Gig Watch: October 2026
Shows not to miss in and around Boston for the month of October.
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Dear readers, the end of September sucked. I saw some great shows last month, several of which will be reviewed here shortly, but we lost our cat on the 30th and that has fully derailed my brain. Thusly, this is a slightly more minimal Gig Watch than usual, but one I still wanted to put together. Shows are important, community is important, etc. Hug your pets.
10/2 – 10/3 – Fuzzstival @ Arts at the Armory
Illegally Blind’s annual celebration of all things noisy welcomes Major Stars, Dino Gala, Spirit Ghost, Intac, Warmachine, Winkler and many more to the Somerville Armory.
10/3 – Final Gasp / Cowardice / Chainlacing @ Herter Park
Boston deathrockers Final Gasp headline a spooky season kickoff gig outdoors at Allston’s beautiful Herter Park, also featuring tons of vendors and DJ sets from The Glitter Boys.
10/4 – Allston Pudding’s Big Gig @ Charles River Speedway
AP presents a free day of local favs in collaboration with the Brighton Bazaar, including sets from Ivy Boy, Puppy Problems and Happy Just to See You.
10/4 – The Schizophonics @ The Rockwell
If you’ve never taken in the pure mania of the one-handed-guitar garage-rock meltdown that is a live Schizophonics set, you owe it yourself to catch them at the Rockwell.
10/4 – Interpol / DIIV @ Roadrunner
10/5 – Horse Lords @ Deep Cuts
Horse Lords are one of the more singular bands out making what you could technically describe as rock music and their latest Demand to Be Taken to Heaven Alive! is no exception – always a treat live.
10/6 – She’s Green @ The Rockwell
Upstart shoegazers blew me away at the NYC Slide Away fest in May, catch them in a tiny room while you can.
10/8 – Panopticon @ Middle East Upstairs
10/12 – Sunn O))) @ Paradise Rock Club
Drone metal icons Sunn O))) make a rare Boston appearance. We can wish it was at the Coolidge again over the ‘Dise, but still appointment viewing.
10/14 – Roger Miller / Beth Kaplan / Chris Brokaw @ Deep Cuts
10/16 – The Tubs @ Deep Cuts
10/17 – Sugar @ Roadrunner
Bob Mould gets the band back together to blow out some eardrums on a larger scale than his usual haunt at the Paradise.
10/17 – Gilla Band @ Brighton Music Hall
Irish noise rock outfit Gilla Band’s new one, Pugnello, is a bonkers ride that I can only guess is even more bonkers in person.
10/17 – Hallelujah the Hills / Patrick Stickles @ Deep Cuts
Local favs HTH haven’t played many gigs this year, this one plus Titus Andronicus frontman Patrick Stickles playing a rare solo set is an easy sell.
10/20 – Greg Freeman @ The Sinclair
10/22 – Friko @ The Sinclair
Chicago indie rockers Friko did it again with their sophomore record Something Worth Waiting For, they’ll headline Sinclair with it this month.
10/25 – Claudio Simonetti’s Goblin @ Somerville Theatre
Seasonal spookiness with the maestro of Italian prog-horror scores playing live to a screening of Argento’s Tenebre (plus a set of greatest hits).
10/27-10/28 – Built to Spill / Quasi @ The Sinclair
Indie rock legends tour to end the month, enough said.