Gig Watch – September 2022
Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of September.
Summer’s nearly over folks, which means that if you’re a regular concertgoer, your calendar is about to become straight-up unmanageable. “Rocktober” posits the theory that it’s the tenth month when the conflicts really multiply, but anyone who’s paying attention can confirm that the fall touring deluge begins about as soon as the Labor Day leaves us behind.
Thusly, it’s a great month to launch a new recurring feature here at Noise Floor to run down what’s worth prioritizing in a given 30-day stretch.
Without further ado then, here’s 14 gigs big and small worth your time for the rest of the month:
9/7 – Shame – The Sinclair
These theatrical U.K. punks released their great sophomore album Drunk Tank Pink early last year, and finally get to hit the road stateside with it this fall.
9/7 – Health / Perturbator – Paradise
A double-dose of dark electronics awaits you on Comm. Ave. with this co-headliner from hair-whipping industrialists Health and French darkwaver Perturbator (plus a likeminded opening set courtesy of Austin’s Street Sects).
9/9 – Rammstein – Gillette Stadium
The German industrial metal collective bring their outsized pyrotechnic extravaganza across the sea for a rare New England appearance that promises to be a singularly eye-popping, eyebrow-searing spectacle. It’s the band’s first-ever full-scale stadium tour of North America (they’ve been largely confined to arenas in years past) and boasts 65-foot bursts of flame on a stage that takes its crew 4 days to assemble, allowing frontman/certified pyrotechnician Till Lindemann and associates to burn at maximum brightness.
9/10 – Elder – Middle East Downstairs
Former Bostonians and modern prog-doom royalty Elder make their grand return, with an opening set from fellow heavy metal explorers Dreadnought. Sold out, but worth working to find your way in.
9/12 – Nice Guys – Silhouette Lounge
It doesn’t get much more peak Rat City than Allston house band Nice Guys headlining the Sil’s new Monday night concert series.
9/13 – Phoenix – Roadrunner
While we’re still feeling the sting from Bauhaus’ cancellation at MGM this Tuesday night (though it’s all understandable; best wishes to Peter Murphy), ever-youthful French indie-electro-pop vets Phoenix – poised to release their first new record in five years – are a great backup plan (don’t call it a consolation prize).
9/17 – Roxy Music – MGM Music Hall
Bryan Ferry and the art-pop Roxy crew return to the stage for a 50th anniversary tour, their first in over a decade. It’ll be my first (and maybe last) chance to see them, and could be yours too.
9/18 – The Dream Syndicate – Crystal Ballroom
Paisley Undergrounders The Dream Syndicate bring a 40th anniversary tour for their very best record, The Days of Wine and Roses, to Somerville. Steve Wynn and the boys still play with fire and are always worth the price of admission.
9/20 – Spiritualized – Royale
Once upon a previous album cycle, it seemed that Jason Pierce was ready to hang up the spurs of his long-running space rock project, but a new album and a series of tours this year seem to have put that notion to rest. The band’s soaring gospel-gaze is best administered live.
9/21 – Osees – Royale
Psych-garage-punk luminary John Dwyer never slows down, and we can be thankful that his nonstop work ethic has lately worked Boston back into his Osees’ regular tour stop repertoire.
9/22 – The National – Roadrunner
Scaling back from the arenas they headlined last time around, everyone’s favorite downers The National play a relatively intimate date at Allston’s Roadrunner ahead of a likely-forthcoming new record. Also sold out, also worth asking around for.
9/25 – Come – Middle East Upstairs
Almighty Boston rockers Come finally bring it back home for their first local show in too many years. A Thalia Zedek/Chris Brokaw six-string showdown is something everyone should experience firsthand at least once in their life.
9/27 – Wednesday – Crystal Ballroom
NC country-shoegazers Wednesday released one of last year’s best records in Twin Plagues, and member MJ Lenderman has already racked up one of this year’s best with Boat Songs (not to mention the excellent covers record they dropped in the meantime). In short, it’s only a matter of time before Wednesday conquer the world, so best to catch them in a small room now.
9/28 – Pavement – Boch Center Wang Theatre
Nothing really needs to be said about this last one, right? But I’ll say it anyway; the indie rock band’s first tour in a decade-plus, conquering the stateliest theaters they can find, with a bonus opening set from Guerilla Toss (a band I first saw perform in a public access television studio). Gotta be there.