Ah, finals, how you empty my wallet and expand my gut. As we all eat away our stress and near our reprehensibly late winter break, Columbians tend to dive into general depression. But fear not: happiness can be found in all of the pre-holiday concerts the city is offering this year.
Venues that are typically filled with college students are opening their doors and lowering their prices to pull more customers in while the bookworms are shut up in the libraries. And I know what you’re thinking—going to a concert during finals seems crazy. Maybe, but I’m sure you’d spend most of that time on Facebook or Hulu anyway, so you might as well stretch your legs and sing along as you procrastinate.
So from here until Christmas—a free concert a day (which may nonetheless keep the 4.0 away):
Monday 12/7—Teenage Prayers are playing at the Glasslands and with their classic rock-esque hit “Acetylene Summer.” You don’t have to feel guilty not studying for orgo, right?
Tuesday 12/8—Down at Brooklyn Bowl is everyone’s favorite post-bagpipe rock group, Parts and Labor. And as a bonus, the bagpipes are sure to clear your mind of whatever you’re worried about, including that research paper due the next morning.
Wednesday 12/9—For all of you first-years fretting over your Lit Hum final, head to Brooklyn Bowl to see Patrick Davy and the Ghosts, whose latest album is sure to help you fill that bluebook with references to Oedipus. From “Where it Began” when his parents dumped him, “This Feeling” he has for mommy, and how they all “Should’ve Known,” Patrick Davy’s songs will help you out.
Thursday 12/10—The week is over for most of us and a celebration is in order. Check out the Spanish Broads at Bruar Falls to jumpstart your weekend.
Friday 12/11—Study it up at Silent Barn. Whether it be the Alphabet, with Old Books, or Knight School, these three bands are sure to fill your brain with, well, probably nothing all that useful.
Saturday 12/12—No te preocupes—that Spanish final will be a breeze once you’ve spent a night with the Aficionados at Spike Hill.
Sunday 12/13—While it’s not free, Le Poisson Rouge can help you out with your geography (in case you’re still in the 5th grade) with A Sunny Day in Glasgow and Casino Versus Japan.
Monday 12/14—Maybe you should consider picking up a book by this point.
Tuesday 12/15—Chill out, it’s the first of your two study days! Mike Wexler is playing at Zebulon, and if you’ve never heard of him, his raspy vocals and gentle guitar could wipe the worry from even a pre-med student’s mind.
Wednesday 12/16—Totally worth the meager $5 admission, Nick Zinner of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs is making an appearance at Webster Hall that is sure to counter the “no no nos” you’ll be shouting when you realize that “reading week” is over tomorrow.
Thursday 12/17—In hopes that the final you took today isn’t weighted that heavily, The Weight is playing at Union Pool. Go, wallow in self-pity.
Friday 12/18—So what you slept through two finals today? Fine-tune your vocab for the two essays you’re turning in tomorrow down at Spike Hill with Goes Cube and Moser’s Gambit.
Saturday 12/19—The professor already posted grades to your gen chem final? And you didn’t know the difference between chromatography and magnetic resonance? Comfort yourself in that no previous knowledge of Phantogram will keep you back from dancing all night at Brooklyn Bowl.
Sunday 12/20—If you’ve taken my advice and gone out to concerts for the past 2 weeks then you may be thinking “Kill, Kill, Kill” when all those grades are posted, but for $8 at Mercury Lounge, a band of the same name has already beat you to it.
Monday 12/21—There are only two days left. Seriously, I think it’s time to study.
Tuesday 12/22—Hopefully you’ve saved up a little money for the last two days because they’re too good to pass up. If you’ve decided to entrust your GPA to the hands of God, then you’ll feel right at home with Danielson playing The Stone for $10.
Wednesday 12/23—Forget packing, it’s all over. Tomorrow you’ll probably begin the awkward ritual of family holidays, so to get you in the spirit, head to the Highline Ballroom with that $15 in dimes you found while doing 3 months worth of laundry to see Talib Kweli, familiar in his own right.
And of course, don’t forget to leave time to come up with a good excuse for your parents as to why you are dropping out.
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