Equally inspired by Sonic Youth, Joy Division, Gang of Four, and the Cure, East London art punkers Bloc Party mix angular sonics with pop structures. Consisting of singer/guitarist Kele Okereke, guitarist Russell Lissack, bassist/singer Gordon Moakes, and drummer Matt Tong, the band was formerly known as Angel Range and Union before settling on Bloc Party. Okereke and Lissack met each other through mutual friends at the Reading Festival, and discovered that they had musical tastes as well as friends in common. Tong and Moakes soon joined their collaboration, and under the name Union, the quartet issued a demo in early 2003; later that year, they switched their name to Bloc Party. blocparty.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Sun 06/02
The Starting Line with special guests Punchline, Paper States
8:00pm
All Ages
Pennsylvanian punk-poppers the Starting Line originally came together in 1999 via version 2.0 of the old "vocalist wanted" flyer hanging at the local record store. Guitarist Matt Watts was playing with a few bands throughout his teenage years, but after seeing Ken Vasoli's AOL profile, he invited him to jam. Vasoli was soon installed as the bassist and singer, joining Watts, second guitarist Mike Golla, and drummer Tom Gryskiewitz to form Sunday Drive. Though barely out of high school, Sunday Drive started lining up shows and recording demos, and aggressively marketed everything with the aid of buddy old pal AOL and listings on MP3.com. Cali indie We the People took notice of the MP3s and soon offered a deal; however, punk-pop powerhouse Drive-Thru saw an opportunity in the group's fresh faces and accessible melodies, and swooped in to take control of the resulting demos. -AllMusic.com startinglinerock.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Tue 06/04
Frank Turner with special guests Architects, Beans On Toast
8:00pm
All Ages
The recurring theme throughout Tape Deck Heart, Frank Turner’s fifth album, is change. Those who have followed Turner’s career since he went solo in 2005 won’t be surprised. After 1,400 incendiary live shows and four acclaimed albums, last year saw the musician previously known as a punk poet become (whisper it) a sort of pop star. From a fake Glastonbury Tor, Turner performed at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. He headlined Wembley Arena. He sold more than 100,000 copies of his fourth album, England Keep My Bones, which entered the UK charts at No 12 on its release in 2011. Turner, of course, would never describe himself as a pop star. He prefers the word ‘entertainer’, with its tradition of vaudeville, theatre and music hall. His emergence from the underground he still adores – and still regards himself as part of – was tinged with trepidation. frank-turner.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Local Outlets
Wed 06/05
Metric
8:00pm
All Ages
Following the success of their last album "Fantasies," which was self-released outside Canada and sold well over a million albums/singles worldwide, "Synthetica" continued the trend and was released through the band's own label (with joint venture partner Mom + Pop in the USA). While many artists feel strangled by the industry's power structure, the Toronto-based quartet has undone all their business entanglements and started their own company, Metric Music International (MMI) with the help of independent managers Mathieu Drouin and Françoise de Grandpre. ilovemetric.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Local Outlets
Fri 06/07
Lotus with special guest James Gyre
8:00pm
All Ages
Lotus has crafted a unique musical style outside of simple genre limitations. On a given weekend the band could be the only group with guitars at an all electronic music festival and then the next night crash a traditional rock festival with their dance heavy beats, synths and samples. Equal parts instrumental post-rock and electronic dance, the band's distinguishing feature is the ability to maintain a decidedly unique musical voice and remain current while bucking passing trends.
No matter what the venue, the energetic joy and catharsis of a Lotus show is infectious. The band slowly built a devoted fan base through steady touring and the crowds have grown at an increasing pace. This grassroots growth has made the band in high demand for festivals including Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Ultra, and Rothbury and earned the band sold out shows at the country's premier theatres and clubs. lotusvibes.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Local Outlets
Sat 06/08
Lotus - Performing the album NOMAD in its entirety
8:00pm
All Ages
Lotus has crafted a unique musical style outside of simple genre limitations. On a given weekend the band could be the only group with guitars at an all electronic music festival and then the next night crash a traditional rock festival with their dance heavy beats, synths and samples. Equal parts instrumental post-rock and electronic dance, the band's distinguishing feature is the ability to maintain a decidedly unique musical voice and remain current while bucking passing trends.
