Steve Smith

@nightafternight

Proud papa. @bambrooklyn.bsky.social senior copywriter. Former arts journalist & culture editor. New music on NYC stages and on record: [he/him/his]

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Steve Smith@nightafternight· 27d

And there's even a cute lil' pit! Well spotted, @totalvibration.bsky.social.

Mosh pit on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts set, with producer Lars Gotrich smiling at far right.

Napalm Death guitarist John Cooke looking thoroughly amused on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts set.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· 27d

The closed captions on the Napalm Death Tiny Desk Concert are inadvertently charming.

Grindcore metal band Napalm Death performing on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts set. The chyron says:
Napalm Death
Dead
The YouTube closed caption reads: "Dad"

Steve Smith@nightafternight· 27d

Is it strange to see Napalm Death on NPR's Tiny Desk Concerts? No… but it's definitely strange to see Napalm Death playing without Shane Embury. Even so… CHUFFED, and kind of amazed Barney could contain his perpetual motion within the enclosure. (HT @garrt.bsky.social) youtu.be/e81LZCHhNKQ?...

Napalm Death vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts set. The closed caption reads: "Thank you. Thank you. Very kind. We are Nate Palm Deaf."

Napalm Death vocalist Mark "Barney" Greenway on the NPR Tiny Desk Concerts set. The closed caption reads: "Let me say we are here to heartily support public access broadcasting."

Steve Smith@nightafternight· 29d

This week's tally of noteworthy things that got stuck in my ears includes fresh stuff from Kalia Vandever, Mike Westbrook, Sam Sadigursky & Yotam Ishay, Nils Petter Molvær, and more. Hear, here. nightafternight.com/2026/07/13/p...

Four album covers (L-R):
Kalia Vandever – Mana
Mike Westbrook – The Piano in the Room and The Blues
Sam Sadigursky & Yotam Ishay – -ish
Nils Petter Molvær – Be Quiet

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jul 12

For a while now I’ve been wondering whether my ability to read books—actual, complete books, as opposed to articles and comic books—has atrophied irreparably. Challenging myself to what I hope will function like ice-cold water splashed in my face, a shock that revives.

A book cover in red and gold, with a partial portrait of an ancient warrior and this text:
Translated by Emily Wilson
The Iliad
Homer

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jul 6

This week's playlist of noteworthy things that got stuck in my ears last week includes choice items by Sarah Davachi, Linda Catlin Smith via Cheryl Duvall, Kory Reeder, and Julius Hemphill by way of Marty Ehrlich. Hear, here. nightafternight.com/2026/07/06/p...

Four album covers (L-R):
Sarah Davachi - The Will of Tongues
Linda Catlin Smith - The Complete Piano Solos (1989-2023), Volume II: The Underfolding & Early Works
Kory Reeder - We Are Done For in the Most Remarkable Ways
Marty Ehrlich – Open Air: The Complete Saxophone Quartet Compositions of Julius Hemphill

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jul 5

Objective acquired. Three cheers for the H Mart on Northern Boulevard!!

A green cardboard box containing yellow matsutake mushroom-flavored Oreos.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jul 5

When I was eight years old I used to play the hell out of my copy of ‘Dynamic Sound,’ a 1974 K-Tel LP that included “Eres tú.” Song and singers still give me a legit thrill all these years later.

Yellow and blue album cover with red type reading “Dynamic Sound” and in black and white letter just below “22 original hits 22 original stars”

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jul 3

Hell yeah, went with family and friends today and had a Damn Good Time. Don’t talk to me about disasters and flops.

A poster for the movie ‘Supergirl,’ with Milly Alcock as the titular super hero suspended in midair against a golden sky.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jul 2

Unusually for me, I participated in the mid-year Hull poll this year and these were my archival picks. (I'm also very partial to the Charles Tyler title shared by others.)

RARA AVIS (REISSUES/ARCHIVAL) (unranked)
Louis Armstrong, Reference: Hot Five & Hot Seven at 100 (1925-28, AlAy/Thingamajig)
Marty Ehrlich & Julius Hemphill, Circle the Heart (1982, Relative Pitch)
Mick Goodrick & Fred Hersch, Feebles, Fables and Ferns (1988, ECM)
Cecil Taylor Unit, Fragments: The Complete 1969 Salle Pleyel Concerts (Elemental Music)
Cecil Taylor New Unit, Words & Music: The Last Bandstand (2016, Fundacja Słuchaj)

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 30

A very cool free concert that John Colpitts – aka Kid Millions of Oneida, Man Forever, etc – has spent the last year arranging, featuring Gamelan Yowana Sari, Malian troupe Farafina, and Ryan Sawyer's Shaker Ensemble. Coming up on Saturday, July 18 (rain date Sunday, July 19).

Concert poster for a free concert of percussion music at the Seuffert Bandshell in Forest Park, Queens, on July 18 at 3pm. The illustration is a painting of a red-headed woodpecker perched on a tree.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 29

Monstrously crabby mood this afternoon slightly dispelled by scoring seriously overpriced Marvel Epic Collection at 55% off. Sometimes retail therapy is the only solution.

