Fall blew into town last night and with it came the most perfect weather. Perfect sweater weather. Perfect pumpkin-spice coffee weather. Perfect road trip weather. Weather for drinking craft beer outside on a Saturday afternoon. Weather for whiskey. Weather for music.
On that last note, Baltimore has a lot to offer on the concert front this October—or should we say, Rocktober. Here are 18 shows to see before the leaves fall and Old Man Winter rears his ugly mug. Throw on your favorite fleece, grab a pumpkin beer, maybe even dance. Either way, get out there and get in some good tunes.
OCT. 2: THE HOLMES BROTHERS with BROOKS LONG
Creative Alliance, 3134 Eastern Ave. 8 p.m. $22. creativealliance.org.
These gospel and soul legends have recorded with the likes of Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, and Levon Helm—to name a few. Tonight, they’re coming to the Patterson to perform their three-part harmonies with special guest and local soul man, Brooks Long.
OCT. 4: MARAH with CALEB STINE
Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $10-12. themetrogallery.net.
These eclectic mountain minstrels weave storytelling lyrics into an Appalachia-tinged Americana sound with Baltimore’s very own folk rocker, Caleb Stine.
OCT. 8: THE KOOKS
Rams Head Live, 20 Market Place. 8 p.m. $25. ramsheadlive.com.
It was nearly a decade ago when this British rock band got a taste of stardom with their debut album Inside In/Inside Out and its hit single “Naïve.” Now, with two solid records in-between, the band is back on tour with a new EP, Listen, and a big, new sound.
OCT. 11: THE BUDOS BAND
Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Place. 9 p.m. $15-17. baltimoresoundstage.com.
Hear this Afro-beat, soul-jazz, psychedelic rock ensemble perform their new, experimental album, Burnt Offering, a heavier and more trippy sound than their previous work but equally infused with rhythm and brass.
OCT. 11: CITIZEN COPE
Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 9 p.m. $45. ramsheadlive.com.
One of the most recognized yet underrated performers around. This new tour celebrates the 10th anniversary of CC’s breakthrough album, The Clarence Greenwood Recordings, which they’ll be playing in full with hits like “Son’s Gonna Rise” and “Bullet and a Target.”
OCT. 11: MACY GRAY
Rams Head On Stage, 33 West St., Annapolis. Noon. $75. ramsheadonstage.com.
Say what you will about Macy Gray—the woman’s got a serious set of pipes. Best-known for her 1999 hit, “I Try,” the Grammy-winning, multi-platinum artist is back on tour with a new, soulful album, The Way, produced by Stax legend, Booker T. Jones.
OCT. 13: SANTANA
The Modell Performing Arts Center at the Lyric, 140 W. Mt. Royal Ave. 8:30 p.m. $85-650. lyricoperahouse.com.
I mean, Santana…
OCT. 13: BOY & BEAR
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $22. the8x10.com.
If you like Fleet Foxes or Mumford & Sons, check out this Aussie indie-folk-rock quintet, whose songs are rich in backwoods nostalgia, pretty melodies, and strong chorus harmonies.
OCT. 13: ZIGGY MARLEY
Baltimore Soundstage, 124 Market Place. 8 p.m. $34-36. baltimoresoundstage.com.
If you’re one of those people who don’t want summer to end (a.k.a. still wearing flip-flops and denim shorts), Bob Marley’s eldest son can help with some feel-good, reggae tunes from his new album, Fly Rasta.
OCT. 15: GUY BLAKESLEE
Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $10-12. themetrogallery.net.
The Baltimore-native and former Entrance Band lead singer is back in town on a solo tour for his dreamy, spooky, new album, Ophelia Slowly, produced by Chris Coady (Beach House, Yeah Yeah Yeahs).
OCT. 17: PHANTOGRAM
Rams Head Live, 20 Market Pl. 8 p.m. $72 on StubHub. ramsheadlive.com.
The pricey online tickets for this sold-out show are worth it—the NYC duo fuses electronica with rock, pop, and hip-hop for a powerhouse performance with heavy-hitters like “Mouthful of Diamonds” and “Don’t Move.”
OCT. 17: AMONG WOLVES
Station North, various locations. 6 p.m. $20. baltimorefolkfest.com.
Headlining the third annual Baltimore Folk Fest in Station North, this local quintet, known for getting rowdy and trading instruments at their shows, will perform their urgent, thumping blend of Americana-indie-rock alongside more than 20 other bands.
OCT. 20: WHITE FENCE
Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $12. themetrogallery.net.
The sound of this trippy, psychedelic, pop-rock act transports you to the 1960s surf scene in the state from which it hails—California—as they perform their Ty Segall-produced studio debut, with opening acts King Gizzard & the Wizard Lizard (Melbourne), Slow Jerks (Baltimore), and The Mystery Lights (Cali).
OCT. 21: TWIN PEAKS
Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 7 p.m. $10. themetrogallery.net.
These four Chicago “dudes” are a little bit punk, a little bit pop, a little bit party, a little bit SoCal rock-and-roll. They shred their guitars after two don’t-miss opening acts, Sun Club (Baltimore) and Tweens (Cincinnati).
OCT. 23: SYLVAN ESSO
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $55 on StubHub. the8x10.com.
Go to this show. Remember this name. After their self-titled debut album and strong Tonight Show performance, this electro-pop duo is slated to be one of the most promising young acts of 2014, with tracks like “Coffee” and “Play It Right.”
OCT. 23: GHOST HOTEL
Metro Gallery, 1700 N. Charles St. 8 p.m. $8. themetrogallery.net.
This Frederick indie-pop group is the stuff of melancholy teen dreams, reminiscent of Death Cab For Cutie and The Pains of Being Pure at Heart. Opening acts include Heavy Lights (Frederick), New God (Baltimore), and Seaknuckle (Frederick).
OCT. 24: JUDAS PRIEST
Pier Six Concert Pavilion, 73 Eastern Ave. 7:30 p.m. $45-75. piersixpavilion.com.
Bring your Rocktober up a notch with these classic, heavy-metal rockers, bringing their nearly-40-year career to the Inner Harbor to cap off the outdoor, summer season at Pier Six.
OCT. 31: BOSLEY
The 8×10, 10 E. Cross St. 8 p.m. $12. the8x10.com
“Best of Baltimore” winner Bosley brings his Motown style of soul, swing and funk to what is bound to be one of the greatest, grooviest Halloween costume parties this year.