Watch CBS News

Boston Concerts To Look Forward To This Month

It's never too early to plan for a concert, especially in the Boston area. This city is one of the biggest musical markets, alongside New York and L.A., for almost any tour package crisscrossing the country, so there's never a shortage of options for the avid concert-goer. Here are five of the hottest and most anticipated concerts from a variety of genres hitting the Boston area in 2014.
Panic At The Disco
(Photo by Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Panic! At The Disco
House of Blues
15 Lansdowne St.
Boston, MA 02215
(888) 693-2583
www.houseofblues.com

Date: Jan. 30, 2014

The Las Vegas-based vaudeville/emo punk-inspired indie band Panic! At the Disco returns to Boston on January 30th, 2014, bringing its popular and unique style of theatrical rock to the House of Blues Boston. The Fenway district, with all of its tourist traffic, should be a great place for the show, given the relatively mainstream name recognition associated with this very eccentric group of musicians. While the band's rising star seemed to have peaked with its 2005 debut "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out," the group's 2008 follow-up "Pretty. Odd" and two subsequent full lengths have retained the band's dedicated fan base, who are likely to head out in droves to raise the heat for this chilly winter show.

Related: Boston's Best Local Poets

Cracker
(Photo by Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images)

Cracker
Middle East Downstairs
472 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 864-3278
www.mideastclub.com

Date: Jan. 17, 2014

Alternative rock from the 90s lives on at the Middle East Downstairs, as the indie act Cracker returns to Boston, alongside opening act Camper van Beethoven, the former band of frontman David Lowery. The band achieved a minor hit with its 1993 album "Kerosene Hat," garnering a small but devoted fan base amongst the flannel and Doc Martin-wearing grunge crowd from the early 90s. Cracker brings its blend of indie rock, blues, psychedelia, country and folk to the Middle East, playing such singles as "Euro Trash Girl" and "Low," proving once again the cyclical nature of rock 'n roll.

We Were Astronauts
(Photo from We Were Astronauts)

We Were Astronauts
Middle East Upstairs
472 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02139
(617) 864-3278
www.mideastclub.com

Date: Jan. 10, 2014

At the Middle East Upstairs, the hometown indie/pop group We Were Astronauts has scheduled a cheap Boston show for its fans, all of whom get to see the band for a mere 10-spot, alongside openers Lannen, Fairhaven and Easy Company. The band is currently finishing up a sophomore follow-up to its debut album "Outside Boston" and will likely be playing some exciting new material alongside fan favorites from that hometown-titled first effort.

Related: Boston's Best Fireplace Bars

amon Amarth
(Photo from Amon Amarth/Facebook)

Deceiver Of The Gods Tour
with Amon Amarth, Enslaved and Skeletonwitch
House of Blues
15 Lansdowne St.
Boston, MA 02215
(888) 693-2583
www.houseofblues.com

Date: Feb. 1, 2014

Extreme metal madness heats up the bitter winter months as the Deceiver of the Gods tour hits the House of Blues Boston, bringing with it Viking metal titans Amon Amarth, progressive metal luminaries Enslaved and the thrash metal merchants in Skeletonwitch for a night of varied, balanced metal mania. Heavy metal has certainly experienced a massive resurgence in popularity in recent years, both in Boston and the surrounding areas of Worcester, with nearly every big package metal tour enjoying solid ticket sales and positive fan response. This tour promises to be no exception.

The Pixies
(Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

The Pixies
Orpheum Theatre
1 Hamilton Place
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 482-0106
www.orpheumtheatreboston.com

Date: Jan. 18, 2014

When The Pixies play their hometown of Boston, fans don't miss out, as evidenced by the forthcoming January show at the Orpheum Theatre. Tickets are going fast to see this venerable alternative rock band who has been kicking around since 1986 and has influenced countless indie and grunge acts in its wake since its 1987 debut "Come On Pilgrim." With a minimal amount of seats left for this Boston appearance, fans and followers are encouraged to hurry if they wish to be part of The Pixies' ongoing history.

George Pacheco has been writing professionally about arts and entertainment for over a decade. A graduate of the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, George currently resides in a humble New England home with his wife, cat and massive music and film collection. His work can be found at Examiner.com.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.