A look at fall concerts, from Neil Young to NOFX

Fall: The air is getting cooler, but the concerts are getting hotter. (Actually, they’re probably getting cooler too; no more hipsters in short-shorts to worry about.) Not sure which ones to attend? Check out WSN music staff’s recommendations:

East Village Radio Music Festival
Sept. 6, 1 to 9 p.m.
South Street Seaport (Fulton and South Streets, Pier 17)
Free

The South Street Seaport has hosted free shows all summer, and tomorrow will end the season with a blast. East Village Radio is curating the event, with a bill including Japanese rock trio Boris, in-demand producer Mark Ronson, abstract turntablist Flying Lotus, dreamy duo High Places and a slew of others. MC KRS-One is hosting, with a special appearance by John Oliver from “The Daily Show.” For those who don’t know how to navigate the financial district, a free shuttle bus runs from the East Village Radio office (19 First Ave., No. 1) to the Seaport from 12:30 to 7 p.m. No excuses!

— Roland Li


Hot Chip
Opener: Growing
Oct. 3, 7 p.m.
Terminal 5 (610 W. 56th St.)
$30

London-based electropop quintet Hot Chip is state-side at Terminal 5 in support of their February release “Made in the Dark.” The band is known for deconstructing and reworking their songs during legendary live shows, so their technical dexterity and artful irreverence should be on full display. Ambient noise opener Growing is sure to set the stage for a great show.

— Ty Maag



Jenny Lewis
Oct. 4, 8 p.m.
Apollo Theater (253 W. 125th St.)
$30

Jenny Lewis may now be touring solo, but she’s not without good company. On her new album “Acid Tongue,” the Rilo Kiley frontwoman says goodbye to the Watson Twins and teams up with friends Jonathon Rice, M. Ward, Zooey Deschannel, Chris Robinson and Elvis Costello. The album drops Sept. 23, but eager fans can preview the California-inspired folk album by calling 1.888.717.2243 to listen to the title track. If it sounds good, go to the show.

— Josh Becker



NOFX
Oct. 15 and 16, 8 p.m.
The Fillmore New York at Irving Plaza (17 Irving Pl.)
$26

NOFX has been a band longer than you’ve been alive. While you were preverbal and drooling, these dudes were already keeping it more real than you probably ever will. Independent before there was “indie,” all they’ve ever needed was three minutes’ time and some power chords: no MTV, no major labels. Respect your elders, friends. Two words: circle pit.

— Sam MacLaughlin


Broken Social Scene
Oct. 24, 8 p.m.
Brooklyn Masonic Temple (317 Clermont Ave. at Lafayette Avenue)
$29

Consisting of anywhere from two to 20 members, all of whom are involved in other projects, this Canadian indie rock group has been making music and touring for almost 10 years now. This tour features 19 performers, including founding members Kevin Drew and Brendan Canning as well as Stars’ Amy Millan. Although the show is credited to BSS, the tour is following the release of “Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning,” an album highlighting one of the supergroup’s founders. Past lineups have been a who’s who of the Toronto indie scene, including Metric’s Emily Haines and Leslie Feist, so there’s always the chance of a great surprise performer.

— Annalie Gernert

 
Girl Talk
Openers: Grand Buffet and Hearts of Darknesses
Nov. 15 and 16, 8 p.m.
Terminal 5 (610 W. 56th St.)
$20 advance/$22 day of the show

Touring in support of his latest album “Feed the Animals,” Pittsburgh remix artist Gregg Gillis, otherwise known as Girl Talk, will play two shows at Terminal 5 on Saturday, Nov. 15 and Sunday, Nov. 16. Famous for sampling and combining hundreds of pop songs on his laptop, Gillis has become a master at creating thirty-second mash-ups that flow seamlessly together, creating the perfect music for any pop-music devotee with a short attention span. “Feed the Animals” is no exception, with Gillis masterfully combining songs like Yael Naim’s “New Soul” with Eminem’s “Shake That” and Nirvana’s “Lithium” with Salt-n-Pepa’s “Push It.” 

— Jonathan Blistein


Neil Young
Openers: Wilco and Everest
Dec. 15, 7 p.m.
Madison Square Garden (4 Pennsylvania Plaza)
Ticket prices TBA

In recent years, Neil Young has reunited with Crosby, Stills and Nash, toured small theaters and become a respected filmmaker. This fall he returns on a massive arena tour, which hits Madison Square Garden Arena in December. Set lists from his European tour earlier this year show him playing an eclectic mix of songs from “Cortez the Killer” to “Old Man” to The Beatles’ “A Day in the Life.” Opening act Wilco’s recent rootsy jam-rock should perfectly complement the legend.

