Bands often consider it a backhanded compliment if you tell them they would sound great at a party. Most bands prefer a rapt audience to a loud bar crowd.
But is it really such a dishonor to be the soundtrack of people’s lives? Whether it is amping people up for dancing, or bolstering infatuation on a first date, some bands excel in enhancing an experience without distracting from it.
Whether you are ready for decadence or drama this weekend, here are some local performances to help set the scene.
Ronnie Stone & The Lonely Riders play Shea Stadium (20 Meadow St.) at 9 pm on Saturday. You know this disco revival band prioritizes creating a party atmosphere when admission to the show costs $10, or $8 if you are wearing a costume. That is just enough of a discount to reward true fans, but not so much that people will just drape a sheet on themselves to save money.
The official teaser for their Shea Stadium show is a pastiche of vintage footage that would make Whit Stillman proud. Watch below as they call all “bikers, Goths, and martial artists” out to the dance floor.
If you need background music for a break-up rather than a hook-up, try City of the Sun’s late show at the Knitting Factory (361 Metropolitan Ave.) on Saturday at 11 pm. Tickets are $15 per person.
Here is the video for their song, “Everything Is Happening, The Clouds Have Parted, I’m Free.”
The band plays later in the summer both at Jones Beach and the Surf Lodge in Montauk. So if you are having a perfect day at the beach with an amazing date, be wary if he or she suggests catching a nearby concert. Karma has its own background track, and it’s called Payback.