As the long days of summer burn hot through the mid-season months, it’s important to get the right lineup of live music on one’s agenda in order to squeeze all the fun-juice out of summer’s bountiful fruit. Thus, we’ve assembled a quick reference guide to some of the shows to come, and who you may or may not want to have accompany you.
VITALS: Sad indie rock about lonesome drives and unintentional radio hits takes over Blue Hills Bank Pavilion for $46.
SHOW DATE: July 23
WHO TO BRING: The one who tweets passive aggressive shots at their boss.
http://www.bluehillsbankpavilion.net/
VITALS: Chicago’s alt rock band from the ’90s brings sassy vocals back to life at Paradise Rock Club for $25.
SHOW DATE: July 30
WHO TO BRING: The one who posts ’90s nostalgia quizzes on Facebook every week.
crossroadspresents.com/paradise-rock-club
BAND: Clap Your Hands Say Yeah
VITALS: Follow the basslines of buzz band indie rock and sloppy vocals your dad hates for $20 at Brighton Music Hall.
SHOW DATE: July 31
WHO TO BRING: The one who dropped out of college in ’02 and claims to have been a hipster before it was cool.
crossroadspresents.com/brighton-music-hall
VITALS: Pretend the ’80s are still going strong when the English act takes over Blue Hills Bank Pavilion in bold costumes for $40.
SHOW DATE: Aug 2
WHO TO BRING: The one who makes a point of buying androgynous clothing.
VITALS: Try not to swoon when the R&B crooner fills the House of Blues with sultry notes for $30.
SHOW DATE: Aug 4
WHO TO BRING: The one who loves having drugged-up sex and thinks Prince is a god.
DATE OF SHOW: Aug 9
WHO TO BRING: The one who fakes a British accent and always reblogs minimalist architecture.
VITALS: England’s meekest DJ and member of The xx will bring colorful electronic tunes to the Royale for $22.
DATE OF SHOW: Aug 11
WHO TO BRING: The one that gets drunk at BBQs and pulls his junk out.
VITALS: The 25-year-old king of backyard chillout guitar and goofy antics plays the Royale for $18 with his Lennon-esque voice.
VITALS: Dance to all the britpop your country never understood by hitting up Great Scott for $10 on Friday and $15 on Saturday.
SHOW DATE: Aug 14-15
WHO TO BRING: The one who only left their house if you were going to see the Pill.
DATE OF SHOW: Aug 21
WHO TO BRING: The hip-hop head who gets high and cries but won’t admit it.
VITALS: Oddfuture’s youngest rapper will see grown men get teary-eyed when he slams down new songs about depression and difficulties at the Paradise for $20.
crossroadspresents.com/paradise-rock-club
BAND: Exploding In Sound’s “Thank You For Being a Friend” shows
VITALS: Local label EIS will bring out a massive roster (Pile, Krill, Kal Marks, etc.) for three days of epic shows at the Sinclair, Great Scott, and O’Briens for $8-12.
SHOW DATE: Aug 22-24
WHO TO BRING: The one who has every cassette of every local band … ever.