Modest Mouse will be at the LC Friday!
Musicians, music appreciators, and night life junkies, here is your weekly guide to the Columbus music scene. Whether you’ve got a rock n’ roll heart or a craving for heavy EDM drops, there is something for you. Check out what Columbus has to offer you this weekend.
ROCK
The big headliner this weekend is Modest Mouse. They are playing the LC Pavilion on Friday. This is a band that has inspired countless indie bands. Modest Mouse is one of the pioneers of the indie rock movement. Any fans of the genre or alt rock shouldn’t miss this show. Check out Rocktoberfest at Skully’s featuring Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites, The Wet Darlings, and Indigo Wild. Indigo Wild opens the night with a spacey slow-moving, at times synth-backed, kind of rock. This band is congruent with the stylings of Florence and the Machine. Then The Wet Darlings hit the stage sounding like Alanis Morissette or a grungy No Doubt. Finally, Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites will take the stage with their new material that sounds like music from the 70’s. Looking for some 2000’s punk? Check out Heads of Lettuce and Second Story Anthem at Ruby Tuesday. Additionally on Friday, go see Face, Jon Chinn, and WV White. They are all playing at the Ace of Cups. This show is best described as a mix of some southern rock, Pavement, and Green Day. Work Drugs and Everyone But Me are playing the Rumba Café. This bands ride the fence pretty delicately between electronic music and rock music. They feature atmospheric synths and wildly distorted guitars. My Bloody Valentine fans would appreciate this show. For some heavier rock, go see Pay The Toll at O’Sheckys Live Bar & Restaurant. These guys draw inspiration from bands like All That Remains, Nirvana, and Rush. The Hudson Branch is at Brothers Drake Meadery & Bar with Go Analog and Hello Emerson. This line up is hard to characterize. All the bands are different and versatile in their sound. I will say that their variety is refreshing and it makes for some music that is as happy go lucky as it can go without losing the rock aesthetic. Definitely check this show out. If you want to hear some of the best pop songs from the 70’s or 80’s then you need to see Popgun at King Avenue Five. Calendar for Preston is rockin’ at Keystone Pub. They are comparable to Fall Out Boy and All American Rejects with some Panic! at the Disco mixed in there. Fans of those bands should check these guys out.
The Grifters playing their rough-around-the-edges music.
Saturday see the Grifters perform with Connections, Surfer, and Tuesday Night Music Club at the Ace of Cups. This is a show full of scraggly, distorted, pseudo punk rock. The music sounds as the names Grifters and Surfer would imply. At the Rumba Café, Strange Names is playing with Gimmie. Gimmie is actually entirely not a rock band. They are an EDM show that happens to be booked with an electro pop-rock band. Nonetheless, come check out Strange Names for som
e infectious tunes and Gimmie for some beats to dance to beforehand. Lastly on Saturday, Liz Wooley and her band are playing Brothers Drake Meadery & Bar. They are also not really a rock show. They are a smooth jazz act. This is something that doesn’t roll around too often in Columbus so take advantage and go enjoy the soothing sounds.
Sunday features opposite types of rock. Josh Berwanger at The Tree Bar is playing some light-hearted music. There is an element of fun that shines through his playing. If you want a night to hop along to and smile go to this show. On the other side of the spectrum are Forever at Last, the Funeral Portrait, and Daymare. While Daymare takes a back seat to the intensity, these bands lay it on you. They are by far the heaviest show hitting Columbus this weekend. Specifically The Funeral Portrait. They play a thrashing set that seems to draw from Bring Me the Horizon and Pierce the Veil.
ELECTRONIC
Don’t miss Passion Pit at the Newport!
The electronic scene is taking off this weekend. Don’t miss your chance for a full weekend of shows. To start of Passion Pit is at The Newport Music Hall. This band has been producing hits for years now. Anyone who listens to the radio should be familiar with songs off their album Gossamer. Don’t miss your chance to see a band with this kind of momentum and hit making power. Any fans of JT (Justin Timberlake)? Then come down to The Basement to see Mikky Ekko. He has the same suave kind of electronic pop music.
