Fall Concert Guide 2015
SEPTEMBER
From Madge to Teddy, September is stacked with must-see artists, whether you’re into electro-pop, jazz, or country.
Photo by Olga Khvan for “Photos from Converse Rubber Tracks Live, Night 2”
Passion Pit
Some fans may have had to take a walk after Michael Angelakos came down with pneumonia and rescheduled his Lawn on D performance back in July, but good news: The formerly bedridden sleepyhead is back in action.
September 16, 6 p.m., Lawn on D, 420 D St., Boston, 617-954-2000, lawnond.com. Buy tickets.
MixFest 2015
For more than two decades, Mix 104.1 has been staging its annual fall concert here in Boston. This year’s MixFest lineup includes Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas, Third Eye Blind, Vance Joy, and more.
September 19, 11 a.m., DCR Hatch Memorial Shell, 47 David G Mugar Way, Boston, mix1041.cbslocal.com. Free.
A$AP Rocky & Tyler the Creator
A$AP Rocky and Tyler, the Creator are setting out on a co-headlining fall tour fresh off an album release (At. Long. Last. ASAP) and media app debut (Golf Media), respectively.
September 19, 7:30 p.m., Tsongas Center, 300 Arcand Dr., Lowell, 978-934-5738, tsongascenter.com. Buy tickets.
Diana Ross
There ain’t no mountain high enough, and there ain’t no diva like Diana Ross—the 71-year-old kicked off her fall tour this month with a total of 28 dates on her calendar.
September 19, 8 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, 800-982-2787, citicenter.org. Buy tickets.
Purity Ring
Along with Purity Ring’s long-anticipated Another Eternity album release earlier this year comes another world tour. Whether you define them as “future pop,” “chillwave,” or some other specific yet generally unhelpful genre, their performance is bound to pack an electro-pop punch.
September 22, 7 p.m., House of Blues Boston, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, 888-693-2583, houseofblues.com. Buy tickets.
Ed Sheeran / Courtesy photo
Ed Sheeran
Ladies, the British are coming! Take Ed Sheeran into your loving arms and listen to him croon under the light of a thousand stars when he takes over Gillette Stadium.
September 25, 7 p.m., Gillette Stadium, One Patriot Pl., Foxborough, 508-543-8200, gillettestadium.com. Buy tickets.
Brad Paisley
Country fans of New England unite—Brad Paisley has kicked off his “Crushin’ It” world tour, sponsored by Boot Barn, and I don’t think you can get any more American country than that.
September 25, 7:30 p.m., Xfinity Center, 885 S Main St., Mansfield, 508-339-2331, thexfinitycenter.com. Buy tickets.
Josh Groban
In support of his forthcoming album, Stages, Josh Groban is heading out on “The Stages Tour.” Meant to be a more intimate experience than his prior tours, this time around, Groban is eschewing giant stadiums in favor of closer performances in relatively quaint theatres such as the Wang.
September 25, 8 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, 800-982-2787, citicenter.org. Buy tickets.
Boston Calling Fall 2015
The weekend-long concert series returns to City Hall Plaza, bringing with it another massive lineup, including The Avett Brothers, alt-J, Chvrches, Chromeo, Father John Misty, Stephen Malkmus, Hozier, and—we’ll pause while you wrap your brain around that—much, much more.
September 25-27, City Hall Plaza, Boston, bostoncalling.com. Buy tickets.
Berklee Beantown Jazz Festival
Berklee’s Beantown Jazz Festival is taking over the South End for the perfect summer sendoff, featuring jazz, Latin, blues, funk, and groove across three stages. Notable headliners include the George Garzone Quartet, with a tribute to John Coltrane, and Ledisi, who has earned eight Grammy nominations to-date.
September 26, 12 p.m., Berklee, Columbus Ave. between Massachusetts Ave. and Burke St., 617-747-2247, berklee.edu/beantownjazz. Free.
