Alt-Nation: Fall Rocks ‘n’ Rolls

Of Montreal

Of Montreal is a progressive pop band from just beyond the border of Athens, Georgia. Over the years, Kevin Barnes and Co have made some impressive records and introduced the world to their former violist Kishi Bashi. Of Montreal has a new EP out called Rune Husk and they come to town to rock.

Of Montreal and Showtime Goma and Nancy Feast rock The Met Cafe on Sep 7. 

Dan Blakeslee –The Alley Walker (album release show)

Dan Blakeslee’s new record, The Alley Walker, sounds familiar and kind of has a ’70s Dylan-meets-The-Band-by-a-campfire-in-Oklahoma vibe. I’m looking forward to seeing Blakeslee bring these tunes to life. The Horse-Eyed Men are the headliner with Cowboy & Lady rounding out what is a stacked bill.

Dan Blakeslee, The Horse-Eyed Men, Cowboy & Lady are at the Columbus Theatre on Sep 7.

Roky Erickson & The Hounds of Baskerville

It is hard to believe that after 52 years as performer legendary garage rocker Roky Erickson has never played in Rhode Island. That is about to change as Erickson comes to the oddities and collectables store POP in the Smith Hill section of Providence. Erickson was one of the original mavens of psychedelic garage with the 13^th Floor Elevators known for the classic tune “You’re Gonna Miss Me.” Erickson has some solo bangers too, like “Bloody Hammer” and “Night of the Vampire” that have been hugely influential. Erickson pretty much invented horror-themed garage rock, which people like The Misfits later made into a genre of punk. Anyways, Erickson is like a comet in that he always comes around once every 52 years to Rhode Island, so I wouldn’t miss this chance.

Roky Erickson & The Hounds of Baskerville comes to POP – Emporium of Popular Culture, 219 W. Park St, PVD on Sep 10.  The show runs from 4 – 7pm and advance tickets can be purchased here:  http://stores.emporiumofpopularculture.com/roky-erickson-i…/

Descendents

So-Cal punk scientists Descendents make their first visit to Rhode Island since the mid-90s. Descendents are known for their quirky tongue-in-cheek takes on teenage angst like “Cameage,” “Christmas Vacation” and “Pep Talk.”  Descendents probably are the first punk rock band to go on hiatus because the lead singer wanted to be a scientist.  The rest of the band formed All, after a Descendents album by the same name, but it was never as good as those early Descendents records. This is also a chance to check out the newly christened Strand Theatre as Lupo’s has decided to re-brand under that name. The room has been renovated with the goal to open up more space by moving the main bar.

Descendents and Berri Txarak rock the Strand Theatre (Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel) on Sep 10.

The Midnight Ghost Train

Thunderous stoner metal for the gods is how I’d describe The Midnight Ghost Train. They have a new album out, Cypress Ave, that they are plugging. I haven’t heard the new tunes yet, but their previous album, Buffalo, was solid.

The Midnight Ghost Train rock Alchemy on Sep 11.

WBRU’s Fall Ball

As the last notes of White Stripes’ “Fell in Love with a Girl” faded, 95.5 WBRU turned to static as it ceased transmission. By the next day their spot on the airwaves had been taken over by a horrible Christian pop radio conglomerate. This show is usually billed as WBRU’s Birthday Bash, but since dead entities don’t have birthdays, it has been changed to WBRU’s Fall Ball. The lineup, particularly night two with Bastille, is pretty dope.

WBRU’s Fall Ball night one features Cold War Kids, K.Flay, and Joywave rocking the Strand on Sep 12.  Night two features Bastille and Frenship rocking the Strand on Sep 13. These shows are separate admission. 

UHF Screening with “Weird Al” Yankovic Q&A

It wouldn’t be a true guide to fall without including a movie screening for a film that came out, like, 30 years ago. I can’t imagine why anyone would have any burning questions about UHF, but for “Weird Al” in general, hell yes. I’m curious about what artists have denied him permission to parody their songs because you know there have to be some pretty good ones that never got made.

The UHF screening with “Weird Al” Yankovic Q&A takes place at the Columbus Theatre on Sep 16.

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic

Some days this world gets so crazy that I just get home at blast off in the mothership known as Parliament Funkadelic. The ’70s funk grooves get the party hopping today as much as they did 40 years ago. I’ve always maintained that George Clinton has the best job in show business. He shows up, sings a line or two, disappears for 15 minutes, comes back to sing a line, hangs out on stage doing nothing for a long instrumental break and repeats. The man is truly a genius!

George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic bring the funk to the Strand on Sep 22.

Forge Fest

Forge Fest is a two-day overload of metal and hard rock that will engulf Dusk in Providence. The event features 18 bands over the two days. Confirmed bands for the festival so far include Churchburn, Worshipper and Cortez.

Forge Fest comes to Dusk on Sep 22 and 23.

