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Scotland Huber

Selected Sounds: 4 Local Concerts You Won’t Want to Miss

Matt McCarthy

Stuck scrolling through endless show listings and Facebook events? Let the team here at Sound of Boston help narrow it down for you! We’ve picked out a few shows in the coming weeks that we’re particularly excited for, including local favorites like Choke Up, Palehound, and the ever-popular HONK! Fest in Somerville.

Also, be sure to check out local country/folk band The Novel Idea’s residency at the Lizard Lounge! They’ll be playing October 5th, 12th, and 26th with different guests each night, and guess who’s giving away tickets?

October 7th to 9th, 2016

HONK! Festival at Davis Square – Selected by Knar

Somerville’s got a lot of quirky and fun festivals, but this festival of activist street bands is my personal favorite. Bands from all over the United States – plus, two bands from Paris –  will parade around Somerville and Cambridge for the eleventh annual Honk! festival this weekend. Filled with brass instruments, 8 foot unicycles, balloon animals, giant drums, glittery hats, crazy costumes, hula hoops, and beaming smiles, Honk! brings an energy unlike any other music festival. Expect a welcoming, family-friendly space and some dancing – on the cobblestones of Davis square, up in the trees, and sometimes even in the arms of strangers.

We’re teaming up with folks over at WBUR to present a night full of local music at Aeronaut Brewery next week at the NPR radio station’s app launch party. RSVP to get your free ticket to hear live performances by post-rock group I/O, soul-rock band Gretchen and the Pickpockets, and funky soul by The American Symphony of Soul on Friday, October 14.

Saturday, October 15th, 2016

Choke Up at O’Brien’s – Selected by Matt M.

This insanely tight folk/pop-punk foursome has been cutting their teeth for the past six years across the Boston scene, always promising a rowdy, wild performance. Last month the band released an acoustic EP entitled Hart, but expect plenty of raucous audience sing-a-longs from last year’s Black Coffee, Bad Habits. This show also marks the farewell performance of local punks Trophy Lungs

Sunday, October 16th, 2016

Margaret Glaspy w/ Palehound at The Sinclair – Selected by Emily and Matt E.

Last year’s Boston Music Award winner, Palehound, will open for singer-songwriter Margaret Glaspy at the Sinclair on Oct. 16. Palehound’s vintage grunge-folk style should be a good prelude to Glaspy’s heart-felt vocals and bluesy electric guitar. Although these musicians differ in style, they do share a common background in the Boston music scene. A Berklee College of Music dropout, Glaspy spent formative years in Boston as a budding musician, whereas Palehound has been gaining momentum in the area since their most recent album, Dry Food, was dubbed “Best of 2015” by NPR and VICE’s Noisey. -Emily

Margaret Glaspy has the kind of voice that was built for the blues, but she uses it in a way that gives her music an edge rather than a sad-sack quality. When she’s singing of ex-lovers or complicated feelings she quickly sharpens her voice and rolls lyrics into a quasi-growl. Combining her vocal talents with a real knack for impressive guitar and melody work leads to her debut album, Emotions and Math, becoming more of a rallying cry than a pity party. -Matt E.