Preview: 2013 concerts

With new years come new gigs, and there are several ahead to book tickets in advance for - say, the ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Slash at Lucerna's Great Hall Feb. 11 or Dinosaur Jr.'s freak scene at the Lucerna Music Bar a week later - and there are also plenty of great gigs you may not have heard of. Venues like Klub 007 in Strahov never seem to get the word out fast enough or wide enough, and the hike up Petřín hill means the venue doesn't see a lot of foot traffic, so often great international punk and indie acts are only seen by their more devoted fans.

Of course, we don't know everyone who is coming to town this year, and it could be that the best is yet to be announced. But if you're looking to plan a show a month for the first four months, this list should see you through seeing the things you should be seeing.

The EuroConnections series continues at Palác Akropolis Jan. 30 with Yppah from the United States and the Czech Republic's own Bratři Orffové. The American electronic producer, on the British label Ninja Tune, is bringing his unmatched mash-up of psyche rock, shoegaze and hip-hop. What? Exactly.

In February, Club Roxy brings us Modestep, a bass-heavy four-piece dubstep electro band from England. If you haven't heard of the group yet, you can also be one of the first to see the show live: Modestep is coming in support Evolution Theory, the group's debut record.

You have heard of Jessie Ware, haven't you? The British singer does things you haven't heard with soul, hip-hop and pop - well, by now you have heard the things she does, but, hear them live at Palác Akropolis on March 21.

Let us help Klub 007 out with its promotions here: In April the hole on the hill will bring Brooklyn's own TEEN, a foursome fronted by guitarist Teeny Lieberson, formerly of Here We Go Magic, and featuring her sisters Lizzie and Katherine on keys and drums, respectively, and Jane Herships on bass. The group has just come off a successful U.S. tour in support of their debut album In Limbo and received all the right accolades in the process; a hike up that hill is in order April 13.

Of course, this is just a third of 2013, and there is a whole summer of festivals to follow, not to mention the dreary winter nights of seeking rock and refuge in smoky venues, but that would be getting way ahead of ourselves: We're not even midway into this winter yet.

Milan Gagnon can be reached at
mgagnon@praguepost.com