Established New York City songwriter Jennifer O’Connor is starting a new monthly concept at The Rock Shop in Gowanus involving many NYC artists: a songwriting show series. The second Tuesday of each month for 2011, she and three other songwriters (changing with each month; the first two shows have Chris Brokaw, Amy Bezunartea and Tim Foljahn from Two Dollar Guitar and then the following month Charles Bissell from Wrens, Kendall Meade and Richard Baluyut from Versus) will talk about the songwriting process, collaborating, and possibly playing a cover or two. This series, termed the Tower of Song, promises to be an interesting and ever-changing, as Jennifer is welcoming fans’ suggestions as to songs to play, ideas to discuss and songwriters to invite. The first night of Tower of Song beings at 7:30 on Tuesday, January 11 and tickets are $10. – Leah Tribbet

Last night kicked off the first ever Rock and Roll circus at Lincoln Center, in a staggering amalgamation of sonic exploration, creative energy and… chaos. Many New Yorkers (at first glance mostly Brooklynites and "Downtowners" filtered their way through the stuffy uptown building accessing the Big Apple Circus tent to see some cool NYC indie bands. Electric Tickle Machine kicked off the show to cheering hipsters, as off beat circus dancers jived around the ring, followed by The So So Glos who rocked as they always do with their aggressive indie punk. But it was Japanther who "succeeded" in bringing the real Brooklyn DIY spirit (consisting in creating situations that piss off security and police) to this event. Their show was interrupted after 3 songs because about 100 fans rushed the stage and started crowd surfing and jumping on each other. Bigger Circus show tonight (but not free) with LA’s Ariel Pink and Saint Motel. – Christine Castanon

Woods, hailing from Brooklyn and Ducktails (pictured), from New Jersey, are setting out on a shared East coast tour. Woods will be stripping down their set and playing mostly acoustic versions of their older songs, as well as songs from their upcoming album, due out later this year. Ducktails are along for part of the ride, joining Woods in five shows (from Burlington on February 2nd to Baltimore on February 8th), before playing solo on three dates (Brooklyn on the 8th and 18th of January and Philadelphia on the 15th). Ducktails will be joined for one show (the Brooklyn January 18th date) by Chicago-based Smith Westerns. And, beginning on March 14, Woods embarks on a European tour, hitting cities such as London, Paris, Berlin and Helsinki (March 16th, 18th, 21st and 27th, respectively). Their European tour ends with the End of the Road Festival in North Dorset in the UK. Be sure to bookmark these tour dates, for this is a tour you definitely do not want to miss! – Leah Tribbett

Rubblebucket formed in Burlington, VT. between saxophonist/vocalist Kalmia Traver and trumpet player Alex Toth. We covered them already in our New England site but part of the band has now relocated to NYC so here they are in our NYC homepage… Their recently released "Triangular Daisies" EP is a new direction for the band. The album is psychedelic indie-pop, with a wider appeal. A track off the album “Came Out of a Lady” was made into a music video, and proves great works can be achieved when a bunch of art majors get down to business. The new EP was recorded at DFA studios, but the sound is refreshing and not your typical bass-heavy “neon party yeah!” flavor. After a two-night stint in San Francisco, the band toured Maine to Florida. Rubblebucket recently played La Poisson Rouge with The Rebirth Brass Band, the show brought out a secret “horn attack,” of a 10 piece horn section.

So it’s a pattern that’s been seen innumerable times throughout history- a woman and her guitar. But Rachel Zamstein’s pop-rock gems are not to be overlooked, a fact proved by her recent bookings along the east coast and as far away as Stockholm. Her debut album, “Bouquet” features her melodies backed by a full band in true rock ‘n roll fashion, with jazz infusion in her soulful vocals, a demonstration of her influence from her grandfather, a professional jazz musician. See Rachel at Rockwood Music Hall on January 10. – KB

If you’re not already familiar with the musical endeavors of songwriter Luke Brindley, guitarist-slash-everything elseist Bryan Dawley and singer Rachel Beauregard, then you are never going to believe that their band, Deep River’s debut album was produced over the span of ten short days.  The aptly titled "Ten Mornings" is a polished but deeply earnest set of emotionally riveting songs that manage to represent both what American folk music has been and what it could be.  The arrangements are thoughtfully minimal and allow Rachel’s iron-strong voice and the surrounding powerful vocal harmonies to shine.  And they really do shine.

Deep River has coined their own genre-name for their sound:  "Front Porch Pop."

And, as if to let all you music lovers out there know that they take that genre name seriously, they’ve recently offered to play in the homes of their fans.  If you’re interested, then contact amy@adjmgt.com for details!  

If that’s just not feasible for you, I’m sorry.  But, all is not lost.  They will also be opening for Chely Wright later this month on January 21 at The Birchmere.  You can still purchase tickets here. –Jarrett