Monday, August 1, 2011

Must See Shows: August

From the original Spangle article here.

The Featured Events are front-loaded at the beginning of August, so hopefully you're reading this early. The rest of this month tapers off, but there's still plenty of shows to keep you entertained. Also this month, be sure to catch the remaining two Summer in the City shows, the free Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concert series. While this month may seem a little light overall, there are a whole slew of shows that I wouldn't normally list , but being a former hair metal fan myself, I thought there might be others who are interested (it was high school people). August is also packing in the likes of Candlebox, Mr. Big, Heart, Def Leppard, and Queensryche. Oh fine, while I'm going retro, you can even catch Tiffany & Debbie Gibson performing together this month too.


Featured Event

August 2 :: Cold Cave (Indie/Electronic) / coldcave.tumblr.comGrog Shop / $12 ~ $14 I missed Cold Cave the last time they were in town, but I'm thrilled they're coming back again - and this time they're bringing the extremely talented Austra with them! I was able to catch Cold Cave's driving electronic beats at the Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago a couple weeks ago, and that only gave me a taste for the dense and driving sound they'll be producing at the Grog Shop. As for Austra, I think she would have been a Featured Event on her own as well.

August 9 :: Neko Case (Alt-Country) / nekocase.comBeachland Ballroom / $30 Neko and I go way back. I've seen her several times, though oddly never actually with The New Pornographers. And to be honest they've not all been great shows. But as a testament to the talent this woman posseses, I'm still going to list her as a Featured Event. Her uncompromising songwriting and oddly secure, yet exposed stage-presence will always make her a show worth seeing. Get tickets early, this show will sell out.

Best of the Rest

August 2 :: Bright Eyes (Indie Rock) / conoroberst.comHouse of Blues / $28 ~ $30 FInally touring on a new album, Bright Eyes w/ The Mountain Goats are being presented on behalf of The Grog Shop.

August 3 :: The Joy Formidable (Pop/Rock) / thejoyformidable.comRock & Roll Hall of Fame / FREE The third installment of this *awesome* free series at the Rock Hall. Our own Hot Cha Cha opening!

August 3 :: Eels (Indie Rock) / eelstheband.comBeachland Ballroom / $20 ~ $22 I'm sure Eels are a fine band, but the pop/rock bliss of The Submarines opening would be the real draw.

August 3 :: Wye Oak (Folk / Indie Rock) / wyeoakmusic.comBeachland Tavern / $10 ~ $12 I've seen their name before, but it was all the positive comments on iTunes that convinced me to list these guys.

August 9 :: Sara Bareilles (Singer/Songwriter) / sarabmusic.comHouse of Blues / SOLD OUT Good tickets if you can get them.

August 11 :: Mountain Heart (Bluegrass) / mountainheart.comCain Park / $15 ~ $18 If you're reading along and saying to yourself, where's the bluegrass?? Here you go.

August 12 :: Janet Jackson (Pop / R&B) / janetjackson.comJacobs Pavilion / $99.50 ~ $250 The one and only. Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty.

August 14 :: The Cool Kids (Rap) / coolxkids.comGrog Shop / $15 ~ $18 A Chicago-based retro-rap duo laying down some old school beats.

August 24 :: Deerhunter (Indie Rock) / deerhuntertheband.blogspot.comRock & Roll Hall of Fame / FREE These Atlanta noise rocker's have been getting a lot of buzz. Also a Pitchfork Music Festival Alum, and the final show of this Rock Hall series!

August 25 :: Margot & the Nuclear So & So's (Pop/Rock) / margotandthenuclearsoandsos.netGrog Shop / $12 These guys put out some solid hooks and have great songwriting. Check them out.

August 31 :: Peter, Bjorn & John (Pop/Rock) / peterbjornandjohn.comGrog Shop / $18 ~ $20 You might've recognized my penchant for groups of the Nordic persuasian. These guys helped start that.

Notable Road Trips

August 12 :: Nanci Griffith (Country) / nancigriffith.comKent Stage (Kent) / $35.50 ~ $50 The venerable songnstress who transcends the country genre. This show will be phenomenal.

August 13 :: YACHT (Indie / Electronica) / teamyacht.comThe Magestic (Detroit) / $15 Part of a 4-day festival at the Magestic complex. Their blend of other-worldly electronica is tearing up playlists all over the place.

August 20 :: Handsome Furs (Indie/Rock) / handsomefurs.comBrillobox (Pittsburgh) / tbd If you missed them last month as a Road Trip, you have another chance!

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