There are so many great October traditions, from playoff baseball (well, in other cities) to Halloween craziness. Got time in there for live music?
We’re betting these 25 shows will have you carving out space in your calendar. (Get complete event info at metromix.com.)
Oct. 1 Metro
Manic Street Preachers
“Journal For Plague Lovers” shows Welsh rockers have as much fire as ever.
Oct. 1 Lakeshore Theater
Andrew W.K. and Calder Quartet
Yes, really, and he’s really playing songs from his solo piano album. See it to believe it.
Oct. 2 Bottom Lounge
The Ettes
The latest album from these “rock ‘n roll gypsies” asks “Do You Want Power.” Yes!
Oct. 2 Metro
The Fold
Local pop-punk act previews new “Dear Future, Come Get Me,” out Oct. 6.
Oct. 3 Logan Square Auditorium
Monotonix
Israeli garage rockers have so much fury you could hear them if they played from home.
Oct. 4 Schubas
Ten out of Tenn
A solid singer-songwriter showcase featuring Chicago natives Andrew Belle and Kyle Andrews.
Oct. 5 Bottom Lounge
Why?
New “Eskimo Snow” is a little more digestible than previous “Alopecia.”
Oct. 8 United Center
Maxwell (with Common)
New “BLACKsummers’night” is as good and smooth as you’d hoped.
Oct. 9-10 Schubas
Japandroids
Canadians’ debut, “Post-Nothing,” is one of the year’s best.
Oct. 10-11 Schubas
Hockey (with Portugal. The Man)
Awesome Portland band gets the chance to atone for sound problems at Lolla.
Oct. 11 Double Door
The Horrors
More eerie than anything you’ll hear on Halloween.
Oct. 12 Empty Bottle
Twilight Sad/BrakesBrakesBrakes/We Were Promised Jetpacks
Two Scots and a Brit walk into a bar. They all rock.
Oct. 16 Metro
Gossip
Indie rock with real style, attitude and spunk. Beth Ditto, wanna hang out?
Oct. 18-19 UIC Pavilion
Wilco
Perhaps Wilco (the band) will play “Wilco (The Song)” from “Wilco (The Album)” at Wilco (The Concert).
Oct. 19 Bottom Lounge
The Dodos
Yes, indie rock can still be charming and gentle.
Oct. 21 Schubas
Dead Man’s Bones
Doomed folk from Zach Shields and actor Ryan Gosling (“Half Nelson”). We’re very curious about this one.
Oct. 22 Cadillac Palace Theatre
Steve Martin with the Steep Canyon Rangers
Can you name another comedy legend that’s also a Grammy-winning banjo player?
Oct. 23 Schubas
Drummer
True Midwestern grit, featuring Black Keys drummer Patrick Carney on bass.
Oct. 27 House of Blues
Gaslight Anthem
Great New Jersey rockers return for a post-Lollapalooza victory lap.
Oct. 29 Auditorium Theatre
David Gray
New “Draw the Line” is his first record in four years. Nice! And pretty.
Oct. 29 Rosemont Theatre
Leonard Cohen
OK, so his previous, long-awaited Chicago shows weren’t his last. Excellent!
Oct. 29-31 Aragon
Bob Dylan
Think he has enough songs to fill three sets?
Oct. 30 Auditorium Theatre
Monsters of Folk
Jim James? Conor Oberst? M. Ward? Producer Mike Mogis (Jenny Lewis)? Yeah. “Monsters” works.
Oct. 30 Schubas
Serena Ryder
Want something to give you the shivers for Halloween? Pick up this Canadian singer’s “It it o.k.”
Oct. 31 & Nov. 1 Schubas
Federico Aubele
Argentine singer is here for those who prefer a more chilled-out fright night.
