Gig Watch: October 2025
Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of October.
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Rocktober is upon us. Some selections to guide your way below.
10/1 – Tropical Fuck Storm @ Crystal Ballroom
Australia’s finest art-rock weirdos make a long-awaited return, supporting June’s Fairyland Codex at the Ballroom with an opening set from Unrest’s Mark Robinson.
10/2-10-4 – David Byrne @ Boch Center Wang Theatre
Former Talking Heads leader DB takes over the theater district for a three-night stand behind his latest solo effort Who is the Sky? – presumably making time for plenty of classics too.
10/8 – Water From Your Eyes @ The Sinclair
Ever-unpredictable experimental-indie duo Water From Your Eyes headline The Sinclair with support from Philly shoegazers Her New Knife and Western Mass art-punks Editrix.
10/8 – High Vis @ Paradise Rock Club
In a makeup date for a cancelled gig earlier this year (which sadly no longer features Military Gun on the bill), U.K. post-punk outfit High Vis headline their biggest local show yet at the ‘Dise.
10/9 – The Rapture @ Paradise Rock Club
Dance-punk icons The Rapture – the band that launched a thousand LCD Soundsystems – come to town as part of their first major tour in over a decade (and their first time in Boston since 2011).
10/10 – Destroyer @ The Sinclair
The indefatigable Bejar struck gold again this year with Dan’s Boogie, the mercurial and loquacious 13th Destroyer LP, which he’ll bring to Boston this month with support from fellow Canadian Jennifer Castle.
10/11 – Pile @ The Sinclair
Am I ever going to not recommend the Pile gig? Rick Maguire and co. released the excellent Sunshine and Balance Beams in August – a nudge back in their noisier direction after the more ethereal All Fiction – and they’ll close out the U.S. leg of their supporting tour in Cambridge.
10/13 – My Morning Jacket @ MGM Music Hall
Bridging a gap between jam heads, indie folks and art-rock aficionados, MMJ have honed their reputation as one of the great live bands of their era over the years. It’ll surely be another showcase this month at MGM.
10/14 – Grandaddy @ Royale
Indie rock cult-favorites Grandaddy embark on a rare jaunt this fall to celebrate the 25th anniversary of robot-tragedy classic The Sophtware Slump, stopping at Royale on the 14th.
10/18 – Jeff Tweedy @ Royale
Wilco frontman Jeff Tweedy hits the club circuit behind his sprawling new triple-disc release Twilight Override.
10/19 – Guerilla Toss @ Crystal Ballroom
Long-reigning kings of danceable neo-psych mania Guerilla Toss return to their former hometown for a gig that’s always appointment viewing.
10/21 – Big Thief @ MGM Music Hall
Newly pared down to a trio, folk-rockers Big Thief put a new spin on their sound with the dreamy Double Infinity last month. They’ll bring it to MGM with support from Lomelda.
10/23 – Shudder to Think @ Middle East Downstairs
D.C. post-hardcore vets Shudder to Think will hit the road for the first time in 10-plus years this month, stopping off at Central Square’s Sonia.
10/23 – Neko Case @ The Wilbur
One of the great singer-songwriters of the age, Neko Case returned just this past Friday with her first new LP in seven years. Catch her late this month at The Wilbur.
10/27 – Autechre @ Paradise Rock Club
Enigmatic electronic duo Autechre are back with their first North American live performances in a decade, ready to confound and compel at the Paradise (quickly upgraded from a sellout at Brighton Music Hall).
10/29 – The Beta Band @ Royale
And lastly, eclectic Scottish collective The Beta Band bring their reunion tour (a lot of those this month…) to the Royale towards October’s end. It’s their first time stateside in over 20 years.