MUSIC
THURSDAY, JUNE 7*
9:30 PM

Sō Percussion:  Benefit and Night of Awesomeness
(Le) Poisson Rouge
158 Bleecker Street, Greenwich Village, Manhattan

$20; $300 VIP Gala tickets (including dinner, special Sō performance, reception, and party)
http://lpr.com/lpr_events/so-percussion-benefit-june-7th-2018/

Sō Percussion isn't just the best New Music percussion ensemble in New York -- it's one of the best bands in New York, period.  But things are tough in the not-for-profit world, so this is their annual benefit, supporting their various commissioning and educational initiatives.  It's a variety show featuring performers the band likes -- and as you'd figure, it's an eclectic and high-quality bunch, highlighting the porous border between jazz and pop and New Music/"indie classical" these days.  Among them are the Nuevo Latino electronica/dance band Balún -- which happens to include Angélica Negrón, a quite wonderful composer active on the New York New Music/"indie classical" scene.  And the great guitar quartet Dither.  And jazz-shading-into-New Music drummer/composer Bobby Previte.  And Shara Nova/My Brightest Diamond, who can't decide whether she's pop or classical (and could not seem to care less).  And more!

MAKE A NIGHT OF IT:  On the assumption that you're not really going to pay $300 for a VIP Gala ticket, you'll either want dinner before the 9:30 PM show or a late-night spot afterward.  For before, Chef Harold Moore has opened a new bistro up Bleecker Street (and across the playground/park), Bistro Pierre Lapin.  What with all the bistros and brasseries opening up around town, maybe the day will come when we're all sick of French bistro food -- but, speaking for myself, this is my favorite kind of food in the world, and I'm as happy as a pig in Sauce Robert that there's so much of it around now.  Afterward, my late-night recommendation is Buvette -- which preceded the current French craze and remains absolutely delightful.