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Alvvays: Apr 2 at Bowery Ballroom
To hear Alvvays is to fall for Alvvays. The Toronto quintet, which landed on both our best albums and best songs year-end lists, specializes in a perfectly delicate sort of indie pop that packs a sly emotional wallop. The band plays a one-off headlining gig here on an off night during its spring tour with the Decemberists. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 19 at noon via Ticketmaster.
The Gaslight Anthem: Feb 26 at Webster Hall
The New Jersey working-class rockers, who released the downcast Get Hurt LP last year, have already sold out one night at Terminal 5. Expect spots for this gig at the smaller Webster Hall to go fast. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 19 at 10am via Ticketmaster.
Ex Hex: Apr 23 at Le Poisson Rouge. June 12 at Music Hall of Williamsburg
Guitarist Mary Timony, whose résumé includes groups like Wild Flag, Helium and Autoclave, brings her power trio Ex Hex to town. The band's 2014 debut, Rips, roars with a straightforward, fetching noise-pop racket. Tickets for April 23 on sale now. Tickets for June 12 go on sale Friday, December 19 at noon via Ticketmaster.
Iggy Azalea + Nick Jonas + Tinashe: May 7 at Barclays Center. May 8 at Prudential Center
The "Fancy" rapper steps it up in a big way with a stadium tour planned for 2015. Joining are former Jonas Brother, current soul-pop singer Nick Jonas and rising R&B voice Tinashe. Tickets are on sale Friday, December 19 at 9am via Ticketmaster.
The Julianna Hatfield Three: Mar 1 at Bowery Ballroom
The author of "My Sister," one of the most enduring jams of the 120 Minutes era—that opening line, "I hate my sister / She's such a bitch," still stings more than 20 years on—reunites the band that made her famous. At this gig, you'll hear all of the Three's 1993 debut, Become What You Are, as well as songs from a new crowdfunded reunion LP, Whatever, My Love. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 19 at noon via Ticketmaster.
Electric Wizard: Apr 2 at Webster Hall
Electric Wizard isn't much for subtlety: The British doom-metal institution titled its latest LP Time to Die and populated the disc with the same sort of sample-ridden psychedelic sludge it's been spewing forth for roughly two decades now. This spring, the band plays NYC for the first time since 2002. Tickets go on sale Friday, December 19 at 10am via TicketWeb.