The 20 Bay Area Concerts to See Between Now and 2020

It is a frankly terrific musical season

Fall Concerts SF
Jenny Lewis is coming to the Fox Theater in October
Mark Horton/Getty Images

This season’s concert lineup has everything, from the oldest of old school hip-hop eccentrics to, say, Lana Del Rey at the Greek. In between, we have Kurt Vile, Black Pumas, Rick Ross and New Jersey’s favorite punk-rock malcontents.

Also Jenny Lewis. Also Tinariwen. Also Sleater-Kinney (or its ghost, depending on where you fall on the Janet Weiss v. Carrie Brownstein spectrum).

Time to book some tickets.

Because drunken, manic despair never sounded so alive

Titus Andronicus at Rickshaw Stop, September 21

Because have you even lived if you’re not belting out “Sugartooth” on a Sunday night? 

Brandi Carlile at the Greek Theatre, September 22

Because it’s the perfect marriage of venue and talent, like the smoothest ever bottle of pinot grigio

India.Arie at Mountain Winery, September 23

Because they’re going to be the last (Icelandic) band standing

Of Monsters and Men at the Fox Theatre, September 24

Because every day you’re hustlin’

[Best-selling author] Rick Ross at August Hall, September 25

Glen Hansard
(Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images)

Because your plus-one goes weak in the knees for “Falling Slowly”

Glen Hansard at the Masonic, September 27

Because better to see her here than opening for Vampire Weekend 

Soccer Mommy at the Catalyst Atrium, September 30

Because “Who’s this stupid clown blocking the bathroom sink?” really captures a mood

Kurt Vile at the Fillmore, October 5

Because if not for Norman Fucking Rockwell, then for her verse on “Don’t Call Me Angel”

Lana Del Rey at the Greek Theatre, October 6

Because who can even predict the musical anarchy

Tyler, the Creator at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, October 10

Because they give world music a good name

Tinariwen at the UC Theatre Taube Family Music Hall, October 11

Because you just don’t know if it’s going to be ponderous or transcendent 

Thom Yorke at the Greek Theatre, October 18

Because finally Austin’s giving something back to us

Black Pumas at the Independent, October 22

Because we have literally zero idea what this hip-hop icon is going to do

Kool Keith at the Catalyst Atrium, October 23

Kim Petras
FOREVER WE STAN (Burak Cingi/Redferns via Getty)

Because “Heart to Break” is the bop of the century

Kim Petras at the Fox Theater, October 26

Because she might even be better than all the hype

Lizzo at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, October 28

Because no one else nails how the ’10s are like the darkest timeline version of the ’80s

Big Thief at the Fillmore, October 28

Because like her new wine brand (really), she’s just getting better with age

Jenny Lewis at the Fox Theater, October 29

Because all that introspection pays off on “Lover” 

Noah Gunderson at the Independent, November 9

Because it’s worth seeing what this post-Janet Weiss thing is going to look like 

Sleater-Kinney at the Fox Theater, November 17

Because if he’s good enough for Kendrick Lamar….

Talib Kweli at Yoshi’s Jazz Club, December 4

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