Saturday get over to the EDM Dance Party at Skully’s. Jauz, Ghost Gardens, Alex & Paul, Coma Coz, and Trauma Kid are playing their sets. Come for a long night of funky beats to dance to.
Then Sunday, check out Duke Dumont at The Newport Music Hall. He was well known and discovered for his catchy remixes. You can hear his creativity in his catchy beats that he tailors in his songs.
COUNTRY
Erica Blinn wants to know who she can give her “Whiskey Kisses” to. Answer her call and see her at The Tree Bar. You are promised a night of fun with her in the moment songs.
Brian Douglas Day, the opener for the night can also play a full set about the good times in the country. The Hawkeyes are having the debut from Pittsburgh at the Park Street Tavern. They are playing some southern-American rock country music. They are probably the heaviest country show of the weekend but they are still easy and captivating to listen to.
Erica Blinn and her band livening up the room.
Sunday there is only one country show on the radar. Gangstagrass is playing his country-rap at the Rumba Café. While it may sound unusual, it is some good music and you should check it out to end your weekend on a high note.
FRIDAY SHOWS (16TH)
Modest Mouse (SOUNDOFF after at the A&R Bar)
Doors: 6:30 PM @ LC Pavilion – 405 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
614-461-5483
Mikky Ekko
Doors: 7:00 PM @ The Basement – 391 Neil Ave, Columbus, OH 43215
614-461-5483
Passion Pit
Doors: 7:00 PM @ The Newport Music Hall – 1722 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-294-1659
Wesley Bright & the Hi-Lites, The Wet Darlings, Indigo Wild
Starts: 9:00 PM @ Skully’s – 115 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-291-8856
Erica Blinn and the Handsome Machine
Opens: 7:00 PM @ The Tree Bar – 887 Chambers Rd, Columbus, OH 43212
614-725-0955
Heads of Lettuce Second Story Anthem
Starts: N/A @ Ruby Tuesday – 1978 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-291-8313
Face, Jon Chinn, WV White
Doors: 8:00 PM @ Ace of Cups – 2619 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-262-6001
Work Drugs, Everyone But Me
Starts @ 10:00 PM @ Rumba Café – 2507 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841
Pay the Toll
Starts: 8:00 PM @ O’Sheckys Live Bar & Restaurant – The Continent Shopping Center, 6240 Busch Blvd, Columbus, OH 43229
614-436-5656
The Hudson Branch, Go Analog, Hello Emerson
Starts: 10:00 PM @ Brothers Drake Meadery & Bar – 26 E 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 (21+)
614-388-8765
Popgun
Starts 8:00 PM @ King Avenue Five – 945 King Ave, Columbus, OH 43212
614-297-8060
The Hawkeyes
Starts: 10:00 PM @ Park Street Tavern – 501 Park St, Columbus, OH 43215
614-221-4099
Calendar for Preston
Starts: N/A @ Keystone Pub – 1081 Gemini Pl, Columbus, OH 43240
614-847-0007
SATURDAY SHOWS (17TH)
EDM Dance Party – Jauz, Ghost Gardens, Alex & Paul, Coma Coz, Trauma Kid
Starts: 9:00 PM @ Skully’s – 115 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-291-8856
Grifters, Connections, Surfer, Tuesday Night Music Club
Doors: 8:00 PM @ Ace of Cups – 2619 N High St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-262-6001
Strange Names, Gimmie
Starts: 7:00 PM @ Rumba Café – 2507 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841
Liz Woolley
Starts: 9:00 PM @ Brothers Drake Meadery & Bar – 26 E 5th Ave, Columbus, OH 43201 (21+)
614-388-8765
SUNDAY SHOWS (18TH)
Duke Dumont
Doors: 8:00 PM @ The Newport Music Hall – 1722 N High St, Columbus, OH 43201
614-294-1659
Josh Berwanger
Opens: 7:00 PM @ The Tree Bar – 887 Chambers Rd, Columbus, OH 43212
614-725-0955
Gangstagrass
Starts: 7:00 PM @ Rumba Café – 2507 Summit St, Columbus, OH 43202
614-268-1841