— Patrick Doyle


The Kooks
Sept. 10, 6 p.m.
Rumsey Playfield in Central Park
$32.50 advance, $38 day of show

Following last spring’s two sold-out shows at Terminal 5, English band The Kooks are returning to New York once again in support of second album, “Konk.” The main expectation is that front man Luke Pritchard will once again be jumping around the stage most of the night looking ever so darling.

— Amanda Mastrull


The Presets and Cut Copy
Sept. 21 and 22, 7 p.m.
Webster Hall
$22

The Presets will be heading back stateside later this month for a co-headlining tour with fellow Aussies Cut Copy. It’s the second leg of their world tour in support of last spring’s Apocalypso. The album is an intense mix of electronic songs, and since it already sounds like a huge dance party, it should be no surprise when the live show follows suit.

— Amanda Mastrull


Ratatat
Sept. 27, 8 p.m.
Terminal 5
$22.50 advance, $27 day of show

Brooklyn-based Ratatat put out their new album “LP3” in July and are now taking it to the stage for its New York debut. Electro-rock buddies Mike Stroud and Evan Mast have been playing together since 2001 and over the past seven years have released three full-length albums and two collections of remixes.

— Annalie Gernert

Ben Folds
Sept. 30 and Oct. 1, 7 p.m.
Terminal 5
$40

Famously bespectacled singer-songwriter Ben Folds is closing out this month with the release of his new tongue-in-cheek album “Way to Normal.” Folds injects his live performances with energy and humor, vacillating between classics from the Ben Folds Five days to solo work to covers and even making up tunes on the spot. Perhaps too energetic, Folds has broken a piano string mid-concert on more than one occasion. At least it wasn’t his finger.

— Jessica Rogers


Death Cab for Cutie
Oct. 6th, 8 p.m.
Radio City Music Hall
$39.50 to $44.50

Indie-rock legends Death Cab for Cutie’s most recent album, “Narrow Stairs,” throws away all prior conceptions of the band’s sound; it’s a musical curveball reminiscent of Radiohead’s “Kid A.” It’s hypnotic, catchy and fun: Gibbard’s whirring lyrics will linger in the listener’s subconscious for days. It should be a great show.

— Alex Kahn

Beck
Oct. 9, 8 p.m.
United Palace Theater
$49

Since the late 1980s, L.A. native Beck has been layering hip-hop beats, harmonica chords, classic guitar riffs and pretty much everything in between, earning him a status as one of the most gifted talents currently making music. In what may be his final tour to promote his new album, produced by Dangermouse, the live show is bound to be as outlandish and imaginative as Beck himself. And if Beck isn’t enough, the added bonus of opening psych-pop duo MGMT should be enough to whet your appetite.

— Laura Kuhn


Cobra Starship
Oct. 11, 6 p.m.
Nokia Theater, Times Square
$20

Despite the fact that Cobra Starship’s main fan base seems to be squealing, Hot Topic-obsessed pre-teens, they have a good thing going. Come to see them this October and you can expect some good ass-shaking music, funny lyrics and band members who are so sweet and playful that you’ll want to hug every single one of them. If you can get past the throngs of 15-year-old girls that are most assuredly going to see Cobra Starship, you’re guaranteed a good laugh and dance that will put a smile on your face.

— Annie Lesser  


Coldplay
Oct. 26 and 27, 8 p.m.
Izod Center, East Rutherford, N.J.
$49.50 to 97.50

Coming off the heels of their chart-topping album “Viva la Vida” and its world-conquering title track, Coldplay is hitting arena stages all over the country this fall. Their shows will focus heavily on the “Viva” material, though surprise covers, B-sides and even Alicia Keys (who popped in for a duet in Japan) have found their way onto the band’s program thus far.

— Anthony Benigno


Iron & Wine
Nov. 17, 8 p.m.
Terminal 5
$28

Sam Beam brings his unique brand of Southern-gothic folk rock (and a superb beard) to Terminal 5 under his moniker Iron & Wine. In his music, Beam accentuates elements of folk art, storytelling and Southern charm learned from his rural Carolina upbringing. His sound may seem simplified, but his message is not. We imagine his allusions to the Bible, the naïveté of youth and the current political climate are all great beard-stroking fodder for Beam.

— Jessica Rogers


Paul Weller
Sept.10, 7 p.m.
Nokia Theatre, Times Square  
$55

Sept. 11, 7 p.m.
The HighLine Ballroom
$55

More than 30 years after forming mod-punk superstars The Jam, Paul Weller continues to release genre-bending music. His latest disc, “22 Dreams,” debuted at No. 1 on the UK music charts. He’ll be performing two shows in New York. The second, taking place Sept. 11 at the HighLine Ballroom, is sold out, but a limited amount of tickets will be available at the box office the day of the show. Expect him to play new music, but let’s be honest: We hope he’ll play Jam classics like “All Mod Cons” and his fantastic Kinks cover, “David Watts.”

— Patrick Doyle