Gig Watch – July 2023

Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of July.
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The 4th may be over, but the live music fireworks abound for the remainder of July. My picks for the month below.
7/5 – Cynic / Atheist @ Sonia
Two titans of prog-y death metal team up for a co-headliner at Sonia, promising highlights from their landmark early ’90s records.
7/6 – New Lows / Final Gasp @ Middle East Upstairs
Heavy Boston hardcore crew New Lows – back to life after some years off the map – top a throttling bill with death rockers Final Gasp, who just inked a deal to release their forthcoming Mourning Moon LP with heavy music giant Relapse Records.

7/7 – Home Is Where @ Crystal Ballroom
Much-buzzed-about emo collective Home Is Where swing through town supporting their excellent new record The Whaler. Get there early for Providence’s Dreamwell, who have absolutely slayed every time I’ve caught them.
7/8 – Black MIDI @ Royale
Madcap avant-prog-rockers Black MIDI play an early Saturday gig at Royale, their biggest headliner in Boston to date.
7/9 – Bitter Wish / E / Dyr Faser @ O’Brien’s Pub
Philly psych-jammers Bitter Wish take on O’Brien’s with likeminded locals Dyr Faser and the return of Boston’s foremost experimental rock supergroup E, featuring Come’s Thalia Zedek and Neptune’s Jason Sanford.
7/12 – Waveform / They Are Gutting a Body of Water @ The Sinclair
CT’s Waveform and Philly’s TAGABOW dispense contrasting but complementary strains of dreamy guitar music, which ought to make them an ideal double bill at The Sinclair.
7/16 – Braid @ The Sinclair
Midwest emo vets Braid celebrate 25 years of their 1998 favorite Frame & Canvas with an anniversary tour, joined by killer support from Jawbox’s J. Robbins (who produced the record way back when) and indie rock/power pop greats Oceanator.
7/18 – Panda Bear / Sonic Boom @ Paradise Rock Club
Animal Collective’s Noah Lennox and Spacemen 3’s Pete Kember teamed up last year for the lovely psych-pop collab Reset under their Panda Bear and Sonic Boom aliases, and the unlikely duo are finally bringing it on the road this summer, hitting the Paradise this month.

7/20-23 – Nice, A Fest @ Crystal Ballroom and The Rockwell
Locals-only extravaganza Nice, a Fest returns bigger and better than ever for its third edition, bringing over 7o acts to Davis Square. The likes of Karate, Swirlies and Guerilla Toss headline, but to miss out on the sprawling undercard would defeat the weekend’s purpose.
7/24-25 – Le Tigre @ Royale
Just a few months after a triumphant Bikini Kill gig at Roadrunner, Kathleen Hanna brings another of her iconic, reactivated projects to town with two nights of electroclash trio Le Tigre at Royale.
7/25 – Cherubs @ Middle East Upstairs
Texas noise rockers Cherubs make a rare visit to the East Coast at the end of the month, headlining the cozy Middle East Upstairs.
7/28-29 – Grub, Sweat and Beers @ O’Brien’s Pub
If you’re not making the trek to Newport Folk on July’s final weekend, and are game for something tonally opposite to that, the annual O’Brien’s heavy metal blowout is a strong candidate for your attention. This year’s lineup boasts bruising locals like Torn in Half, Morgued and Crowfeeder alongside some more atmospheric fare (Circus Trees, Luci Dead Limb).