Selected Sounds: Must-See Concerts for October

The leaves are officially falling, the pumpkin spice lattes are taking over, and sweaters can come out of hiding. In other words, it’s October. The chilly air is the perfect reason to escape to concert venues for some good live music. Check out our team’s suggestions below, and mark your calendars for these six shows.

Thursday, October 4

Josh Ritter (Solo) at the Cabot – Selected by Amie

Local rumor has it that Ritter wrote some of his earliest lyrics at Darwin’s Coffee Shop in Cambridge. It is easy to picture the gifted lyricist pouring his heart out over the pages of his infamous journal over a cup of coffee. Whether playing solo or with the Royal City Band, Ritter brings an aching vulnerability to his music as he sings about the small moments that make up the joy and sorrow of everyday life. If music is universal then seeing Josh Ritter live can only be described as close to having a spiritual experience, as the audience is taken through Ritter’s own experiences while being able to claim them personally as their own. It will truly be a treat for Ritter fans to welcome him to the Cabot for a “Homecoming” in October.

Friday, October 5

St. Paul and the Broken Bones at the House of Blues – Selected by Meaghan

Watching St. Paul and the Broken Bones — a group led by a velvet-tongued preacher robed in a gold clock and armed with only a microphone — perform is a religious experience. These Alabama boys borrow from the tradition of the Southern arena preachers, spreading the good word of soulful R&B. Frontman Paul Janeway, who owns an impeccable suit collection and does start every show in a shimmering robe is a wild and mesmerizing performer. (I once saw him climb under the drum platform and perform a whole song hidden under the drum kit, then emerge to continue the song while rolling around the floor.) A St. Paul and the Broken Bones show is an enlightening experience that will possess you to dance your ass off.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8jWGYQq1LM4

Sunday, October 7

Lykke Li at Paradise Rock Club – Selected by David

Lykke Li and her hearth of melancholic music are coming to the Paradise on October 7th to welcome the cold weather. Since her debut, Youth Novels, in 2008, The Swedish songwriter has been penning pop ballads overflowing with emotion, incorporating lush harmonies and unique instrumentation. She can also be fun, though. What’s more fun than being sampled by Drake circa 2009? If you’ve been looking for music to cry your heart out to, you’ve found it! Also, I’m really sorry about your broken heart.

Tuesday, October 9

Radio Disney: Berklee Edition at the Berklee Performance Center – Selected by Arielle

What do you get when you combine a group of talented Berklee students and the music we grew up listening to? A night of singing, dancing, and nostalgia. Come hear some of your favorite childhood songs with exciting new arrangements. The show is entirely student produced and offers something for music lovers of all ages.

Wednesday, October 10

J. Cole at TD Garden – Selected by Jared

Rap aficionados are bound to check out J. Cole on October 10, as he breathes lyrical fire to a massive audience at the TD Garden. Unapologetically hip hop, J.Cole is an artist who built his impressive following by focusing on the musical foundations of rap — beats, rhymes, and honesty. His dedication to hip hop purity also comes through in his style, typically wearing basic t-shirts and jeans with no bling or flash, in effort to focus the listener on what they’re hearing. Describing his true ambition to “write the songs that raise the hair on my arms,” Cole carries on the traditions laid by Public Enemy, Nas, and Tupac, using his music to document and dissect the challenges often faced by undeserved communities and people of color across America. In

Tuesday, October 23

Wilderado at Brighton Musical Hall – Selected by Knar

Last time they came to town, we chatted with lead singer Max Helmerich of Wilderado — the moniker of the gritty folk rock act once known as Bird Dog — about concept albums like Andy Shauf’s The Party, the specific songwriting of Matt Berlinger of The National, and writing songs about his daughter. Come hear why these (now Tulsa-based) rockers draw comparisons to Kings of Leon, The Fratellis and Cold Water Kids.