Check out these concerts coming to Central Indiana in October
It may be October, but there aren’t too many dark ghouls taking the stage other than Ozzy compatriot Zakk Wylde. Instead, this month is full of bright, infectious indie pop, from the stacked lineup of the Fountain Square Music Festival to Mutemath and Alt-J.
Zakk Sabbath
8 p.m. Oct. 1, The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave., $25 to $30, (317) 259-7029 or thevogue.com
Big, bearded, and blonde, Zakk Wylde has been an integral part of heavy metal for decades. The speed demon guitarist has played with Ozzy Osbourne and his own Black Label Society, but this time out he’s unfurling a special performance: Zakk Sabbath. It’s his all-star tribute band to the guys who started it all, Black Sabbath. Devil horns up.
Tiësto
8 p.m. Oct. 3, The Pavilion at Pan Am, 201 S. Capitol Ave., $30 to $55, eventbrite.com, search "Tiësto @ The Pavilion"
Outside of EDM circles, Tiësto has somehow floated under the pop culture radar. But in the glowstick world, he is god. The Dutch DJ and producer is nearly 50 years old, and he’s been dominating the global dance scene for decades with progressive house music that make club kids go buck wild.
Mike Gordon
8 p.m. Oct. 5, The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave., $25 to $28, (317) 259-7029 or thevogue.com
Mike Gordon has had quite a summer. You see, his day job is playing bass with a little jam band called Phish — with whom he just wrapped 13 consecutive shows at Madison Square Garden (called “The Baker’s Dozen”). At the Vogue, he’ll groove with his own side band of friends and collaborators.
Doug E. Fresh
8 p.m. Oct. 5, The Toby at the Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields, 4000 Michigan Road, $25 to $40, (317) 923-1331 or imamuseum.org
Life imitates art and art imitates life — and human beatbox Doug E. Fresh imitates a drum machine. Fresh broke out with his 1980s classic “The Show/La Di Da Di,” placing him in a class with hip-hop icons like Kool Moe Dee and Whodini. He’ll perform at The Toby as part of City as Canvas.
Garth Brooks with Trisha Yearwood
3 p.m. Oct. 7 and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 5-8, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., $66.73, (317) 917-2500 or bankerslifefieldhouse.com
U2 came through in September to remind Indy how massive rock ’n’ roll can be. And Garth Brooks is about to do the same thing for country. The best-selling solo American artist ever is back on a world tour with his wife Trisha Yearwood, and they’re planting themselves in Indy for four full days.
Fountain Square Music Festival
Oct. 6-7, Virginia Avenue in Fountain Square, $49 to $99, fountainsquaremusicfest.org
Color us impressed. This year’s Fountain Square Music Festival is positively stacked with great indie rock, hip-hop and dance music. Headliners Phantogram and Dr. Dog bring equally fun opposite sides of a coin — the former buzzing dance-pop beats and attitude, the latter sunny psychedelic garage-rock. Stick around for Real Estate, the Cool Kids and many, many more.
Kaleo and ZZ Ward
7:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $32.50, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Iceland has long been a surprisingly fertile land for music — and Kaleo continue the trend. The blues rock band broke out with the thumping “Way Down We Go,” which topped the Billboard alternative charts last year. Folk-pop ingénue ZZ Ward will open the show. Believe us — she’s well worth arriving early.
Michael McDonald with Marc Cohn
7:30 p.m. Oct. 12, The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, 1 Center Green, Carmel, $35 to $130, (317) 843-3800 or thecenterpresents.org
Who could’ve predicted the resurgence of Michael McDonald in the 2010s, but here we are and the blue-eyed soul singer is collaborating with Thundercat and Grizzly Bear. The former Doobie Brother will play with fellow crooner Marc Cohn, he of “Walking in Memphis” fame.
Rock Against Racism Festival
Noon Oct. 14, Broad Ripple Park, 1550 Broad Ripple Ave., free, search "Rock Against Racism Festival 2017" on Facebook
Hope Plumbing and Sun King Brewing have banded together against what we can all hopefully agree is lame: racism. The Rock Against Racism fest is a free event to bring people of all races and backgrounds together under the banner of good music, good food, good times, and even good yoga (yep, a session will go down). All donations will benefit the ACLU of Indiana.