Cover art for a comic book reprint volume with scattered figures flung away from a glowing magenta and yellow central figure. The text reads:
Marvel Epic Collection
Guardians of the Galaxy
Homecoming
Valentino • Milgrom • Marz • Lim

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 29

This week's Night After Night playlist includes noteworthy things made by claire rousay, Donnacha Dennehy, Danny Clay, Thætas, and more… give your free will a chance. nightafternight.com/2026/06/29/p...

Four album covers L-R:
claire rousay – live in nyc
Donnacha Dennehy – Limina
Danny Clay – A Moment Beyond
Thætas – The Irredeemable Age

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 29

Giving thanks to Nugs tonight for the most hypnotic “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” I’ve heard Goose play to date. Lucky Merriweather Post Pavilion audience.

The band Goose onstage in Maryland: Peter Anspach on keyboards in the foreground, with other members partially visible behind him.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 20

After spending last night in The Garden, it’s the couch tour tonight for Goose with special guest Stuart Bogie. Let’s Goooooooooooooose!!

A band onstage under a large lighting rig.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 20

Not $13. Good night!!

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 19

Back at the Garden and ready to Goooooooooose…

An empty stage at Madison Square Garden, lit up in yellow and magenta, waiting for Goose to perform.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 16

Spent yesterday out on the road, so here's the delayed weekly playlist now… full of choice items by Rebekah Heller, Francesca Gaza, Sparklmami, Goose, and so much more. nightafternight.com/2026/06/15/p...

Four album covers (L-R):
Rebekah Heller – Righteous Rage
Francesca Gaza – Crown Shyness
Sparklmami – in this body
Goose - Big Modern!

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 9

Seems I neglected to post this week's playlist yesterday… the latest tally of noteworthy things that got stuck in my ears includes fresh sounds from asher tuil, Alden Hellmuth, The Fierce and The Dead, Steve Roach, and plenty more. nightafternight.com/2026/06/08/p...

Four album covers (L-R):
asher tuil: figures in a landscape
Alden Hellmuth: Tether
The Fierce and The Dead: "The 1234"
Steve Roach: La Rosa: Live in Tucson

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 8

So long, Blood… grateful that I could bear witness in person a few times, from the Caravan of Dreams to the Vision Festival. No one ever did it like you. #RIP

Screen shot of ‘Odyssey’ by James Blood Ulmer playing on the Qobuz app.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 7

Couldn’t see Mayor @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social from where I’m standing, but not at all ashamed to admit I got teary as he addressed the crowd at Queens Pride right here in my home nabe of Jackson Heights. Tish James, Donovan Richards, and Melinda Katz, too.

People marching in a parade behind a banner that reads Queens Pride.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· Jun 5

First visit to the New York Philharmonic this year… on the penultimate night of the regular season. Grateful to be here and ready to receive the Bruckner 8 spirit with Semyon Bychkov & Co.

Page from a printed concert program featuring Anton Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8, to be played by the New York Philharmonic conducted by Semyon Bychkov.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 26

Okay, I'll admit it, this one blindsided me: Daniel Harding is the next music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. www.laphil.com/campaigns/da...

Portion of a Los Angeles Philharmonic press release announcing Daniel Harding as the next music director. Text:
LA PHIL APPOINTS DANIEL HARDING AS ITS NEXT MUSIC DIRECTOR

HARDING TO JOIN THE LA PHIL'S REIMAGINED LEADERSHIP TEAM IN A NEW ERA OF GLOBAL ARTISTRY AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 25

This week's tally of noteworthy things that got stuck in my ears last week includes new and upcoming releases by Teodora Stepančić, Stick Men, Left to Die, Alex Van Gils & Carrie Frey, and more—bend an ear. nightafternight.com/2026/05/25/p...

Four album covers (L-R):
Teodora Stepančić – Transparent Duo
Stick Men – 20260403 Elkton Music Hall, Elkton, MD
Left to Die – Initium Mortis
Alex Van Gils & Carrie Frey – Lesser Arcana

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 22

Neil deGrasse Tyson dropping some reality bombs at the AMNH tonight.

Neil deGrasse Tyson in front of a screen with a large photograph of a banana and the caption “Humans nonetheless share 25% identical genes with bananas.”

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 21

Wow. Troubles notwithstanding, Elim Chan seems like a great choice to be the next San Francisco Symphony music director. And remember, NYC, she guest-conducts the NY Phil next week. www.sfsymphony.org/About-SFS/Pr...

Conductor Elim Chan, dressed in black against a watery background with San Francisco's skyline visible in the distance.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 20

quote with a fictional band that is not spinal tap

Dominique Davalos, Lea Thompson, and Holly Robinson as Cherry Bomb in 'Howard the Duck'

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 20

But… but… Butt What?

Promotional graphic for an upcoming series of concerts:
GIBBY HAYNES
"BUTTHOLE SURFERS MANIA"
EVERY WEDNESDAY IN AUGUST
UNION POOL

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 19

From @patrickryne.bsky.social

Senator Whitehouse also chimed in, saying “I hope you realize how ridiculous the four of you look — spouting these preposterous, canned answers in a forum in which, A, you’re supposed to tell the truth, and B, you’re supposed to demonstrate the judicial capacity to make independent, factual decisions in hard cases.”

Senator Whitehouse nonetheless voted to confirm Clarke today.

Steve Smith@nightafternight· May 19

Walking around lower Manhattan in a Phish MSG 2023 T-shirt listening to Phish, wondering whether it would make any difference at all if I just went walkabout today.