Livewire: 16 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in October

Everclear comes to the House of Blues Credit: Photo by Brian Cox

THU 10/10

The Jerry Douglas Band
A veteran bluegrass and folk musician, dobro master Jerry Douglas comes to the Kent Stage tonight at 6:30. In addition to leading his own band, Douglas is a member of Alison Kraus & Union Station, a co-bandleader for Transatlantic Sessions and founder for the Grammy winner bluegrass super-group the Earls of Leicester.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

Kaleo
The Icelandic group has been touring with the Rolling Stones and recently dropped the Americana/folk single “Lonely Cowboy,” which serves as “a reflection on the recurring themes of mass shootings and overall gun violence that occur across America,” as it’s put in a press release. Expect to hear the moody number when the band plays tonight at 7 at House of Blues.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

FRI 10/11

Coin
Initially, this Nashville-based pop band found a handful of other indie pop bands that could help it develop that part of the Music City’s music scene. The band self-released two EPs before signing to Columbia Records a few years ago after a successful showcase at the College Music Journal Conference; the current tour supports I’m Not Afraid of Music Anymore, another album of infectious pop tunes. The group performs tonight at 7 at the Agora. Aidan Bissett opens.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

Ginger Root
Since his first release, a collection of tunes he refers to as “aggressive elevator soul,” multi-instrumentalist, producer, songwriter and visual artist, Cameron Lew (aka Ginger Root), has been making handmade synth-pop, alt-disco, boogie, and soul. he comes to the Roxy at Mahall’s in Lakewood tonight at 7. The current tour supports the new album, Shinbangumi.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

SAT 10/12

Beachpark Fest
Named after a mix of the location and promoter putting the event together, Beachpark Fest was organized with the intent of celebrating the strength of the entire Midwest rock music scene. The lineup for the concert features locals such as TRUSS, LoConti, Blossom Park, Solon, False Teeth, GRANT and Off-Leash (formerly Detention). Other regional acts round out the bill. Doors open at 4 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom and Tavern.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

Ekoostik Hookah
The grandfathers of Ohio’s expansive jam band scene — culturally and musically — have always maintained close ties to the Cleveland area and regularly venture up to these parts from their Columbus home base. The group performs tonight at 6:30 at the Kent Stage.
175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

Opeth
Due out later this year, Opeth’s 14th album finds the metal band emphasizing the prog rock side of its sound. Several songs add a classic rock dimension too as Jethro Tull main man Ian Anderson contributes on flute and vocals. The group performs tonight at the Agora. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., and Tribulation opens.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

SUN 10/13

The Front Bottoms
Last year, this duo released its latest effort, You Are Who You Hang Out With, to wide acclaim. Recorded in multi-week spurts with producer Mike Sapone both in the Front Bottoms’ New Jersey studio and Ghost Hit Recording in Massachusetts, the album features the singles “Emotional,” “Punching Bag,” “Outlook,” and “Paris.” The group brings its tour in support of the album to House of Blues. The show starts at 7 tonight, and the group plays the club again at 7 tomorrow night.
308 Euclid Ave, 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

Chris Mondak Band
This Nashville-based jazz combo has put out three CDs in the past five years. The current tour supports the latest release, last year’s Blank with Colour, and the group will record tonight’s show at the Bop Stop for a possible live release. The music begins at 7.
2920 Detroit Ave., 216-771-6551, themusicsettlement.org.

MON 10/14

Kishi Bashi
Self-produced by Kaoru Ishibashi (aka Kishi Bashi) and mixed by Tucan (Hot Chip, Jungle, Aluna), Kantos, the latest album from indie act Kishi Bashi, comes off as “a work of exquisite duality” and “a party album about the possible end of humanity as we know it,” as it’s put in a press release. Tonight’s show at the Beachland Ballroom begins at 8.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

TUE 10/15

Tommy Castro & the Painkillers
Singer-songwriter Tommy Castro, who is currently celebrating more than three decades on the road with his band the Painkillers comes to the Winchester in Lakewood tonight in support of the award-winning Tommy Castro Presents a Bluesman Came to Town. Expect to hear songs from it and maybe even a peak at a new album due out in early 2025.
12112 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-600-5338, facebook.com/TheWinchesterMusicTavern.

Dispatch
The jam band brings its AMPlifying Democracy Tour to the Agora tonight at 7. In partnership with co-founding bandmember Chadwick Stokes’s charity, Calling All Crows, the show will promote the AMPlifying Democracy Campaign that “leverages the power of music to inspire, activate, and boost civic engagement during this critical election year.” At each show, fans will be engaged in activities that celebrate the democratic process and promote voting both nationally and locally. Lizzie No opens.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

WED 10/16

Everclear
Last year, the veteran alt-rock act Everclear released Live at the Whisky a Go Go, a 17-track collection that features the live recording of the Los Angeles show on Everclear’s 30th Anniversary tour as well as two bonus studio tracks, “Sing Away,” a single addressing teen suicide, and the 2022 politically charged single “Year of the Tiger.” Expect to hear both tracks at tonight’s show at House of Blues. Doors open at 6.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

THU 10/17
Boris
For this special tour, the hard rock group Boris will perform all of the songs off their first album, Amplifier Worship. The trek finds the group performing with two drummers and an extended backline. The show starts at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom. Starcrawler opens.
15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

SAT 10/19

Cloud Nothings
The steady build-up during a song like “No Future/No Past” is a terrific introduction to Cleveland’s own Cloud Nothings, an indie rock band that’s developed a national following. The group plays a homecoming show of sorts tonight at 7 at Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.
13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
Acts such as Cher, Peter Frampton, Kool & the Gang, Mary J., Blige and Foreigner arguably should’ve been inducted into the Rock Hall years ago. They’ll finally be enshrined at tonight’s event. Additional presenters and performers include Busta Rhymes, Chuck D., Dr. Dre, Demi Lovato, Dua Lipa, James Taylor, Jelly Roll, Kenny Chesney, Lucky Daye, Mac Method Man, Roger Daltrey, Sammy Hagar, Slash and the Roots. The event takes place at 6:30 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse.
1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes
Longtime friends with both Steven (a founding member of the Jukes) and Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny has released more than 30 albums in a career that stretches back to the early ’70s. A Cleveland favorite, the guy has fond memories of the days when Kid Leo put him into the regular rotation on WMMS and always puts on a especially good show in Cleveland. He performs tonight at 8 at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.
10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com.

SUN 10/20

Rise Against
Rise Against’s most recent album, 2021’s Nowhere Generation, bristles with the kind of punk rock angst found in the music of acts such as Bad Religion and Anti-Flag. As a follow-up, the band surprise-dropped the five-song EP, Nowhere Generation II, in June 2022. On tour in support of the two albums, the hard rock act performs tonight at 6:30 at the Agora Theatre. Microwave and Spiritual Cramp open.
5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

TUE 10/22

Hinds
Spanish indie rockers Hinds recently released their fourth album, Viva Hinds, which features the band’s first-ever Spanish language songs as well as collaborations with the likes of Beck and Fontaines D.C.’s Grian Chatten. On tour to support the album, they play tonight at the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights. The show starts at 8.
2785 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, 216-321-5588, grogshop.gs.

WED 10/23

Drive-By Truckers
The alt-country act revisits what is arguably its best album, Southern Rock Opera, for this show at House of Blues. The concert begins at 7 p.m.
308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

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