DYNAMIC DUO They Might Be Giants return to Lupo's on October 10. |
Adios, summer 2013. There were great local and national artists at venues statewide just about every night of the week, and the arrival of autumn typically means even more shows and nationally touring acts on the live circuit. Judging from this comprehensive list of recommended upcoming gigs, we see no reason why the party should stop. There are a slew of budget-friendly shows here too, so no excuses — get off the couch and catch a show or two!
We start with the 5th annual Fusion Fest, featuring some of the finest from East Bay imprint 75orLess Records. The hometown throwdown returns to the Water Street Landing in Warren (next to Blount’s Clam Shack), and this year’s lineup does not disappoint: ALLYSEN CALLERY , GALVANIZE , LLOYD’S LLAMAS , JACOB HALLER , and the long-awaited return of SIX STAR GENERAL (drummer Dan Ulmschneider is off DL following recent shoulder surgery). 75orLess founder (and Six Star bassist/singer) Mark MacDougall is the man to thank for this free (!) all-day soiree; proceeds will benefit Fusionworks Dance Company. There will be plenty of food trucks on site, and a locally sourced craft beer garden. Visit 75orlessrecords.com for more info and the schedule.
Dusk (301 Harris Ave, Providence, 401.714.0444, duskprovidence.com) is a casual bar/lounge tucked behind Atwells Avenue which delivers varied lineups and lo-dough cover charges. Stop by every Wednesday and bang thy head at the wildly popular Metal Night . And speaking of eclectic lineups, check out THE EVIL STREAKS with THE SKELETON BEATS , GIN MILL JANE (recent debut EP ’Till You Come Home is highly recommended), and SONIC GRIFTERS on September 13, stoner-rock trio Sweet Love (pick up the debut album Motor ASAP) on September 20, and on September 28 it’s a post-hardcore bill led by locals ASK THE DEAD (celebrating a new 7” EP), with NO OCEAN , TENANTS , and SUN BEARS , all for just $6 at the door.
Smack-dab in the center of the creative capital lies AS220 (115 Empire St, Providence, 401.831.9327, as220.org), the all-encompassing home for the arts since 1985. They’ve hosted some stellar shows already this year (Parquet Courts killed it in front of 20 or so people) with lots more on deck: get up close and personal with metal thrashers I, DESTROYER , BLESSED OFFAL , ORSUS , and VENOMIZER at the 95 Empire Black Box space on September 13; SNOWPLOWS , BUTTONHOOF , THE ATTENDING , and “folk doom” quartet BLOODPHEASANT (featuring Shannon LeCorre of Gertrude Atherton) perform on September 21; there’s more hardcore action on September 25 courtesy of DOWNTOWN BOYS (look them up ASAP) along with DISASTER STRIKES (Boston), LA ARMADA (Chicago), and THE YABEAUTIFULS ; and TROPHY SCARS will headline with support from TALLSHIPS ET SAIL on October 19.
Fête (103 Dike St, Providence, 401.383.1113, fetemusic.com) is the crown jewel of Olneyville and is a vital venue on the national show circuit, with a state-of-the-art sound system and two separate rooms (the main stage ballroom and a smaller lounge). The lounge comes alive on September 24 when THE SILKS throw down with Austin, TX blues crew Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears ($15), and the ballroom hosts BOW WOW (who apparently isn’t so “Lil” anymore) on September 27. Brooklyn-based crew RUBBLEBUCKET heats up the ballroom on October 4 with special guest locals KID MOUNTAIN and ROZ RASKIN & THE RICE CAKES . And esteemed wordsmith TECH N9NE brings his “Something Else Tour” to town on October 22 with a slew of lyricists, including PROZAK and MAYDAY . Fête is one of the better hip-hop venues in the state; every Saturday, DJ Born Casual (voted Best Dance Party in our 2013 readers poll) spins hip-hop and R&B, and the final Thursday of each month belongs to Strange Famous Records, as SAGE FRANCIS and B. DOLAN host the “Church of Providence” series, complete with a functioning wrestling ring, assorted musical lineups, and general lunacy all night long. The Church of Providence is by far the best $10 you can spend on entertainment in one evening.
While we’re on the hip-hop tip, Local 121 (121 Westminster St, Providence, 401.274.2121, local121.com) has DJ NOOK on the wheels every Tuesday (21+ and no cover), and the aforementioned Born Causal now hosts a brunch at 121’s Speakeasy on occasional Sundays at 11 am (the next one is on September 22). And be on the lookout for guest spots from DJ DOX Ellis on September 14 and 21.
Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel (79 Washington St, Providence, 401.331.5876, lupos.com) and its little brother the Met (1005 Main St, Pawtucket, themetri.com, 401.729.1005) consistently bring in big national and independent artists. More rap, you ax? Lupo’s will be downright bananas when CHIEF KEEF takes over on September 27, and “The Smokers Club Tour” sparks up on October 17, featuring JOEY BADA$$ , AB-SOUL , THE UNDERACHEIVERS , and CHEVY WOODS , all hosted by DJ STATIK SELEKTAH . Rock acts lined up at Lupo’s include THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS (October 10), FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH and COHEED & CAMBRIA (October 18), and COLD WAR KIDS (October 21).
Meanwhile at the Met (105 Main St, Pawtucket, 401.729.1005, themetri.com), limited tix remain for “Dudesmash 2” on September 14, with DEER TICK headlining a killer lineup, including the LOW ANTHEM , JOE FLETCHER & THE WRONG REASONS , LAST GOOD TOOTH , RAVI SHAVI , and many more performing in the Met’s courtyard. Neil Young fans should head there on September 28 for the all-star tribute crew Forever Young , and WBRU ushers in Rocktober with BIFFY CLYRO and MORNING PARADE on October 1. The NEIGHBOURHOOD , responsible for that insanely addictive “holes in my sweater” song, will appear on October 12 with LOVELIFE and GHOST LOFT . And mark down November 6 for the return of Boise, Idaho greats BUILT TO SPILL (still waiting on that new album, Mr. Martsch), with guests SLAM DUNK and THE WARM HAIR .
