Top 10 Fall Concerts


1. “Weird Al” Yankovic (22 September) at Verizon
Though he’s been at this for decades, the master of parody is still churning out great novelties, most recently mocking Lady Gaga and turning Miley Cyrus’s “Party in the U.S.A.” into a darkly comic tale of a CIA agent.


2. Adele (21 October) at Verizon
This rescheduled stop moves from the House of Blues to the less intimate but equally acoustically engineered Verizon Theatre. The year’s best-selling artist brings her emotionally devastating ballads to a much wider audience, and that’s cause for celebration.


3. Bright Eyes (15 September) at Palladium
Unlike Cher or Phil Collins, this is the actual farewell tour. Conor Oberst’s first band tours in support of The People’s Key, currently my favorite album of the year so far.


4. The Avett Brothers (14 & 15 October) at Palladium
There’s not one but two chances to check out the seminal folk act, which recently became more prominent thanks to the Rick Rubin-produced I and Love and You, and a performance alongside Bob Dylan at this year’s Grammys.


5. TV on the Radio, Broken Social Scene (16 September) at HOB
These two wildly inventive bands might have a few too many members onstage, but they’ve both got an endless supply of creativity. TVOTR is the more cerebral, acclaimed act but BSS Canadian jams bring me more aural pleasure.


6. David Crowder*Band, John Mark McMillan (1 October) at HOB
The most important Christian concert of the year is already sold out. If you’re going, expect McMillan to join Crowder on stage for the latter’s cover of his most well-known song: “How He Loves.”


7. Foster the People, Cults (15 September) at HOB
You mean this show isn’t sponsored by Urban Outfitters? Anyway, these are two of the biggest buzz bands around and seeing them before they explode in popularity (or sell out) will be a hipster badge of honor, presented by Pabst Blue Ribbon.


8. Friendly Fires, Theophilus London (12 October) at Granada
Few artists sing with the abandon of Friendly Fires’ Ed MacFarlane. The synth-pop trio is so giddy and its songs so infectious, any cynicism will instantly get wiped away like so much sweat after an all-night dance session.


9. Bon Iver (12 September) at Winspear Opera House
The show’s already sold out, which a testament to Bon Iver’s draw as an artist but also how quickly word spreads. Just three years ago, no one had ever heard of him. He was just a bearded guy with a guitar and a remote cabin. Now, he’s a chart-topping artist whose good friends with Kanye West.


10. Sam Robertson, Western Skies (17 September) at Hailey’s
Sam Robertson is the new Sarah Jaffe. It might be a little unfair to compare the two, but they each share the girl-with-a-guitar confessional vibe. They’re both talented musicians with lyrical sensibilities and are earnest without ever being embarrassing. Basically, she’s among the best acts in the music-rich Denton.

Just announced: Morrissey (17 November) at McFarlin, Wilco (29 November) at Music Hall at Fair Park, Neon Indian (24 September) at Granada

Special thanks to My Denton Music for the Western Skies photo.

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