It’s always nice when Phish comes to Maine, and it’s even nicer when they don’t make concert attendees drive the entire length of the state to see them perform. The boys play the state capital, Augusta, on Tuesday the 19th. If that doesn’t interest you, or if you can’t score tickets to the sold out show, you can check out The Hold Steady. The critically acclaimed band from Brooklyn doles out chunks of straight-ahead rock at the aforementioned PCMH on the same night.
Los Angeles based pop-art rockers OK Go have become ubiquitous thanks to their inventive and amusing viral videos, and they’ve got two dates scheduled in Maine in October. They’ll play in Portland on Wednesday the 20th, then head north to provide the evening’s entertainment for PopTech 2010 in Camden on Friday the 22nd.
The State Theater continues to carve out its niche in the market place with a solid double bill (also on the 22nd) that features folk-rock songster Josh Ritter with support from soft spoken indie collective The Low Anthem. The following week, on the 27th, the venue will keep the indie vibe flowing by playing host to Portland resident Adam Gardner and his bandmates in Guster.
For those in need of a bluegrass fix, have no fear. Yonder Mountain String Band will be here to scratch your itch on Sunday the 24th; they’ll be playing at PCMH. If that doesn’t do the trick (or if going out on a Sunday is unappealing), relative newcomers/heavy-hitters Punch Brothers play two shows (early and late) at the intimate One Longfellow Square on the Friday the 29th.
Another option for music lovers on the 29th is to waltz over to PCMH where Hoots & Hellmouth – in all their rootsy, foot-stomping glory – are expected to set the bar high for headliner Steven Kellogg & The Sixers’ catchy folk-rock stylings.
Maine residents Toughcats fly under most people’s radar, but their banjo-laden Americana is likely to please those who attend their show at the Frontier Café in Brunswick on the 7th. The trio has a history of quirky, elaborate entrances, so those who arrive promptly could be in for an additional treat. New York City based The Wiyos blend elements of country, swing, and zydeco with vaudevillian theatrics to create a unique sound that harkens back to early parts of the 20th century yet still sounds current. They bring their steel guitar, stand-up bass, and washboard to One Longfellow Square on the 30th.
Also on the 30th, the winner of Relix’s 2008 Jam-Off, Rubblebucket, brings its intense blend of drum rhythms, searing horns, and spacey soundscapes to Portland for what’s sure to be a lively show at PCMH.
Maybe all the action in Maine this October is a signal that the winds of change are blowing; the State Theater re-opening and Maine’s own summer festival (Nateva) seem like solid indicators. But regardless of what the future holds there’s little doubt that the next few weeks will be a very enjoyable time for local and visiting music fans alike.
Shows in Maine in October
10/1 – Melvin Seals & JGB; Harry Brown’s Farm, Starks
10/2 – Rustic Overtones; Harry Brown’s Farm, Starks
10/7 – Leo Kottke; Jonathan’s, Ogunquit
10/7 – Toughcats; Frontier Café, Brunswick
10/8 – Soulive; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/9 – Soulive; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/11 – Deerhoof; SPACE, Portland
10/12 – Free Energy; SPACE, Portland
10/15 – My Morning Jacket; State Theater, Portland
10/16 – moe.; State Theater, Portland
10/16 – The Brew/Roster McCabe/Kinetix; Unity Center for the Performing Arts, Unity
10/19 – Phish; Augusta Civic Center, Augusta
10/19 – The Hold Steady; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/20 – OK Go; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/22 – OK Go; PopTech 2010, Camden
10/22 – Charlie Hunter; The Asylum, Portland
10/22 – Josh Ritter/The Low Anthem; State Theater, Portland
10/24 – Yonder Mountain String Band; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/27 – Guster; State Theater, Portland
10/29 – Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers/Hoots & Hellmouth; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/29 – Punch Brothers; One Longfellow Square, Portland (2 shows, Early & Late)
10/30 – Rubblebucket; Port City Music Hall, Portland
10/30 – The Wiyos; One Longfellow Square, Portland
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