Some people mourn the unofficial end of summer that accompanies Labor Day, but music fans know that although they may start missing the luxury of seeing outdoor gigs, there is certainly no slowdown of shows in autumn.
In fact, our local area seems to have an increase in music this September. And while we will certainly focus on a few of them in the coming weeks, we thought that today’s column should provide a more encompassing roundup of what the month will offer.
Although it isn’t happening until Sept. 20, let’s start with maybe the biggest show featuring local talent: Holyoke native Robert LaRoche will return to the area for an album release show at Spirithouse (702 Longmeadow St. in Longmeadow) that evening.
LaRoche, of course, was the leader of The Sighs, one of the most successful bands to ever come out of Western Massachusetts. LaRoche later moved to Texas, where he still resides, and has pursued a successful solo career over the past few decades. His new album, “Sacred Vow,” just dropped and local fans will get to hear the songs played live with a band that also includes former Sighs drummer Tommy Pluta.
Tickets are limited and can be found online at omadrecords.com/store.
Another local artist who has made a splash on the national scene is Madison Curbelo, who will play the Majestic Theater in West Springfield on Sept. 22 at 7:30 p.m. Curbelo, a graduate of Boston’s Berklee College of Music, garnered attention for her successful runs on shows such as “The Voice” and “American Idol.”
Before either of those shows, however, there are a few other gigs of note. First up is The Suitcase Junket at the Iron Horse Music Hall in Northampton on Sept 5. The Suitcase Junket is the name used by Western Massachusetts one-man band Matt Lorenz.
Lorenz fashions many of the instruments he uses from scratch, creating a stage show where he creates sounds that might usually require three or four other musicians. He was described by NPR as “a living, breathing, throat-singing, road-tested, avant-garde, one-man-band who is in a state of perpetual motion.”
Also this weekend, music fans will get a chance to see two great bands on the lawn at Forbes Library in Northampton on Sept. 4. That’s when Ex Temper and The Classicals will play between 6-7:45 p.m. Ex Temper blends intricate vocal harmonies and heavy riffs, while Franklin County’s The Classicals play indie folk pop.
On Sept. 12, Rival Galaxies will be part of a Millennial Prom Night at the Jupiter Club (116 Pleasant St., Suite 121) in Easthampton.
Rival Galaxies offers a mix of ’80s new wave synthesizer dance grooves and punk rock guitar riffs. They will be joined by local punk/post-punk band Teen Driver; The Vermen’s indie post-punk/glam/psych garage chamber music out of southern Vermont; and the warbling keyboard sounds and drum machines of Snowglobe Almanac.
Attendees are encouraged to bust out their best vintage prom attire, but cummerbunds and ballgowns are not required. The entry fee is a sliding scale.
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