No matter what the venue, the energetic joy and catharsis of a Lotus show is infectious. The band slowly built a devoted fan base through steady touring and the crowds have grown at an increasing pace. This grassroots growth has made the band in high demand for festivals including Bonnaroo, Outside Lands, Ultra, and Rothbury and earned the band sold out shows at the country's premier theatres and clubs. lotusvibes.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Local Outlets
Mon 06/10
Alt-J with special guests Guards
8:00pm
All Ages
alt-J (∆)’s name takes a little explaining. Pronounced “alt-J”, the delta sign is created when you hold down the alt key on your computer keyboard and punch ‘J’ on a Mac computer. The symbol has a deeper meaning for the band, as guitarist/bassist Gwil Sainsbury notes, “in mathematical equations it’s used to show change,” and the band’s relatively new name came at a turning point in their lives. Gwil, Joe Newman [guitar/vocals], Gus Unger-Hamilton [keyboards] and Thom Green [drums] met at Leeds University in 2007. Gus studied English Literature; the other three Fine Art. In their second year of studies, Joe played Gwil a handful of his own songs inspired by his guitar-playing dad and hallucinogens, and the pair began recording in their dorm rooms with Gwil acting as producer on Garageband. altjband.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony
Tue 06/11
CANCELED - The Gaslight Anthem with special guests Tift Merritt, The Sidekicks
8:00pm
All Ages
The late Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard famously defined the ingredients of a great song as “three chords and the truth”. Every songwriter knows three chords, but laying bare the truth? Now that can be an altogether trickier affair…On January 18, 2012, The Gaslight Anthem piled into their old tour van and headed across the New Jersey state line for a 14 hour road trip to Nashville on their own quest for the truth. Their destination was 2806 Azalea Place, Nashville, Blackbird Studio, where the New Brunswick quartet had booked five weeks recording time with producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, AC/DC). Their mission: to reconnect with rock ‘n’ roll in its most feral, pure, stripped-raw form. thegasligthanthem.com
Wed 06/12
***MOVED TO Sept 12*** The Gaslight Anthem with special guests The Sidekicks
8:00pm
All Ages
All tickets purchased for June 12 honored Sept 13.
The late Nashville songwriter Harlan Howard famously defined the ingredients of a great song as “three chords and the truth”. Every songwriter knows three chords, but laying bare the truth? Now that can be an altogether trickier affair…On January 18, 2012, The Gaslight Anthem piled into their old tour van and headed across the New Jersey state line for a 14 hour road trip to Nashville on their own quest for the truth. Their destination was 2806 Azalea Place, Nashville, Blackbird Studio, where the New Brunswick quartet had booked five weeks recording time with producer Brendan O’Brien (Bruce Springsteen, Pearl Jam, AC/DC). Their mission: to reconnect with rock ‘n’ roll in its most feral, pure, stripped-raw form. thegasligthanthem.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401
Fri 06/14
Baroness with special guest Coliseum
8:00pm
All Ages
BARONESS formed in 2003 in Savannah, GA, comprised of a group of friends who grew up together in Lexington, VA, a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Shortly after their formation, the band released two EPs and a split EP with Unpersons entitled respectively, First, Second and A Grey Sigh in a Flower Husk. From their origin right through the release of these EPs, BARONESS toured non-stop throughout America and Europe, building up a steady underground fan base. BARONESS’ mission statement has always been simple: keep an open mind, confront challenges, avoid repetition and take the music to diverse audiences. BARONESS toured constantly and extensively for two years straight with Blue Record, sharing the stage with such bands as METALLICA, MASTODON, DEFTONES, and ISIS. baronessmusic.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Sat 06/15
Sardonyx Productions presents the Second Empire CD Release Party with special guests Stark, Klaymore, and more!
