Nicolas Friele, Hermana Canción, Fran Cañadas, tora.musica, Pablo Demarco, Agustina Prieto Cochet, and Fabián Iurino. The event is part of Casa del Árbol‘s summer season “Me Quedé En La Ciudad” (I stayed in the city), for those of us who have stuck around for the Summer.
7:30pm | Pay what you can | La Casa del Árbol |Avenida Córdoba 5217
FRIDAY 24
Hilary Lankford at AGITA
Jazz and folk singer-songwriter Hilary Lankford will be performing an intimate set at 1040 Polo Cultural this Friday, where artists of different disciplines will come together for an evening of music, art, poetry and theater. Hilary Lankford is a San Diego based vocalist and multi-instrumentalist. Her music includes arrangements with voice, piano, string, wind and percussive instruments in jazz, classical and folk stylings.
8pm | $?? | 1040 Polo Cultural | Francisco Acuña de Figueroa 1040
Rosario Ortega – Free at Camping
Rosario Ortega began her music education listening attentively María Elena Walsh, then decided to experiment with her own voice on top of tracks prepared by her father. At 17 she took up the guitar and since then nothing’s stopped her: soul, hip-hop, folk, funk, and numerous other genres germinated in a unique sensitivity that is felt even from her very first work, the song “Se Va.” In 2012 her album Viento y Sombra won a Gardel award for Best New Pop Artist. This Friday, she’s performing at a FREE show at Camping, Don’t miss it!
9pm | FREE | Camping | Av. Pueyrredon 2501
SATURDAY 25
DarkLands Vol. 7 at Salón Pueyrredón
DARKLANDS, the ciclo that exists to offer a good time to lovers of the dark and unconventional side of Porteño music. A pagan mass of sorts, Darklands seeks to break with the parts of Porteño culture that are pre-established and oppressive. We give ourselves new meaning and musical vibration in this transformative portal, a space to exorcize the evils of mundanity and reinvent oneself under the cover of night. This Saturday, the 7th edition of Darklands returns to Salón Pueyrredón with a new dark lineup. Post-punk/new wave band Las Kellies, gearing up to release their 6th album, Suck This Tangerine, later this year will be sharing the event with esoteric zombie duo Re Signados and the lecherous loons Los Muchachos de La Secta (whose album Club Negro was featured in La La Lista last year). Rounding out the lineup are DJs Klimber Martin and Pantera Negra.
10pm | $200 before 12, $250 after | Salón Pueyrredón | Av. Santa Fe 4560
Frescura 109: Los Ácidos, Cosmönos Ft. Chino Laborde, Chelo Lares, and Tire
The year 2020 is a minefield of counter-cultural bombs awaiting to detonate and reverberate throughout Buenos Aires’ underground indie scene, and Frescura, curated the gediente Gonzalo Aguerrido, is ground zero. The shows keep coming, and the people keep coming out to enjoy their explosive energy. This edition will feature the psychosong of Los Acidos, Cösmonos feat Chino Laborde, Chelo Lares presenting Narcolepsia and TIRE. There will also be a surprise vinyl disc jockey closing out the night.
9pm | $160 | Vuela el Pez | Av. Córdoba 4379
Mermelada de Morcilla, Mati Montano, Fábula, and Sabot at Ant Lunas
Disgustingly sweet asado brunch condiment and singer-songwriter Mermelada de Morcilla is joining forces with the god damn BOI Matias Montano, cosmic electro-songsters Fábula, and clandestine rock nacional group SABOT this Saturday in Belgrano at Antiguas Lunas y el Gato Negro. Broke? Don’t worry, the show is a la gorra, the perfect way to make use of all those 5-peso bills before they go out of circulation.
9pm | Pay what you can | Antiguas Lunas y el Gato Negro | Blanco Encalada 284