CONCERT LISTINGS The Best Concerts of September 2008
ATP Roster and Mars Volta Must-Sees of Month
Ease the pain of back-to-school bitch work with music and punting, the tried-and-true best medicine for p-setting agony. Check out our picks for September’s best concerts; special interest shows denoted with stars.
Friday, Sept. 5
Stereophonics with Le Loup, Monade
Paradise Rock Club, 18+, $25
Welsh rockers Stereophonics are joined by the very hip, very French Monade (side project of Stereolab’s Laetitia Sadier) and banjo-laptop hybrid of the new millenium Le Loup.
Sunday, Sept. 14
The Mars Volta*
The Orpheum, All Ages, $30
For a good time, try throwing urine at these funkadelic guys and see what happens. No, seriously, YouTube “Mars Volta” and “pee.” You’ll be totally inspired.
Thursday, Sept. 18
Bell X1
Paradise Rock Club, 18+, $15
This Irish band used to include Damien Rice as a member and later hit it big in the U.S. after inclusion on the ever-prestigious O.C. soundtrack. Radiohead-inspired chord changes and love-struck choir boy lyrics make this group passively enjoyable.
Monday, Sept. 22
Takka Takka, Love As Laughter, Oxford Collapse
T.T. The Bear’s Place, 18+, $10
Looks like all the regular indie opening acts have banded together to headline their own tour; between the three of them, this should be a fun, low-key performance, and a perfect way to end this semester’s first Suicide Prevention day.
Saturday, Sept. 27
Built to Spill with Dinosaur Jr., Meat Puppets*
The Orpheum, All Ages, $25
If you can’t snag a ticket to All Tomorrow’s Parties New York (which features My Bloody Valentine, Autolux, Thurston Moore, and others) then check out these touring artists from the festival. Perfect for nineties aficionados that can’t stand reunion tours.
Sunday, Sept. 28 and Monday, Sept. 29
Ratatat
Paradise Rock Club, 18+, $20
Electronic duo produces equal parts heavy guitar and dance-inducing beats. Catch them one or both nights at Paradise for some end-of-weekend celebration.
Monday, Sept. 29
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
T.T. The Bear’s Place, 18+, $10
Scoff all you want at his overly-indulgent name, but this acronym-ready artist has already grabbed the attention of TV On The Radio and Grizzly Bear. Catch him before he blows up too big and everyone else gets a second middle name just to be cool.
Tuesday, Sept. 30
Say Hi*
The Middle East (Upstairs), 18+, $9
Formerly Say Hi To Your Mom, this group has truncated their name in order to fit with their more grown-up sound. Their last release, The Wishes and the Glitch, is filled with subdued tension but still comes out feel-good. Let’s hope that maturity carries over to the live show.