Five Fall Tours That I'm Dying For

My nose is stuffed, my throat is sore, and I feel miserable. There is no better indication that fall is approaching than the rapid changing of weather for sweltering hot to the brisk, bitter chills of fall in the matter of 24 hours. Though summer still has another week or so of life, Labor Day is the unofficial end of summer. With summer ending, we say goodbye to all the amazing summer tours and bands that released those tunes we blasted on a highway drive with the windows ruled down. No more Warped Tour, no more shows in shorts and a white t-shirt.

But the fall also brings an abundance of fantastic and interesting tours with it. Every genre is well represented in shows over the next four months, but for me the rock, punk, and indie genres are especially packed with amazing shows. While many great shows are already planned, there are a plethora of tours with 3 or more fantastic bands gracing the bill. This is a direct result of all the talented artists releasing new albums in the next few months.

5. Thrice with La Dispute, Moving Mountains, and O'Brother

Coming off their wildly loved and softer album Beggars, Thrice promised a return to their roots with their latest effort Major/Minor. If the first three songs are any indication, Thrice is well on their way but without sacrificing the progression they've made on their latest works from Vheissu on. This tour hits Irving Plaza on Sunday, October 16th. Thrice brings along experimental post-hardcore outfit La Dispute, who release their sophomore album "Wildfire" in 2011, and Moving Mountains, who are fresh off performing on the Nintendo 3DS stage on the Van's Warped Tour. These two bands bring along emotional catharsis that will nicely complement Dustin Kensrue of Thrice. O'Brother is the opener as they're set to release their debut. They recently played New York with Manchester Orchestra and Cage the Elephant.
4. Kevin Devine with An Horse and The Front Bottoms

My choice for indie tour of the year, which also take places right in the middle of CMJ festivities in New York City. Hitting the big apple on Saturday, October 22nd, attendees of this show will witness a man who brings all the life experiences and emotions he has ever experienced with him onto the stage in a release of energy lyrical mastery. Kevin's newest album "Between the Concrete & Clouds" was released earlier this week and features more melodic humming guitars and beautiful poetry wrapped in a 40 minute package. An Horse, a two piece indie rock group reminiscent of Tegan and Sara, support the release of their sophomore album "Walls". The Front Bottoms are putting out their Bar/None Records debut, a self-titled effort.



3. Polar Bear Club with Fireworks, Balance & Composure, and Such Gold

Polar Bear Club returns to the city that never sleeps just four months after performing here with Bayside and Silverstein. Their new album "Clash Battle Guilt Pride" is their best sounding effort to date, a melodic punk head banger with vocal prowess and intensity that conjures up thoughts of an old school Tim McIlrath circa "Revolutions Per Minute". Their energetic live shows will be heightened by the fans of pop punk band Fireworks, whose new album "Gospel" broadened their sound with softer melodies, cleaner guitars, and lyrics that centered on first person encounters of their every day lives, much like recent works from The Wonder Years. Balance & Composure continue to tour for their stellar debut "Seperation", while Such Gold bring their melodic hardcore sound in what proves to be a solid opening slot. If you want to catch this show, hit up the Knitting Factory on Wednesday, October 12th for a steal of only $12 ($14 at the door).


2. Saves the Day & Bayside with I am the Avalanche and Transit

There is no shortage of great stories on this tour. After scaring their fanbases by withholding New York City dates for about four weeks, the show hits the big apple's Irving Plaza to end the tour on November 15 and 16. Bayside have toured extensively for their Wind-Up Records debut, Killing Time, playing with the likes of Senses Fail, Silverstein, Polar Bear Club, The Swellers, and now this. The Queens boys sound better than ever with quality production values bringing out the best in Jack O'Shea's guitar and Anthony's crisp, at times bitter and sarcastic vocals. In what is a dream show for them, Bayside brings along pop punk legends Saves the Day, whose newer works has drifted into the realms of emo and indie but continues to churn out quality album after quality album. Their latest work, Daybreak, comes out after years of delays and member changes but ends their 3 album trilogy (Sound the Alarm, Under the Boards) on a positive note. Conley's lyrics offer a small glimmer of hope after relaying the pain and anguish he's faced in his life. I am the Avalanche, another New York based punk rock band, release their long awaited sophomore album after six longs years. "Avalanche United" sports songs like "Brooklyn Dodgers" which many fans are familiar with. Pop Punk band Transit have been tabbed as openers and are supporting their newest CD "Listen & Forgive", out on October 11.



1. New Found Glory with Set Your Goals, The Wonder Years, Man Overboard, and This Time Next Year (Pop Punk's Not Dead Tour).

There is nothing more annoying than a show that features one prominent headliner, a decent supporting act, and two openers no ones heard off. The awkward stares and head nods the audience gives as the first couple bands rush through their 30 minute sets is unfortunate and provides a less than ideal atmosphere for the show. That's what makes this show so unbelievable. If you love one band, you probably love them all. The audience will be into all five bands, which will create a sweaty mess of crowd surfers and moshers that will bring the energy to new high. Legends New Found Glory return with "Radiosurgery", an album that many have already been calling one of their best works. The guitar riff on the lead single off the album is reminiscent of old Green Day mixed with classic New Found Glory goodness. They bring along Set Your Goals, whose debut "Mutiny" is a pop punk classic of our time and turned many kids back into the genre, which has seen a re-emergence with these type of bands. The Wonder Years, arguably the most popular band in the genre today (and with good reason) are riding high with their conceptual masterpiece, "Suburbia I've Given You All And Now I'm Nothing", an album with feeds off lead singer Soupy's real life account of growing up in a Philadelphia suburb and mixes it with catchy, high energy punk music. Openers Man Overboard and This Time Next Year are each gaining popularity on their own with catchy choruses and head banging verses that have made them forces in the pop punk world. The tour hits the Best Buy Theater in the heart of New York on Friday, October 28th.