The best NYC concerts in December 2019

The U.K. singer-songwriter behind the atmospheric dance hits “Better” and “Throwaway” (both featuring Clairo) and “Hurting” (with AlunaGeorge) is bringing his groovy basslines to the decks at this beloved, intimate Brooklyn dance hall.

Last February, this New Orleans–bred keyboardist headlined the Super Bowl with his fellow Maroon 5 bandmates and took home his first-ever Grammy. But his illustrious solo act is flourishing, too. Catch him touring songs off his sixth, rather personal album, Paul. Lucky you if he also sings his award-winning R&B rendition of the Bee Gees’ hit “How Deep Is Your Love.”

While incels have attempted to co-opt the figure of the clown a la Todd Phillips' Joker for their violent misogynistic machinations, ICP perhaps offers a redemptive rewrite. Known for burning Confederate flags onstage and penning lyrics about attacking Klansmen, could ICP represent the anti-oppressive clown revolutionary Gotham City deserves? The band's veritable army of Faygo-guzzling, clown-makeup-wearing fans would probably say, "yes." What better way to decide for yourself than experiencing the band first-hand on a cruise ship?

This San Diego-based pop-punk band is known to make a lot of noise, epic noise: Think grimey-riffs and anthemic, sugary choruses. If you can’t stop by the boys New Years Eve shindig at Baby’s All Right this year, you have another chance. A second gig was just announced at the Dance the night before. Get there, grab a beer and don’t get shy when you find yourself in the middle of a feverish mosh pit.

This Siberian-born producer just emerged from the Italian techno scene, and already her tracks are on dance floors around the world. The megatalent has earned support from prolific fellow DJs like Adam Beyer, Radio Slave and Pan-Pot who mix her tunes in their own sets, and now she’s making her big U.S. debut. Throw shapes all night long to tracks, such as “You Got to Work,” off her Hypnotic EP, released on Carl Cox’s own label, Intec.

It’s not every day that you can see a 78-years-young jazz-funk icon play the heck out of a vibraphone. Often labeled “The Godfather of Neo Soul,” Ayers is a key figure in the acid-jazz movement and one of the most sampled artists in hip-hop—you might not even realize you already love his work. Here’s hoping you can catch some of his celebrated compositions like “Everybody Loves the Sunshine,” “Searchin” and “Running Away.”

Known for serenading audiences with his nostalgia-inducing catalogue of soulful rock arrangements, singer-songwriter Clarence Greenwood is back in the public eye and heading to this movie theater–turned–performing-arts venue. Catch tunes from his latest album, Heroin and Helicopters, his first released in six years.

Cloud Nothings play the sort of scruffy fuzz-pop you've heard a million times, but thanks to the vocal pathos and songwriting smarts of frontman Dylan Baldi and the wiry muscle of bassist TJ Duke and drummer Jayson Gerycz, this Cleveland crew achieves a rare resonance. If ringing in the New Year with a weary-yet-raging dose of nihilism sounds like your cup of tea, this is your NYE show.

Sure, we're still bummed about the demise of Sonic Youth—and let's face it, Kim Gordon and Moore's sad, sordid split—but both artists have been doing great work on their own, releasing new albums this year within a month of one another: Gordon with her upcoming No Home Record, and Moore with his new Spirit Counsel. Like much of the lanky frontman's recent solo output, the album plays like a suppler yet no less spellbinding Sonic Youth.

Along with injecting an unexpected dose of retro Latin flavor to rap radio, Cardi B’s “I Like It”, also introduced American audiences to this Puerto Rican reggaeton phenom last year. But Bad Bunny's oeuvre of mega-hits extends far beyond that. Check out the Drake-featuring "MIA" or this year's fresh new banger "Callaita" for another taste of the star's talents before you catch him at this Brooklyn arena gig.