Arlo Guthrie
7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $29 to $160, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Arlo Guthrie never had a major pop hit, but his name speaks volumes to millions of people. Son of the protest folk legend Woody Guthrie, Arlo’s 1967 18-minute classic “The Alice’s Restaurant Massacree” is still sung today. He’s long spoke out vocally about his distaste for American politics, so hope for some engaging banter.
WTTS Rock to Read Benefit with Chris Isaak
7:30 p.m. Oct. 17, Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $29 to $275, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
We know he’s sexy, but isn’t it so much better to know he cares? WTTS’ Rock to Read series raises money to promote children’s literacy. The “Wicked Game” and “Baby Did a Bad Bad Thing” singer dropped his latest, 12th album back in 2015, but expect all the hits you love.
Queens of the Stone Age
7:30 p.m. Oct. 18, Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $74 and up, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Queens of the Stone Age began more than two decades ago as a sludgy, propulsive California band singing purely about drugs. Today, Josh Homme and Co. are one of rock’s most beloved acts. The band’s latest, “Villians,” was released in August and is a raucous, grimy guitar party.
Kane Brown
5 p.m. Oct. 18, 8 Seconds Saloon, 111 N. Lynhurst Drive, sold out, ticketmaster.com
This is the beginning of the Kane Brown story — if you’ve got a ticket to his 8 Seconds Saloon show, consider yourself lucky. The 23-year-old Tennessee-born country singer popped up on the scene with his 2015 single “Used to Love You Sober” (which seemingly negates his later hit “Can’t Stop Love”), and his debut album dropped in December.
Alt-J
8 p.m. Oct. 21, Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $45 to $175, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Not quite indie rock, not quite folk or electronic — but also all of those genres. Alt-J has long been a confounding musical presence, creating unclassifiable earworms that you’re as likely to hear at a house party as you are at a coffee shop. The British trio just released their third album, “Relaxer,” earlier this year.
MUTEMATH
8 p.m. Oct. 25, Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $22.50, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Alt-rock band Mutemath (or MUTEMATH if we’re being accurate) is a New Orleans trio that’s been at it since 2002, and they’ve only gotten more experimental with time. The band’s latest, “Play Dead,” just came out in September, packed with glowing, danceable, vaguely psychedelic indie pop that’ll make you bop along.
Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
7:30 p.m. Oct. 26, The Palladium at the Center for the Performing Arts, 1 Center Green, Carmel, $35 to $85, (317) 843-3800 or thecenterpresents.org
Chances are you’ve seen a video of Postmodern Jukebox, maybe without even knowing it. The musical collective, led by arranger and pianist Scott Bradlee, transforms pop hits into vintage genres — so songs by artists like Lorde, John Legend and Taylor Swift get remade into jazz, ragtime or swing.
Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
8 p.m. Oct. 27, Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $37, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Born and raised in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews had music in his blood. He’s a trumpet and trombone player at heart, but can kill it on the drums, tuba and more. Shorty’s worked with a huge cast of musicians, but at the Egyptian Room, he’ll be the man in charge, leading his band Orleans Avenue through hot jazz and funk cuts.
Lindsay Buckingham and Christie McVie
7:30 p.m. Oct. 27, Murat Theatre at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $39.50 to $225, (317) 231-0000 or livenation.com
Fleetwood Mac has been the gift that keeps on giving lately. Announcements about a 2018 tour with Stevie Nicks came recently, and this summer Lindsay Buckingham and Christie McVie released a solid album together, featuring original songs. So while this Murat show isn’t the full band you love, it’s a welcome scratch for the itch.
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt
7:30 p.m. Oct. 30, Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler University, 4602 Sunset Ave., $42 to $102, (317) 940-6444 or butlerartscenter.org
Lyle Lovett and John Hiatt are in a class as American singer-songwriters without too many peers. They’ve stuck around for decades, creating original storytelling songs that have allowed their fans to grow along with them. Plus, they’re good buddies — meaning this show will have great music, but also great conversation.