Madonna
Madonna recently kicked off her 10th world tour, “Rebel Heart”—and considering that it features pole dancers dressed as nuns and a recreation of the Last Supper in which Madonna serves as the main course, it’s safe to say that the tour is aptly titled.
September 26, 8 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, 617-624-1050, tdgarden.com. Buy tickets.
The Jesus and Mary Chain
This year marks the 30th anniversary of Psychocandy, The Jesus and Mary Chain’s first release. But you know, we’re still awaiting the proposed appearance of a fabled album from the reformed band—as you said it yourself, Reid brothers, it’s too much for a young heart to take.
September 29, 7 p.m., House of Blues Boston, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, 888-693-2583, houseofblues.com/boston. Buy tickets.
OCTOBER
With Elvis Costello, Ringo, and The Who all coming to Boston, it’s safe to say that the stars will align in Boston this October.
Kurt Vile and Waxahatchee
The pairing between Kurt Vile and Waxahatchee is almost painfully perfect: Vile is gearing up to release his darkest, most introspective album yet, while Waxahatchee released Ivy Tripp earlier this year, which laments the directionless years of young adulthood with the perfect amount of brooding.
October 2, 8 p.m., Paradise Rock Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-562-8800, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
Kraftwerk 3-D
German electronic music pioneers Kraftwerk have taken the concept of Die Mensch-Maschine to a whole new level: Their renowned 3-D concert comes to North America this fall.
October 3, 8 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, 800-982-2787, citicenter.org. Buy tickets.
Yo La Tengo featuring Dave Schramm
The reappearance of Yo La Tengo’s old lead guitarist, Dave Schramm, isn’t the only throwback element on Stuff Like That There. The new album also marks a return to their ‘90s form, with a Fakebook-like hodgepodge of cover songs.
October 3, 8 p.m., Wilbur Theatre, 246 Tremont St., Boston, 617-248-9700, thewilbur.com. Buy tickets.
Tove Lo
Sweden’s dark pop princess Tove Lo calls herself messy, raw, and honest—mix together in three equal parts, add in some smoke for dramatic flair and the occasional intentional nip slip for controversy, and you have her Queen of the Clouds tour.
October 14, 7 p.m., Royale Boston, 279 Tremont St., Boston, 617-338-7699, royaleboston.com. Buy tickets.
Elvis Costello by Martin Doby on Flickr
Elvis Costello: Unfaithful Music & Disappearing Ink
From a 60,000-word essay written in the liner notes of a reissued album comes Elvis Costello’s first autobiography—and, from the purchase of a ticket to this Booksmith-produced book-release event at Berklee comes a free copy of the memoir.
October 17, 7 p.m., Berklee Performance Center, 136 Massachusetts Ave., Boston, 617-747-2261, berklee.edu/BPC. Buy tickets.
Peaches
Get ready for the teaches of Peaches: The electroclash icon Peaches comes to the Paradise for what’s sure to be a gender-bending rock spectacle.
October 23, 8 p.m., Paradise Rock Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-562-8800, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
Caspian
Instrumental post-rock group and Massachusetts natives, Caspian, will perform at the Sinclair following the release of Dust and Disquiet, the first full-length album since the death of their bassist, Chris Friedrich.
October 23, 8 p.m., Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge, 617-547-5200, sinclaircambridge.com. Buy tickets.
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band
Featuring band members that hail from notable groups such as Journey, Santana, Toto, and Mr. Mister, Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band take on another tour together this fall. If the general popular consensus is that Ringo can’t drum, one has to wonder what people have to say about his band-naming abilities.
October 23, 8 p.m., Wang Theatre, 270 Tremont St., Boston, 800-982-2787, citicenter.org. Buy tickets.
Cyprus Hill / Courtesy Photo
Cypress Hill
West Coast rap and hip-hop originators Cypress Hill are bringing their stoned aesthetic to the East Coast this October—B-Real’s nasally vocals and all.
