Modest Mouse Louisville Palace Tuesday, Oct. 3 A truly unique and consistent indie band that landed commercial success by tearing and splicing rock, new-wave and post-punk, forming something that hits the right balance of catchy and strange.
Phantogram Mercury Ballroom Friday, Oct. 6 An electronic duo that mixes underground hip-hop beats with sugary pop vocals and scattered indie rock elements, Phantogram sounds like a louder versions of Lana Del Rey someone who takes the general sound of pop, and carves off the vast majority of the bubblegum, making something more lean and smart than what Cumulus pushes. More or less, Phantogram is one of the bands that proves that pop can be fun without being ridiculous.
Boa Zanzabar Saturday, Oct. 7 A psych-rock leaning group that also carries folk and jam-band sensibilities, Boa plays a breezy, harmony-filled style that certainly owes a debt to artists such as The Band.
Orginalli, Sam Humans Thursday, Oct. 12 The Cure Lounge A sludgy, hard rock band that lives on a steady diet of power chords and bluesy licks, Orginalli hits with force, a throwback to the old gods.
New Bravado, Parallel Colors, Together in Dust Kaiju Saturday, Oct. 14 With straightforward, blistering garage rock, New Bravado has that lovable muscular rock-n-roll sound, without overdoing it, instead crafting dreamy lyrics that run under a booming structure.
New Bravado - I Don't Mind (Official Video) from Michael Tyler McDaniel on Vimeo.
Katy Perry KFC Yum Center Monday, Oct. 16 She rode a robotic lion on the field at the Super Bowl, which is the sort of thing that makes big-name pop shows fun.
Deer Tick Headliners Music Hall Tuesday, Oct. 17 An alt-country/dive bar rock band that hasnt spent much time on the road lately, Deer Tick just released a double album one disc acoustic, the other electric looking to pick up where they left off.
Jack Holiday Halloween: Radiohead Haymarket Saturday, Oct. 28 Jack Holiday and the Westerners will be playing a Halloween cover set of Radiohead classics from Ok Computer and In Rainbows.
Elizabeth Cook Zanzabar Saturday, Oct. 26 An evocative singer-songwriter who wrote one of the best songs about the ring of frustration and terror that addiction causes (Heroin Addict Sister), Elizabeth Cook is a gifted storyteller whose work is sharp and relatable.
Victor Wooten Trio Headliners Music Hall Monday, Oct. 30 Widely regarded as one of the best best players ever to live, Victor Wooten is a straight-up savant, who can seamlessly glide through genres.