There's a WHOLE lot of music going on. Let's take a look at the top live shows from guitars, to beats, to free, to steep.



Check it:

8/1---BROTHER ALI WITH THE RUB DJ CREW AT THE SOUTHSTREET SEAPORT
WHY THIS ROCKS: IT'S FREE!!! It's a nice night, and Minneoapolis-based Brother Ali is known for "sharp, insight filled lyrics find sweet harmony with his soul sampled, head nodding beats." Tasty!

WOLF PARADE: AT TERMINAL 5

WHY THIS ROCKS: They recorded an album in a Quebec church owned by that sort of famous band, Arcade Fire. They're known for being kind of gritty and unorganized. This is refreshing. Nothing's worse than a lilly white band with funny haircuts that have no, like, creative chaos, man.

8/2---P.S.1 WARM UP: BLACK ROCK COALITION AND FIVE SIX MEDIA HOST: Chuck Treece's McRad, Apollo Heights, CX KiDTRONiK, guest D.J.'s

WHY THIS ROCKS: Chuck Treece has played drums with Bad Brains, bass with Billy Joel and Urge Overkill, guitar with The Roots, and managed to maintain the 25-year-old skate punk band McRad. Word. May bring you back to your rave days, only this time in the daylight. Note to self: pop that second E pill when the sun sets. Nobody wants to see your rolly face in the harsh daylight.

8/3---THE BLACK LIPS AT MCCARREN PARK
WHY THIS ROCKS: IT'S FREE! Deerhunter will also be there. It's in Billyburg (ughhhhhh) BUT these energetic Atlantans are known to put on an amusing live show.

ROCK THE BELLS: NIKON AT JONES BEACH THEATRE
WHY THIS ROCKS: Oh my god. How does it NOT rock? The godfather of hip hop shows, Sunday's line up starts at noon and includes Nas, Mos Def, Ghostface, Raekwon, Redman, Method Man, De La Soul, The Pharcyde and A Tribe Called Quest. Sounds like 20% of my i-pod. Absolutely orgasmic.