Reading this back, I noticed an inordinate amount of superlatives popping out of this list. Apologies up front for that. It’s just that kind of fall. Let’s get to it:
Bob Mould (Mr. Smalls, Sept. 21): It’s always a no-holds-barred affair when the hardcore pioneer behind Husker Du and Sugar rages in Millvale.
Chris Stapleton (Sept. 24, The Pavilion at Star Lake): The new Outlaw Country doesn’t get any better than this stud from Kentucky with the soulful pipes and blazing guitar chops. With Margo Price/Kendall Marvel.
Code Orange (Roxian, Sept. 24): Having written the script for the pandemic era livestream, the Pittsburgh metalcore band finally gets to play that live show in McKees Rocks for fourth album “Underneath.”
The Mavericks (Byham Theater, Sept. 26): The Tex-Mex party band led by golden-voiced Raul Malo, touring behind the Spanish-language album “En Español,” is simply one of the best touring acts of our era.
Trey Anastasio Band (Stage AE, Sept. 29): Fresh off a run with Phish, Trey flips over to his horn-powered, eight-piece funk ensemble for something a little more rhythmic.
Julien Baker (Mr. Smalls, Sept. 29): The Memphis indie-rocker returns to Millvale having released “Little Oblivions,” a third album “that vaults her into a whole new league,” says Variety.
Highmark Blues & Heritage Festival (Highmark Stadium, Oct. 1): Mavis Staples, the absolutely delightful gospel/R&B legend, headlines this fourth annual event with Robert Cray, Robert Randolph and the Family Band, Rare Essence and Third World.
Punk in Drublic (Lots at Sandcastle, Oct. 2): Fat Mike uncancels himself and turns up with this craft beer fest filled with Warped vets — his own NOFX, Pennywise, Less Than Jake, Sick of it All, Get Dead and Stolen Wheelchairs.
The Rolling Stones (Heinz Field, Oct. 4): The loss of Charlie Watts makes this trek a little bittersweet for the greatest rock ’n’ roll band of all time.
Primus (Stage AE, Oct. 5): A Tribute to Kings Tour finds the avant-prog-metal trio taking on Rush's classic 1977 album “A Farewell to Kings” along with some prime Primus cuts.
Eric Church (PPG Paints Arena, Oct. 8): Having released a triptych of albums during the pandemic, the country-rocker should have his hands full writing a set list for this new arena tour.
Black Pumas (Mr. Smalls, Oct. 13): This visit by the breakout psychedelic soul band from Austin is the rare case of an album-of-the-year nominee doing club gigs, so this should be special, for sure.
Kiss (Star Lake, Oct. 13): Now that Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons have recovered from COVID, they can go back to spitting blood and breathing fire, literally and figuratively.
Harry Styles (PPG Paints Arena, Oct. 14): Just under two years (!) after tickets went on sale, fans will finally get to see the former One Direction star’s Love on Tour 2020 trek, with Jenny Lewis.
Slipknot (Star Lake, Oct. 15): Masks have always been the mandate for the brutal Iowa nu metal band, hitting the shed with Killswitch Engage, Fever 333 and Code Orange.
Women Who Rock (Stage AE, Oct. 16): The amazing Sheila E. returns for this annual event that will also feature Rita Wilson, Alice Cooper sidekick Orianthi, Lauren Monroe with Rick Allen of Def Leppard, The Vindys, DJ Femi and emcee Michele Michaels.
Brian Wilson (The Palace Theatre, Oct. 19): The fragile pop genius teams with two other former Beach Boys — Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin — for an evening of the greatest hits anyone’s ever had.
Angels & Airwaves (Stage AE, Oct. 22): The space rock band led by UFO-obsessed former Blink-182 frontman Tom DeLonge lands here a month after releasing its sixth album, “Lifeforms.”
Machine Gun Kelly (Petersen Events Center, Oct. 30): The high-energy Houston rapper/rocker arrives having topped the charts for the first time with the ironically titled “Tickets for My Downfall.”
In This Moment/Black Veil Brides/DED (Stage AE, Oct. 31): Maybe Halloween is the one day of the year that In This Moment doesn’t dress up. Who knows? Find out.
The Monkees (Palace Theatre, Nov. 1): Michael Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, the two surviving members, commemorate 55 years of Monkeemania with this farewell tour.
Sylvan Esso (Stage AE, Nov. 5): The North Carolina electropop duo with the delicate touch treats fans to a night of “sad songs that sound really happy.”
Bad Religion/Alkaline Trio (Stage AE, Nov. 9): “Bad Religion was one of my first loves,” says Alkaline Trio’s Matt Skiba, who traveled with them on Warped multiple times but now gets to share a double bill.
Gary Clark Jr. (Stage AE, Nov. 10): If you’ve never seen this beast from Austin, get your ticket and find out why he rules the blues-rock genre.
The Flaming Lips (Stage AE, Nov. 11): Pittsburgh-born Wayne Coyne will surely have new visual tricks up his sleeve when the Oklahoma psych-rock band returns to the North Shore.
Anti-Flag/Suicide Machines (Roxian, Nov. 20): At last, the ANTIfest planned for March 2020, celebrating A-F’s new album “20/20 Vision,” can actually happen.
Chvrches (Stage AE, Nov. 22): The Scottish synth-rock trio takes a dark turn on new album “Screen Violence,” which should make for a compelling night, even without Robert Smith.
Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit (UPMC Events Center, Dec. 7): When he’s not tweeting, Isbell is writing and performing one of the best catalogs in the Americana genre.
Genesis (PPG Paints Arena, Dec. 13): Fifty-four years after its formation, there’s life left in one of the world’s greatest prog-rock bands, featuring Phil Collins, Tony Banks and Mike Rutherford.
Evanescence/Halestorm (Petersen Events Center, Dec. 14): You don’t have to worry about the singer hitting the notes when Amy Lee and Lizzy Hale team for a night of hard rock with a touch of goth.
More show listings at post-gazette.com/concerts
First Published: September 16, 2021, 10:00 a.m.
Updated: September 16, 2021, 3:44 p.m.
