Gig Watch – October 2022
Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of October.
September was an insanely busy month for shows here in town, and the famed Rocktober isn’t slowing things down. Here’s a survey of what’s key for the spookiest month of the year:
10/3 – Sunny Day Real Estate / The Appleseed Cast @ House of Blues
The reunited midwest emo icons return for a rare set of shows – their first in over a decade. As a bonus, the Boston date will feature not only an opening set from post-emo greats The Appleseed Cast, but also Jason Narducy (of Superchunk and Bob Mould Band fame) rounding out the SDRE lineup.
10/4 – Stereolab @ Roadrunner
The Groop make it back to Boston for a huge Roadrunner show on a tour that’s been digging deep into their singular catalog of motorik lounge-pop.
10/4 – The Gaslight Anthem / Jeff Rosenstock @ MGM
On the other side of this Tuesday night coin, Brian Fallon and company bring the reactivated Gaslight Anthem’s heartland rockers to the shiny new MGM confines with an opening set from Jeff Rosenstock, who, as we’ve discussed here before, is simply the best.
10/5 – Blood Incantation / Full of Hell @ Middle East Downstairs
An absolutely monstrous heavy bill takes over the Mid East on this Wednesday, headlined by Colorado’s cosmic death metal kings Blood Incantation and prolific grind purveyors Full of Hell. Get there early for Vermin Womb, Mortuous and God Is War, too. Unhinged bill.
10/6 – Fontaines D.C. @ House of Blues
After a cancelled Paradise date earlier this year, Irish post-punks Fontaines D.C. will finally get their Boston show in support of April’s excellent Skinty Fia, rescheduled to the bigger room at HoB.
10/8 – Hallelujah the Hills / Cassie Berman @ Lilypad
Wordy folk-rockers Hallelujah the Hills remain one of Boston’s best bands, and I make an effort to catch them whenever I can, but this Lilypad date with former Silver Jews bassist/vocalist Cassie Berman (and special guest Peyton Pinkerton of New Radiant Storm King, and the SJ touring lineup) is undoubtedly going to be a special one. Late gig, definitely worth it.
10/10 – Husbands / Today Junior / Motel Black @ The Silhouette Lounge
I’ve been looking to catch Boston shoegazers Husbands ever since they had to drop last-minute from a recent bill at O’Brien’s, and what better place than the Sil? Joined by fellow locals in Today Junior and Motel Black.
10/11 – Gorillaz @ TD Garden
Damon Albarn and his band of virtual miscreants just announced a new record for 2023, and they’ll support it with an arena gig that features a 14-piece live band and hints at some surprise guests. I dunno if we can expect Beck and De La Soul to pop up in Boston, but Carly Simon did a few years back, so who’s to say? Anything’s possible!
10/16 – Judas Priest @ MGM
In yet another rescheduling (from Lowell’s Tsongas Arena this spring), heavy metal legends Judas Priest will finally bring their 50th anniversary tour to town. How many more times Rob Halford and co. will hit the road is anybody’s guess, so this one’s a priority (especially if, like me, you’ve yet to catch the band at all).
10/17 – Iron Maiden @ DCU Center
There’s bound to be some crossover in audience from Monday’s Priest show to Tuesday’s date with the equally-legendary Iron Maiden out in Worcester. High-flying frontman Bruce Dickinson and the rest of the band still bring over-the-top spectacle and an energy that belies their years. They’re always playing somewhere that’s a bit of a hike from the city, but it’s worth the drive.
10/18 – The Comet is Coming @ Crystal Ballroom
One of the several projects of jazz luminary Shabaka Hutchings, The Comet is Coming specialize in a heady brand of fusion that’s wilder and space-y-er than this work with the Ancestors or the disbanding Sons of Kemet. Their new record Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam is a trip, and the live set should be too.
10/19 – Melt-Banana @ The Sinclair
Headspinning Japanese noisemakers Melt-Banana will hold court at an undoubtedly wild Sinclair show with Ed Schrader’s Music Beat and Psychic Graveyard. Always bring your earplugs but uh, especially to this one.
10/20 – June of 44 @ Middle East Downstairs
Math-y ’90s post-hardcore band June of 44 have been reunited for a minute now, but things have not been on their side touring-wise (are you catching onto a theme in this month’s spread?). At last, they’ll hit Boston on the 20th with a pair of opening sets from local legends Thalia Zedek and Helms.
10/23 – Algernon Cadwallader @ Royale
The much-beloved Philly emo band bring their reunion tour to Royale on a Sunday for a gig that, if you’re interested in, you already very much have tickets for.
10/27 – Titus Andronicus @ Crystal Ballroom
Fresh off a 2021 10-year-anniversary tour for their landmark The Monitor, Jersey punks Titus Andronicus celebrate the late September release of their 7th full-length, The Will To Live, at the Ballroom. The record reportedly finds frontman Patrick Stickles investigating the notion of “Ultimate Rock,” which pretty much sounds like the thesis of Titus as a band.
10/27 – Napalm Death @ Paradise
Grindcore legends Napalm Death top a crazy bill at the Paradise which also includes a helping of death metal via L.A. vets Brujeria and rising Texas band Frozen Soul, plus long-running anarcho-hardcore crew MDC. Should be a chaotic one.
10/28 – NNAMDÏ @ Crystal Ballroom
Art-pop polymath NNAMDÏ – who put on a standout set when I caught him at Solid Sound this summer – swings into Somerville at the end of the month supporting his Secretly Canadian debut Please Have a Seat.
10/30 – Pile @ Crystal Ballroom
Last but never least, local faves Pile will reunite a prior lineup for a 10-year celebration of their beloved third LP Dripping. Close your eyes, take an elbow to the spine and you’ll be transported right back to a simpler time in the pit at Great Scott.