Gig Watch: April 2025

Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of April.

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It’s a busy month for local favorites, indie legends and everyone in between this April – my picks for the month below.

4/3 – Alan Sparhawk / Circuit Des Yeux @ The Sinclair

Former Low co-leader Alan Sparhawk upended expectations for his solo debut with last year’s heavily electronic White Roses, My God, which in turn sounded nothing like the full-band shows he’d been playing in the leadup to its release. I’m intrigued by which Alan we’ll get in Cambridge this month (alongside Chicago’s Circuit des Yeux, who has a great, goth-y new record out on Matador this year), and hopefully you are too.

4/4 – Beth Gibbons @ Orpheum Theatre

A return to the stage for trip-hop legends Portishead feels increasingly unlikely, but vocalist Beth Gibbons will give us the next best thing this month as her first-ever North American solo tour (behind last year’s Lives Outgrown) comes to the Orpheum.

4/4 – (T_T)b / Really Great / Puppy Problems @ Deep Cuts

Across town, a bill of local pals comes together to celebrate the new record from chiptune rockers (T_T)b in Medford.

4/8 – Dazy / Liquid Mike @ Deep Cuts

Power-pop powerhouses Dazy and Liquid Mike team up for an evening of earworms at Deep Cuts.

4/10 – FACS / Landowner / Major Stars @ Deep Cuts

In keeping with the motorik noise rock tradition of forerunning band Disappears, FACS will bring their hypnotic racket to town with Western Mass post-punks Landowner and Boston psych-jam greats Major Stars.

4/11 – Mogwai /Brainiac @ Paradise Rock Club

Long-running Scottish post-rockers Mogwai bring their tour in support of 11th studio LP The Bad Fire to the Paradise, with support from the modern iteration of 90s noise rock outfit Brainiac.

4/12 – Franz Ferdinand @ Orpheum Theatre

And speaking of Scotland, why not make it a back-t0-back with Glasgow dance-post-punk lifers Franz Ferdinand the following night at the Orpheum?

4/14 – Everyone Asked About You / Death Party @ The Sinclair

Midwest emo cult favorites Everyone Asked About You return to town for the first headlining Boston date of their reunion, with vibraphone-powered local favs Death Party as support.

4/15 – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds @ Agganis Arena

Following solo, duo and small-ensemble tours in the post-pandemic years for ringleader Nick Cave, the full might of The Bad Seeds makes its way to Boston for the first time since 2017.

4/18 – Mount Eerie @ The Sinclair

Singer/songwriter/sonic architect Phil Elverum brings a spring tour in support of last year’s ambitious and sprawling Night Palace to Cambridge.

4/19 – “Wonderful & Strange” @ Crystal Ballroom

As part of the Somerville Theatre’s April tribute to the late David Lynch, sibling venue Crystal Ballroom presents a night of performances featuring Lynch collaborator Annie Hart of Au Revoir Simone, local Twin Peaks soundtrack supergroup Julee Cruise Director, and something called “Killer BOB Drag” which can’t not be fascinating.

4/20 – Gang of Four @ Crystal Ballroom

Post-punk legends Gang of Four welcome the great Ted Leo into the fold on guitar for their farewell tour, which also promises a front-to-back performance of their classic debut Entertainment.

4/24 – Bus Crush / Happy Just to See You / Invisible Rays @ Zone 3

Friends-of-the-blog Allston Pudding are presenting a series of free Thursday night shows at Allston’s Zone 3 showcasing a host of local luminaries this spring, which includes this heavy-hitter and an April 10th gig with Winkler, Hey I’m Outside and The Croaks.

4/26 – Bugs and Rats / Carnivorous Bells / Harpy @ O’Brien’s Pub

Veteran Quincy noisemakers Bugs and Rats are back in action for a Saturday night rager at O’Brien’s also featuring Philly’s Carnivorous Bells and Providence’s Harpy.

4/27 – Youth Lagoon @ Middle East Downstairs

Trevor Powers’ dreamy bedroom pop project Youth Lagoon returned in February with the hauntingly nostalgic Rarely Do I Dream, which he’ll support downstairs at the Mid East towards the month’s end.