Japandroids is a two piece band from Vancouver, BC. This ‘band’ started in 2006 and consists of Brian King and David Prowse. Originally intending to be a trio, the boys decided to forego the logistical nightmare of having a ‘lead singer’ and do it themselves. As a consequence, Japandroids are one guitar, one set of drums, and two vocalizers. Japandroids are maximal – a two piece band trying to sound like it’s a five piece band. Their ‘songs’ run the gauntlet of rock & roll subgenres, with the boys ripping off too many different bands to sound like any other duo making music right now. japandroids.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Mon 06/17
The Boxer Rebellion with special guests Fossil Collective, The Artless
8:00pm
All Ages
For a decade, alt-rock phenom The Boxer Rebellion have been turning heads globally as a band known and admired for not sticking to the rule book. “This band can alter your life,” said the UK’s NME Magazine, referring to the incredibly epic and ambitious, yet intimate and melodic nature of the band’s musical output. Following a tumultuous time being signed to Universal Records, the band set out on their own following the release of their debut album ‘Exits’ and made history in 2009, on the release of their sophomore album ‘Union’ by becoming the first unsigned band to ever break the Billboard Top 100 albums chart on a digital-only release. That same album was crowned iTunes’ Alternative Album of the Year, and was followed by a feature film appearance alongside Drew Barrymore, and SNL’s Justin Long, Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis in the film ‘Going the Distance’ – widely regarded as the most prominent featured performance of a band in motion picture history. The band finally received their network TV debut courtesy of David Letterman, upon the release of 2011’s highly acclaimed ‘The Cold Still’ produced by award-winning record producer Ethan Johns. theboxerrebellion.net | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Tue 06/18
91.3fm WYEP presents Dawes with special guests Shovels & Rope
8:00pm
All Ages
While the city of Los Angeles has been both an inspiration and a home to the four members of Dawes, they found themselves traveling East last fall to record their third album in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina with newly enlisted producer Jacquire King. It was a chance to hunker down and work each day for a month away from familiar landmarks and routines. The tracks they laid down at Asheville’s Echo Mountain Studio have yielded a 12-song disc of tremendous sonic and narrative clarity, book-ended in classic album fashion by two very different versions of the wistful “Just Beneath The Surface” – a misleading title, really, since the songs stacked in between dig so deep. Stories Don’t End is not so much a departure from the quartet’s previous efforts as a distillation of them. It spotlights the group’s maturing skills as arrangers, performers and interpreters who shape the raw material supplied by chief songwriter and lead vocalist Taylor Goldsmith into an artfully concise and increasingly soulful sound. dawestheband.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Local Outlets
Thu 06/20
LIVE! ON STAGE JONATHAN RICHMAN featuring TOMMY LARKINS on the drums!
8:00pm
All Ages
Jonathan Richman has been writing songs, making records and performing live for most of his life, winning fans and making friends around the world with his guileless honesty and playfully catchy compositions. He’s revered by countless fellow artists, and has built a remarkably loyal international audience through his tireless touring. His deceptively straightforward songs embody timeless qualities of humanity, optimism, emotional insight and a boundless sense of humor, untainted by cynicism or transient notions of hipness. The records that Jonathan Richman has made over the past 30 years have long held a special place in the hearts of his fans. He began playing guitar at the age of 15, and in the early 1970s formed the Modern Lovers, whose raw, minimalist sound and emotionally forthright songs helped to lay the groundwork for punk rock. vaporrecords.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Fri 06/21
Son Volt with special guests Colonel Ford
8:00pm
All Ages
HONKY TONK * (Rounder, March 13, 2013) - “Break up the silence, Make it clear, Make it last…” – “Down the Highway” - From his earliest recordings in the 1990s as a founding member of Uncle Tupelo, Jay Farrar has been a keen observer of the American landscape: its beauties and its tragedies, salvations and poisons.
