Some call it Rocktober: that brief, beautiful early-fall convergence period after Lollapalooza's blackout dates expire and every good tour seems to swing through Chicago. Though it's still a little early for Rocktober's big announcements, tickets to a whole slew of shows swirling around that storied month are either currently up for grabs or will be shortly. Want to make this the best Rocktober yet? No time like the present.
THE ENGLISH BEAT
The English Beat aren't entirely English. Nor are they The Beat, the second-wave ska icons from whence the "English" bit was meant to differentiate them; well, some of them used to be, but now, not. Confused yet? You won't be September 28, when The English Beat—fronted by original Beat leader Dave Wakeling—bring their horn-drenched tunes to Evanston's tiny Space. $38 tickets are currently onsale right here.
PANDA BEAR
Animal Collective's Noah Lennox—best known to furry-leaning indie kids as Panda Bear—is nearly as big a draw as his marquee act. Makes sense; over four solo LPs, Panda Bear's brought Animal Collective's psychedelic wonderland into more earthly, more strictly beauteous realms, especially on 2007's landmark Person Pitch and last year's nearly as spectacular Tomboy. He'll hit The Vic for a rare solo set September 29, and $24 tickets are onsale right here.
MATTHEW SWEET
One of pop music's greatest melodicists, Matthew Sweet's brings an orchestral grandeur to his lush, lovelorn music. Though it's been a while since Sweet's landed a big hit, his fanbase is as devoted as ever. He'll play two shows at the Bottom Lounge October 13 and 14, and $30 tickets go onsale right here Friday at noon.
THE FIELD
As The Field, Axel Willner brings a glistening gorgeousness and organic warmth to everything he touches. His forthcoming third LP, Looping State of Mind, feels almost like a greatest hits LP, hitting the highpoints of his past work and pointing towards an astonishing future. Willner brings The Field to the Empty Bottle October 20, and $12 tickets are onsale now.
MANCHESTER ORCHESTRA
Manchester Orchestra seem as though, if the opportunity struck, they'd like very much to be the biggest band in the world. The Georgian would-be giants, with their epic alt-rock infused Southern smoke, have both the songs and the drive; all they need is the audience, and that's growing all the time. They play the House of Blues November 7 with fellow rising stars White Denim, and $17.50 tickets go onsale right here Thursday at noon.
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