In May, I wrote about Crossroads Presents, Bowery Boston and indie club promoters pairing nationally touring artists with local support. Trends tend to evaporate as soon as they’re identified. Instead, concert bookers remain committed to putting Boston bands on big-name bills when possible.
July saw Tim Gearan with John Fogerty at the Blue Hills Bank Pavilion, OldJack opening for Midlake at Brighton Music Hall, and Muck and the Mires supporting Supersuckers at the Sinclair. The push will continue through fall and locals love it.
“It’s a dream show,” Goddamn Draculas’ drummer J.R. Roach said of the band’s upcoming bill with Cheap Trick. “I don’t think it is hard to miss the ’70s and ’80s in our sound. In some ways, they are the perfect classic band for us to play with.”
As you fill in your concert calendar, here’s who you need to show up early for.
• Goddamn Draculas and Cheap Trick, Wednesday at House of Blues
Does winning the Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble give you a bump? Drax would tell you, “Yes!” After their May Rumble triumph, the hard rock/heavy metal/power pop band landed this plum opening spot. They want Trick fans to want them, so expect the band to deliver their version of “Cheap Trick at Budokan” on Wednesday.
• St. Nothing at Boston Calling, Sept. 6, City Hall Plaza
Marco Lawrence’s trio St. Nothing is the latest, super-hot electro act in Boston. Chill beats, synth washes and a dash of Lawrence’s classical background make the band a smart choice to open a fest featuring Lorde, Childish Gambino and Sky Ferreira.
• Petty Morals and Shonen Knife, Sept. 22, the Middle East, Cambridge
Does placing second at the Rock ’n’ Roll Rumble give you a bump? Shonen Knife isn’t Cheap Trick, but after Petty Morals’ awesome Rumble run, the opening slot is a nice payoff. Our local ladies have the perfect combination of ’60s snaps, guitar crackle and pop to complement the Japanese punk legends.
• Salita and Fishbone, Sept. 25, the Sinclair, Cambridge
These local punks are tremendous. And versatile — check out that sweet mandolin and sad trumpet on “Shake Our Bones.” They’ll have to stretch that versatility to extreme limits to rock the Fishbone crowd. But I like the challenge and think Salita is up to it.
• Bad Rabbits and Allen Stone, Oct. 12, House of Blues
I think Stone will be opening for Bad Rabbits in a year. The paisley funk (with a pinch of hardcore) of Boston’s Rabbits will explode in the States this winter. The band has already conquered England and begun buzzing nationally. (They played “Jimmy Kimmel Live” last year.) 2015 will be the year of the rabbit.