Big Words

I don’t do a lot on jam bands because I don’t have the attention span, but this one should be a good show. Big Words features members of local legends Max Creek and soul/funk monsters Sister Sparrow. I do find it amusing that they choose Big Words as a name because jam bands usually don’t use a lot of words.

Big Words (featuring members of  Sister Sparrow and Max Creek) kick out the jams at Fete on Sep 22.

Brian Wilson

Brian Wilson’s masterpiece, Pet Sounds, is on the short list for the greatest rock ‘n’ roll records of all time. Wilson’s been touring and playing the album in its entirety for what seems like a few years and why not? It is a really great record. This is a real special show that you don’t get to experience that often.

Brian Wilson plays the Zeiterion Theater in New Bedford on Sep 29. 

The Silks

Everyone’s local favorite for barn burning ’70s rock and blues always rip when it is time to party. This is a great show if you’re looking for a rock band that puts on a show that you can dance to with familiar enough grooves.

The Silks rock The Met Cafe on Sep 29.

Providence Metal Fest 4

The name really says it all; it will be day filled with macho-guitar-slinging, ear-shattering rock ‘n’ roll. The two bands that jump out from the lineup are Life of Agony and local legends Kilgore. Kilgore, after a successful reunion last year, are working on a new EP. They have not announced a release date, but I am looking forward to hearing it. Kilgore, for those uninitiated, were a ’90s hardcore/metal band that rose to national prominence playing events like Ozzfest and the Green House, and touring with Pantera. It is good to have them back in action. This show will have the worst guy-to-girl ratio this fall.

Providence Metal Fest 4 featuring Life of Agony, Kilgore and more rocks Fete very hard on Sep 30.

The Huntress and the Holder of Hands — Avalon release show

I’ve been excited for The Huntress and the Holder of Hands debut for some time. Avalon doesn’t disappoint as it mixes in everything from psyche-noir to haunted folk. I’ll have a full review before the show, but get this one marked on your calendar.

The Huntress and the Holder of Hands (Avalon release show) will enchant at the Columbus Theatre on Oct 6.

Bash & Pop

Tommy Stinson has been in some of the greatest bands of all time, from the Replacements to Guns N’ Roses to even a stint with Soul Asylum. Whatever else he does in music will always be considered gravy. Stinson decided to reform (with all different members) his post-Replacements band, Bash & Pop. Their new album, Anything Could Happen, is a slab of the same barroom rock ‘n’ roll that was the calling card of the Replacements. The local support for this show is stacked between Tall Teenagers and Gym Shorts.

Bash & Pop, Tall Teenagers, and Gymshorts rock The Met Cafe on Oct 12.

Shovels and Rope

The husband/wife band Shovels and Rope raise quite a ruckus for two people. Shovels and Rope are quite like the Dixie version of the White Stripes. They do some country, but mostly they are just a rock band. They killed it at the main stage of this year’s Newport Folk Fest and I am totally stoked to see them in an intimate environment.

Shovels and Rope rock the Columbus Theatre on Oct 13.

Mister Heavenly

Mister Heavenly is an indie rock super group composed of members of Man Man, Islands, Unicorns and Modest Mouse. Their debut album, Out of Love, was a slab of brilliant indie rock version meets doo-wop (they termed it doom wop). They have a new album called Boxing the Moonlight due out later this year that I’m amped for.

Mister Heavenly and Eric and The Nothing are at Alchemy on Nov 4.

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood

The singer of the Black Crowes brings his solo band to town with the Crowes on indefinite hiatus cause he can’t get along with his brother. I caught The Chris Robinson Brotherhood five or six years ago and it was what one would expect: blues-based rock ‘n’ roll like Crowes.  Nothing wrong with that, I don’t expect everybody to take a Dee Dee Ramone-like direction change and make a rap album. Hopefully he throws in some early Crowes tunes, but I doubt it because the Crowes stopped playing those songs.

The Chris Robinson Brotherhood rocks the Columbus Theatre on Nov 9.

Squeeze

Yes, you read this right, the band that sings “Pulling Mussels from a Shell” is coming to the Strand. Squeeze are one of those ’80s bands that I’ve come to appreciate more as the years go along. Their power pop hooks sound better than ever. A solid case could be made that this is the show of the fall for the 40-somethings.

Squeeze rock the Strand on Nov 18.

Deer Tick

This fall is a big one for Deer Tick has they have two new records (Deer Tick Volume 1 and Deer Tick Volume 2) coming out, three local shows in November and a Boston show for New Year’s Eve. Deer Tick will be kicking off their homecoming at the Columbus Theatre with an acoustic show that will likely feature much of the all acoustic Volume 1 on Friday. Then they’ll do two electric shows on Saturday and Sunday at The Met Café.

Deer Tick will enchant at the Columbus on Nov 24.  Deer Tick will rock The Met Cafe on Nov 25 & 26.

Email music news to mclarkin33@gmail.com