Mike D’s Top 5 Can’t Miss Shows of November

1.Friday, November 4: Doomsday Student, Math The Band, Microwaves, Sensitive Hearts; 9pm; $?; All ages?; Aurora, 276 Westminster St, PVD. A local night (and a band from PA) featuring two of Providence’s best live acts. Doomsday Student just released their second LP, A Self-Help Tragedy. The band sounds like a horror soundtrack, guitar assault on top of a panic attack. Check out their new video “Angry Christmas.” I recommend doing so while on drugs. Math The Band (or Math The Band The Band) are Providence’s punk rock kitchen sink band and the most fun you will have in November, which, let’s be honest, is a generally disappointing month. Pittsburgh’s Microwaves and Providence’s music / video / art act Sensitive Hearts.

2. Thursday, November 10: “Bringing The Fringe Back Home” with Sage Francis & B. Dolan; and a music set from The Metermaids; 9pm; $13 advance / $15 day of; All ages; The Met, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket. Strange Famous hip-hop impresarios Sage Francis and B. Dolan have been releasing rap records and touring them across the country for so long that it’s easy to forget that they were also born out of the slam poetry scene. After returning to their spoken word ways for a very well-received festival gig over in the UK, Sage and B. decided to bring it back home to Providence for a one time show. The night will consist of a 90-minute set from the two of them, heavy on spoken word but also with a mix of storytelling, comedy and music. Labelmates from New York City The Metermaids open the night with a music set. Should be a great evening.

3. Friday, November 11: Helmet, Local H; 8pm doors / 9pm show; $20 advance / $22 day of; All ages; The Met, 1005 Main St, Pawtucket. Here we have a ’90s dream bill, New York’s post-hardcore favorites Helmet and Illinois’ post grunge heavyweights Local H. Both acts have been very active. Helmet recently released their 8th studio album Dead To The World, and Local H have been pretty steadily touring over the years, recently touring the 20th anniversary of their seminal album As Good As Dead. It’s a co-headine without an opener, so get there early and bring ear plugs as it will be loud.

4. Sunday, November 13: Honus Honus, Lookers; 7pm doors / 8pm; $12 advance / $14 day of; All ages; Columbus Theatre, 270 Broadway, PVD. While Philadelphia’s Man Man have been quiet lately, frontman Honus Honus has been working on solo material. His debut album, Use Your Delusion, will be out by the time this issue hits the street.  The lead single “Heavy Jesus” reminds me of his criminally overlooked side project Mister Heavenly with Nick Diamonds, indie rock with a touch of ’50s harmony and doo-wop. I can’t find any info about the opening act Lookers, which means that they are likely a local band I should know. I did find a French garage band called the Lookers, which is plausable, I guess.

5. Tuesday, November 15: Thee Oh Sees, Straight Arrows, Holy Wave, Gymshorts; 8:30pm; $14; All ages; Aurora, 276 Westminister St, PVD. It has been too long since John Dwyer and Thee Oh Sees have played in Providence. Dwyer left town right around the time when Providence tried selling us on building condos and a second Staples to help us keep RISD students and artists, which actually drove away the majority of the talented artists living in town and especially the warehouses in Onleyville such as Fort Thunder (thanks for staying, Lightning Bolt). John ended up out in California, and ended up being a key component in today’s garage / psych revival with his prolific Thee Oh Sees and previous bands, The Coachwhips and Pink and Brown. It’s been at least 7 or 8 years, perhaps longer since John has played in town, and I think you have to go back to the ’90s Landed days when it was in a club. Thee Oh Sees shows are frantically fast and sweaty. The show is sold out; if you can get your hands on a ticket, grab it.

Also worth noting: November 4: The Proletariat (reunion) / Neutral Nation / Minibeast @ The Met; November 5: The Upper Crust / Teazer / The Worried @ The Met; November 8: Shonen Knife @ The Parlor Newport; November 10: The Sonics / The Itchies @ Fete; November 11: The Skints @ Ocean Mist; November 12: Reel Big Fish / Masked Intruder @ Lupo’s; Candiria / Dalek @ Firehouse 13; November 19: Carcass / Deafheaven at Fete; November 23: Daddie Long Legs @ The Met; November 29: Slim Cessna’s Auto Club / O’Death / The Huntress and Holder of Hands @ The Met