Gig Watch – February 2023
Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of February.
Short month, big dreams? Boston welcomes the second month of the year this weekend with some offensive windchill figures, but at least there are shows to warm you up. Check out some picks below.
2/2 – Ride & The Charlatans @ Big Night Live
U.K. shoegaze architects Ride and Britpoppers The Charlatans have teamed up for a co-headliner across North America this winter that’ll see both bands performing some 90s classics in full – that’d be Nowhere and Between 10th and 11th, respectively.
2/5 – Anthrax @ House of Blues
One of thrash’s Big Four, carved into a heavy metal Mount Rushmore alongside Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth, rolls into town for a headbanging Sunday night with Zakk Wylde’s Black Label Society and fellow ’80s thrashers Exodus.
2/7-2/8 – Garcia Peoples @ O’Brien’s Pub
Psychedelic explorers Garcia Peoples will hold down the fort for two night’s at O’Brien’s this month, accompanied by Easthampton’s Gold Dust and weirdo lifers Sunburned Hand of the Man.
2/8 – MJ Lenderman @ Hardcore Stadium
Singer/songwriter and Wednesday guitarist MJ Lenderman comes to Cambridge for his first area show since the release of his widely and rightfully acclaimed 2022 LP Boat Songs. Sold out, but you can always hop on the Dice waitlist.
2/11 – Kiwi Jr. @ The Lilypad
Jangly Canadian indie rockers and Subpop signees Kiwi Jr. headline Inman’s Lilypad in support of their great 2022 record, Chopper.
2/18 – Viagra Boys @ Royale
Debaucherous Swedes Viagra Boys bring their consistently unhinged live show to the Royale for their biggest Boston show to date, which is sure to be a beer-soaked good time.
2/24 – Gilla Band @ Sonia
Newly-rebranded noise rockers Gilla Band put out their best, boldest record yet with last year’s Most Normal, which they’ll bring to the Sonia stage for their first Boston show since 2019.
2/24 – Knifeplay @ Cantab Lounge
Just up the street at the Cantab, the dreamy shoegaze/slowcore stylings of Philly’s Knifeplay will be backed by welcome support from Strange Mangers, a onetime Boston mainstay whose local shows are now fewer and further between.
2/26 – Future Teens & Macseal @ The Sinclair
An East Coast emo super-tour takes over The Sinclair late in the month, with local favorites Future Teens and New York’s Macseal sharing the bill.
2/27-2/28 – The Beths @ The Sinclair
Finally, February closes out with a pair of sold-out shows (though there are always ways) from Aukland indie pop crew The Beths – one of the modern greats in their lane. Boston-beloved singer/songwriter Sidney Gish opens both shows, which likely ups the demand considerably.