It’s a perspective that’s been hard-won by steady touring and travel through this nation, and Farrar’s almost two-decades as the leader of Son Volt (as well as impressive turns as an acclaimed solo artist and collaborator) have only deepened and sharpened his gift for capturing the sights and sounds of his American journey – a gift which is in evidence once again on Son Volt’s sixth studio album: Honky Tonk. sonvolt.net | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Sat 06/22
Why? with special guest Sarah Jaffe
8:00pm
All Ages
Let's get some things out of the way. WHY? is a band-three Cincinnati-bred gentlemen who've shared a whole lotta past together. Two of them are brothers. Yoni Wolf, who founded the project by his lonesome in 1998 is one of those (see also: cLOUDDEAD, Greenthink, Reaching Quiet). The other is Josiah Wolf, who first started hitting the skins at their father's synagogue during worship service. They like being in a band together so don't ask about it. WHY?'s third fella is Doug McDiarmid, a high school friend born to French teachers, discovered by the Wolfs whilst playing guitar in a Steve Miller cover band. These men are handsome and meticulous, especially when they do ugly and unwieldy things with words and music. whywithaquestionmark.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Sun 06/23
Rogue Wave with special guests Caveman
8:00pm
All Ages
Now we’re born again,” sings Zach Rogue on the closing track of Rogue Wave’s fourth studio album, Permalight. The dreamy acoustic lament lasts just over a minute but in sound and spirit it neatly sums up everything that comes before it. A punchy, deceptively effervescent set of multi-instrumental pop tunes, the Northern California band’s latest set represents a giant breakthrough for Rogue and his longtime musical partner, drummer-keyboardist-vocalist Pat Spurgeon. “The record sounds, for lack of a better word, fun,” the frontman says. It’s an astonishing change of direction, to say the least. Formed by Rogue in 2002 after he lost his tech job and parted ways with the Oakland rock group Desoto Reds, Rogue Wave has a reputation for crafting classic, inward-looking pop songs highlighted with psychedelic guitars, pastoral sound effects and intricate rhythms. roguewavemusic.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Tue 06/25
Yeasayer
8:00pm
All Ages
Yeasayer’s third album, Fragrant World, is a hulking beast of a record. Keyboards clank and wheeze, tiny claps stumble against busted drum machines, and there’s very little obvious guitar. It’s an album that grapples with the schizophrenia of the modern world by gathering piles of electronics and molding them into something huge and often gorgeous. After touring endlessly in support of 2010’s Odd Blood, Chris Keating, Ira Wolf-Tuton and Anand Wilder holed up in Gary’s Electric Studios in Greenpoint, Brooklyn to record Fragrant World, working away as the borough transitioned from fall to winter. While Odd Blood played with electronic textures and future paranoia, Fragrant World fully immerses itself in those themes, virtually dripping with worry, love, and concern for the planet we live on. yeasayer.net | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Reserve Balcony | Local Outlets
Wed 06/26
Alesana with special guests The Color Morale, Upon This Dawning, Lions Lions, Megosh
6:30pm
All Ages
The crowd is still screaming at a sold out show in Anaheim, California as the sweetcore phenomenon known as Alesana exits the stage. "I don't think I'll ever get used to this," says frontman Dennis Lee as he tips back the last wallow of his water bottle. "Seeing kids go crazy like that thousands of miles away from home reminds me that I have the best job in the world." Crowd response like this is something that the six-piece from Raleigh, North Carolina is quickly becoming accustomed to all over the country and other parts of the world: and this is only the beginning. alesanaofficial.com | Purchase Tickets Online | 866-468-3401 | Local Outlets
Fri 06/28
Creative.Life.Support presents: the 2013 Revival Series featuring Niki O'Brien, Nick Africano, The Redlines, Brewer's Row
7:00pm
All Ages
Just Announced! Free!
Sun 06/30
C.L.S REVIVAL SERIES PRESENTS: Get in the Mix featuring Bohdi Watts, 30 Realm, Act of Pardon, Fortified PhonetX, Pet Clinic, Romeo Harp, Black Market Diary, and Niki O'Brien
