NYC Gigs to See This Weekend: Jennifer O'Connor

If you're looking for a good music show to see in NYC this weekend, we'd suggest checking out Brooklyn-based singer-songwriter Jennifer O'Connor, who plays twice this weekend (tonight at Cake Shop, no advance tickets; Sunday at Brooklyn's Union Pool [see link for tickets]).

Time Out New York listed tonight's Cake Shop show as one of the weekend's must-see concerts.

O'Connor's "You Come Around" was featured on NPR's Song of the Day this week.

 It's no secret that these are not easy times for musicians (especially independent ones), and O'Connor has had her share of the music-business meat grinder: releasing a couple of albums on small labels; getting signed to a major (Matador) and making two albums, then getting dumped; doing a variety of odd jobs while reconsidering the whole business of making music, etc.

O'Connor deserves a lot of credit for continuing to make music and get it heard. Of course this wouldn't mean much if her music wasn't worth hearing, which it certainly is. Her long-and-winding musical story has recently taken a turn for the better, however, as her latest album "I Want What You Want"(released last Fall) has gotten good notices.

And two of her songs have been used in TV shows in recent weeks (more on that below). (You can listen to "I Want What You Want" below, buy it using the "Buy" links on the Soundcloud widget, and buy it at Amazon.com here.)


Jennifer O'Connor - I Want What You Want by Jennifer O'Connor

My favorite tune on "I Want What You Want" is the achingly beautiful "Swan Song (For Bella)," which O'Connor has said is perhaps her best song. As you might guess from the title, O'Connor wrote the song for one of the "Twilight" movies. While it was ultimately not used for the film, it was featured in a recent episode of the NBC TV show "Parenthood."

O'Connor's "Change Your Life" was used in the ABC show "Private Practice," and yet another song from "I Want What You Want,""You Come Around," was featured by NPR as its Song of the Day this past week.

I'll be at tonight's show at the Cake Shop. In addition to O'Connor, I'm be interested in seeing Ma'am, a band that features a number of '90s indie rock veterans including Lyle Hysen, formerly of Das Damen (See an old article on Ma'am here.)

Reviews of "I Want What You Want": Dusted, Pitchfork, Onion A.V. Club.

Jennifer O'Connor upcoming performances: 
Friday, March 2nd, Cake Shop, 152 Ludlow St., Manhattan
$10, 8 p.m. doors, 21+.
On the bill: Ma'am (8 p.m.), Tim Foljahn (10 p.m.), Jennifer O'Connor (11 p.m.)

Sunday, March 4th, Union Pool, 484 Union Ave., Brooklyn
$10, 8 p.m.
On the bill: Amy Bezunartea, Kleenex Girl Wonder, Jennifer O'Connor