Thanksgiving Eve Motherfucker; Discover the G Train; Eyes Adrift at Village Underground; Josh Rouse at Hammerstein; Sideshow Saturday Night; Hank Williams III at B.B. King's

| 17 Feb 2015 | 01:29

    Nothing brings on that maybe-it's-time-to-leave-New-York feeling like standing on the benchless G train platform, listening to the pipes drip and rats scuttle as the damn train refuses to come. Except maybe the moment it finally rolls in-two cars short, 10 minutes late and 100 people overcrowded. The G may be hard to love, but Brooklyn and Queens residents had better start appreciating the backbone of their boroughs before the MTA and Pataki cut its service any further. On Weds., Nov. 27, artist Tamara Gubernat helps us "Discover the G" with her exhibition of postcards revealing the charms of Red Hook, Bed-Stuy and other communities affected by the recent, much-protested restructuring of the subway systems. At the Myrtle-Willoughby Aves. station, 5:30 p.m. It moves to the Flushing Ave. station on Fri., Mon. at the Broadway station and Tues. at Metropolitan Ave. 917-756-3363.

    Eyes Adrift comes back to Manhattan this week, heralded by posters that you might've seen stuck up near a Duane Reade or something. The band's pedigree has been done to death, so we'll just say that it's nice to see ex-Nirvana, Sublime and Meat Puppets back where they belong, on midsize stages playing tunes. As for the tunes, remember those Meat Puppets songs on Nirvana Unplugged? Eyes Adrift sounds like that, but happier, with Cort Kirkwood singing in a pleasant drawl, and scattered orchestration. Better than what they've been doing lately, plus you can remember the things they used to do. Weds., Nov. 27, at the Village Underground. 130 W. 3rd St. (betw. 6th Ave. & MacDougal St.), 777-7745.

    This country's big hero of Britpop is a well-traveled hick whose humble image keeps him dismissed as another NPR folkie. In fact, Josh Rouse's only real competition on the international pop scene is Coldplay-and their new album doesn't offer anything as gorgeous and vibrant as "Christmas with Jesus" on Rouse's Under Cold Blue Stars. This latest also expands on Rouse's acoustic ways, and suggests he's got a fine future redefining the glossy sound of adult-contemporary radio. Songs like "Summer Kitchen Ballad," meanwhile, are almost experimental in their relentless beauty. It's probably better simply to assume that Rouse is doomed between the niches. He plays Hammerstein Ballroom Weds., Nov. 27. 311 W. 34th St. (betw. 8th & 9th Aves.), 485-1534.

    When it comes to one-man 10-in-ones, Todd Robbins is among the best working today. He's eaten glass, swallowed swords, breathed fire and pounded nails into his head for Penn & Teller, the Big Apple Circus, Letterman, Leno, Sideshows by the Sea-most anyplace where people enjoy a good freak. Every Saturday night from now until whenever, he's bringing his solo act, Sideshow Saturday Night, to the intimate and beautiful SoHo Playhouse. Sure, you're thinking, you've seen all this before-but not the way Robbins does it. He's got style, he's got class and he's got a few tricks up his sleeve that'll knock your socks off (or make you look away in horror). What's more, each performance features a "Freak of the Week"-a special guest from the sideshow community, who'll have a few tricks of their own to share. Show starts at 10:30. 15 Vandam St. (betw. 6th Ave. & Varick St.), 691-1555; $22.50/$25.

    Our first exposure to Hank Williams III was back during the early 90s when his friends still called him by his given name, Shelton. He was playing drums for a popular grunge band from Nashville called Buzzkill (he replaced Ken Coomer, who now plays in Wilco). Years passed; so did shows with his father at the largest amphitheater in town. In 1999 he released his first solo album, Risin' Outlaw, and this year brought us the followup, his self-produced Lovesick, Broke & Driftin'. He's known for canceling shows due to, um, "an illness," and for downing many shots of whiskey at one of our favorite East Village dives. Here's hoping he'll show up on Mon., Dec. 2, to play B.B. King Blues Club. 237 W. 42nd St. (betw. 7th & 8th Aves.), 997-4144; 8, $15.