October 27, 8 p.m., Paradise Rock Club, 967 Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-562-8800, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
The Who
Depending on who’s Who you’re into, Roger Daltrey, Pete Townshend, and current members are bringing their “The Who Hits 50!” to Boston. Who’d want to miss that?
October 29, 7:30 p.m., TD Garden, 100 Legends Way, Boston, 617-624-1050, tdgarden.com. Buy tickets.
Grace Potter
After nixing the Nocturnals, Grace Potter is flying solo on the wings of her latest album release, Midnight.
October 31, 7:30 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl., Boston, 617-482-0106, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
NOVEMBER
Whether you want to stomp your feet with Shakey Graves, or disco-dance the night away with Shamir, your options are vast this coming November.
Plain White T’s
Hey there, Delilah, your ex-boyfriend and that one band he’s in are coming to Boston this fall.
November 2, 7 p.m., Brighton Music Hall, 158 Brighton Ave., Allston, 617-779-0140, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
Marina and the Diamonds / Courtesy photo
Marina and the Diamonds
Marina and the Diamonds is bringing her “Neon Nature” tour to Boston, and—like she says in the title track off of her new album, Froot—this ain’t her first time at the rodeo.
November 4, 7 p.m., House of Blues Boston, 15 Lansdowne St., Boston, 888-693-2583, houseofblues.com. Buy tickets.
RAC with Big Data
RAC, originally known as Remix Artist Collective, has paired up with Big Data and this dangerous combination is taking on the Royale in November.
November 4, 7 p.m., Royale Boston, 279 Tremont St., Boston, 617-338-7699, royaleboston.com. Buy tickets.
Indigo Girls
After putting out their 14th studio album, One Lost Day, earlier this year, the Indigo Girls are bringing their folk-rock sounds of rawness, sadness, and joy to the Orpheum Theatre stage.
November 7, 7:30 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl., Boston, 617-482-0106, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
Shakey Graves by Jeremy Pawlowski on Flickr
Shakey Graves
Self-proclaimed Texas gentleman and multi-talented kick-drummer/harmonica player/guitarist/singer/songwriter Shakey Graves is playing not one but two nights at the Royale this fall. Talk about a multitasker.
November 12, 7 p.m., Royale Boston, 279 Tremont St., Boston, 617-338-7699, royaleboston.com. Buy tickets.
The Weeknd
Let’s hope The Weeknd can feel his face when has to perform for over 14,000 people at the DCU Center in Worcester this November.
November 12, 7:30 p.m., DCU Center, 50 Foster St., Worcester, 508-755-6800, dcucenter.com. Buy tickets.
Celebrity Series presents Yo-Yo Ma & Kathryn Stott
Yo-Yo Ma and pianist Kathyrn Stott have collaborated on an album—Ma’s recorded more than 90 so far—about our universal adventure through life and time. This November, everyone attending their Boston Symphony Orchestra performance can join the journey.
November 17, 8 p.m., Symphony Hall, 301 Massachusetts Ave, Boston, 617-266-1492, celebrityseries.org. Buy tickets.
Shamir by Trans Musicales on Flickr
Shamir
Shamir has taken his crown off the mantel for a bit while he brings his new album Ratchet on tour. Just remember not to try and touch it or there’ll be scandal.
November 18, 8 p.m., The Sinclair, 52 Church St., Cambridge, 617-547-5200, sinclaircambridge.com. Buy tickets.
My Morning Jacket
Early aughts alt-behemoth My Morning Jacket is bringing their Southern rock up north to the Orpheum Theatre on November 20.
November 20, 7:30 p.m., Orpheum Theatre, 1 Hamilton Pl., Boston, 617-482-0106, crossroadspresents.com. Buy tickets.
September 16, 10:45 a.m.: This post has been updated to include MixFest, Boston Calling, and Kraftwerk.
