Don’t recognize this trio? It’s These Are Powers, the group you should see instead of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs this summer. Big-name ticket prices can be out of control, and you can end up sitting a mile from the stage. If the music is all you’re after, there are ways to take in near-name-brand sounds for closer to garage-band prices. Can’t swing Bob Weir, Lil’ Wayne, Depeche Mode or Bob Dylan either? See our other budget band swaps for free and low-cost sound-alikes.
The electro-pop band swap
The Name Brand: Depeche Mode at Madison Square Garden, $49.50 to $129.50, and you’ll sit a mile away.
The Budget Band: Blank Dogs at the Monster Island Basement (128 River St., Williamsburg), July 26, $8
This new-wave, synth- and guitar-heavy band takes the dark electronic sounds of Depeche Mode and adds a post-punk feel of Joy Division and The Jesus and Mary Chain. More info here.
Noodly jam-band swap
The Name Brand: Bob Weir at the Beacon Theater, $50.
The Budget Band: Woods at the Bell House (149 7th St.), August 14, $15
Woods combines effects-laden, jam band elements with a folk style much like Bon Iver. Their live shows can feature epic guitar solos that sometimes last for 15 minutes. Dungen also that night. More info here.
Lo-fi/psych-folk band swap
The Name Brand: Bob Dylan in Lakewood, NJ, $67.50, traffic on the Turnpike.
The Budget Band: Grizzly Bear at East River State Park (90 Kent St.), August 30, free
Dylan lovers will appreciate Grizzly Bear’s spaced-out, harmonically-complex folk, which is like Animal Collective meets Country Joe & the Fish. Beach House will open this installment of the Jelly NYC Pool Parties. More info. here.
Punky art-rock band swap
The Name Brand: The Yeah Yeah Yeahs in Clifton Park, NY ($25, plus a four-hour drive from NYC).
The Budget Band: These Are Powers at the Whitney Museum (945 Madison Ave., yes, Manhattan). July 31
These Are Powers follow in YYY’s footsteps but bring their own wild noise to the experience. Think of walking into a strange decrepit basement and finding a ritualistic dance party with flashing green lights all around. More info here.
Hipster hip-hop band swap
The Name Brand: Lil’ Wayne in Saratoga Springs, NY, $125.
The Budget Band: Ninjasonik at the Jungle (286 Meserole St.), August 22.
Brooklyn’s favorite party rappers do everything Lil’ Wayne can do and more. They parody faddish hipster trends like lifting dance beats from rock tunes and turning them into club anthems. The sound is frenetic but funky. More info here.
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yo, i’ll see all those budget bands over the brands. let’s go with axel and mia. yo
this is true and good advice, but most of these diy bands are a) old news and b) better than the expensive ones