Season highlights: Pop music
Boston Blues Festival: At the Hatch Shell Sept. 25-26. This annual free fest is the brainchild of Blues Trust president Greg Sarni. Once again he has assembled a stellar lineup on a shoestring budget, teaming local and national acts. Saturday is headlined by Carey Bell, a harmonica ace who will be backed by keyboardist Mark Naftalin of Paul Butterfield Blues Band fame. Rounding out Saturday is West Coast bluesman Doug McLeod along with fine Boston acts Dennis Brennan (backed by Duke Levine), Monster Mike Welch & Friends, and the Porch Rockers. The Sunday bill is topped by Lil Joe Washington, who has a new CD on Dialtone Records called "Houston Guitar Blues." Also that day are Shor'ty Billups (who has recorded with Wilson Pickett), the Tim Gearan Band, the West End Blues Band, and Mary Jane and the Vipers, featuring Rick Russell, Michelle Willson, and Scott Shetler. More at bluestrust.com.
Avalon on a roll: The 2,000-capacity Avalon on Lansdowne Street continues to be Boston's most popular large venue, booking more acts each year. Alter Bridge -- the Creed spinoff group that just released a well-crafted hard-rock CD -- makes its Boston debut at the venue Oct. 8. The Velvet Underground-influenced Interpol is there Oct. 11, the punk-era Cramps Oct. 16, the protest-heavy Steve Earle & the Dukes Oct. 26, and breakout rockers Story of the Year and My Chemical Romance Oct. 27. Among others checking in: PJ Harvey (Oct. 9), Social Distortion (Oct. 22), Le Tigre (Oct. 23), Boston sensation Dresden Dolls (Oct. 30), Derek Trucks Band (Nov. 20), and Medeski Martin and Wood (Dec. 2).
NEMO showcases: The yearly NEMO club showcases have a brighter sheen than usual. Often they're stacked with newcomers trying to make a name for themselves, but more national acts are coming this time. The showcases run Oct. 1-3. Highlights for Oct. 1: Von Bondies and Auf Der Maur at Axis, Flogging Molly and Street Dogs (surprise hits of the recent Vans Warped Tour) at Avalon, local hip-hop supergroup Perceptionists at the Middle East Downstairs, and Bill Janovitz (of Buffalo Tom fame) & Crown Victoria at the Abbey Lounge. Oct. 2: The Coldplay-evoking Keane at Avalon, Sam Bisbee at Bill's Bar, hippie hip-hop jester Toothpick at Harpers Ferry, Dave Maxwell at Johnny D's, singer-songwriter Lori McKenna at the Somerville Theatre, and a "Women in Rock" night with Mieka Pauley, Paula Kelley, and others at the Paradise. And Oct. 3: Gavin DeGraw at the Roxy. Details at nemoboston.com.
Orpheum retools: The 2,800-seat Orpheum Theatre -- still the best-sounding, most vibe-heavy rock theater in town -- is back with a bang after a dormant summer. Suave Brit Morrissey headlines Oct. 4 and 5, lovable eccentrics Cake take over Oct. 7, Brian Wilson performs "Smile" Oct. 14, Gov't Mule (with guitarist Warren Haynes logging more frequent flier miles after already playing Boston this summer with the Dead and Allman Brothers Band) Oct. 15, a surprise pairing of Howie Day and Nickel Creek Oct. 16, a fabulous teaming of soul greats Al Green and Mavis
Metal daze and nights: Just because Ozzfest is gone doesn't mean the decibels are quieting down this season. Metallica and Godsmack will take it to the limit at the FleetCenter Oct. 24, while the uncompromising Slayer headlines the Jagermeister Music Tour with Killswitch Engage and fast-rising Mastodon at the Palladium in Worcester Nov. 13. And WAAF's Locobazooka 2004 at Fitchburg Airport Sept. 26 has a kicking lineup with Saliva, Tesla, Monster Magnet, Dropbox (buddies with Godsmack's Sully Erna), Josh Todd (formerly of Buckcherry), Kittie, Nonpoint, Shadows Fall, Shinedown, Damage Plan, and Clutch. That should be enough energy for any headbanger.
Eclectic events: You've got to love the fact that the Pixies are finally returning -- catch them at the Tsongas Arena Dec. 1 with Mission of Burma. If jam bands are your thing, try Particle and John Popper (of Blues Traveler) & Friends at the Roxy Oct. 31. Fans of Irish rock should know that Hothouse Flowers are blooming at the Paradise Oct. 7. The ever-challenging Richard Thompson has a special "1,000 Years of Popular Music" program at the Berklee Performance Center Oct. 28. The FleetCenter has R.E.M. Oct. 29 and Avril Lavigne Nov. 1. The gospel-spirited "Welcome to Hopeville" tour (with Kirk Franklin, Yolanda Adams, and Donnie McClurkin) returns to the Worcester Centrum Centre Oct. 24. The red-hot Killers dip into their "Hot Fuss" album at the Roxy Oct. 7, folk-country newcomer Mindy Smith is at the Berklee Performance Center Oct. 15, Mavericks singer Raul Malo is at the Paradise Lounge Oct. 20, KMFDM is at the Middle East Downstairs Nov. 1, and folk-rock queen Ani DiFranco is at the Palladium Dec. 9.
