Mike D’s Top Five Can’t Miss Shows of October

1. Friday, October 3rd: John Faraone, Thomas Gardner Jr., Able Thought; Fatt Squirrel; $10; 9pm doors / 9:30pm show; 21+ only; 150 Chestnut St., Providence. This is not only a homecoming for Warwick’s own Thomas Gardner Jr., but also celebrates the release of his new album 12:34. Gardner locally cut his teeth performing as singer / guitarist for Someday Providence, best known for their summer jam “Summertime In Rhode Island.” Following the band break-up, he moved to Los Angeles and changed his sound with his next act The Borrowers Debt, an indie folk act in the vein of bands like Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. His solo record moves more like a ’70s slightly fuzzed-out folk / California pop record.  The show also features coheadliner Providence folk artists John Faraone, whose Houses record is up and running on Bandcamp. It’s a perfect mellow fall Sunday kicking around the house record, so check it out. Make sure to get to Fatt Squirrel early to check out blues electronic act Able Thought who certainly shreds.

2. Monday, October 13: Pronk 2014; Free!; 3pm start; All ages; India Point Park, Providence. I miss this every year and regret it every year after hearing what a great time everyone had. I usually hide from all things music related on my typically off Monday, but I intend on getting off my ass for this one. Pronk proclaims itself as a family-friendly, all volunteer run, outdoor activists street festival and has been running annually for a few (seven?) years now. The fest is run through fundraising and grants to help support the event and help cover travel for the out-of-town performing brass band acts. It’s a giant brass band party / parade that invades the India Point Park area and one of the last outdoor music soirees before dreaded winter. Make sure to hop over to the Hot Club for the after party and the chance to buy a touring misfit a drink.

3. Friday, October 24: The Thurston Moore Band, PCPC (members of Parquet Courts and PC Worship); $15 advance / $18 day of;  8pm doors / 9pm show; All ages; The Met, 1005 Main St., Pawtucket. Thurston Moore returns to Rhode Island for the first time since the break-up of the iconic Sonic Youth. He is out supporting The Best Day, his first solo record since 2010’s Demolished Thoughts, and was recorded with his current band line-up that includes fellow Sonic Youth bandmate Steve Shelley, Deb Googe of My Bloody Valentine on Bass, and James Sedwards. Go to the web to find the first released title track “The Best Day,” a solid blues / psych rocker. I have been a fan of all things Thurston-related since I was 11 and I’m super excited for this show. I haven’t heard opening act PCPC yet, but I am a fan of Parquet Courts and have been spinning their 2014 album Sunbathing Animal all summer, a record stuck somewhere between ’90s indie and ’70s New York punk like Richard Hell. It should be interesting to see mixed with sludge drone rockers PC Worship.

4. Thursday, October 30: Mastodon, Gojira, Kvelertak; $26 advance / $30 day of; 5:30pm doors / 6:30pm show; All ages; Lupo’s, 79 Washington St., Providence. Finally, the return of Atlanta metal act Mastodon to Providence. Covering all the gambits of metal from progressive, experimental, sludge, stoner, and heavy; however, the band doesn’t consider themselves a technical metal band. They also throw in touches of punk and psychedelic and their craft of putting all of this together is what makes the band so great. The band comes to town supporting Once More ‘Round The Sun, which has moments of being reminiscent of their first record Remission. Make sure to check out the video for lead single “High Road” on YouTube for a live action role play version of The Karate Kid.

5. Thursday, October 30: Los Lobos; $75; 8pm; All ages; Narrows Center For The Arts. Mastodon vs Los Lobos is a tough choice for me. Stay in town or trek out to Fall River? Best upside for The Narrows? It’s BYOB. I can do a lot of damage with BYOB. The band is best known for coming to national prominence in 1987 from performing Ritchie Valens covers for the soundtrack to the movie La Bamba, which lead to them taking the single “La Bamba” to number one. The band has been playing Tex-Mex rock ‘n’ roll mixed with country, folk, r&b and blues for over 40 years. The band is amazing live and doesn’t tour frequently. If you are on the fence, absorb the expensive ticket price and push yourself over; it’s worth it.