12 concerts to see this week, including The Mountain Goats, Best Bear, Red Hot Chili Peppers and more

Whether you’re trying to be part of a crowd of hundreds of part of a crowd of tens of thousands, the final week of August has an array of options. Here are 12 concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly; for tickets and more information, head to WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.

Sunday 8/28: Honeytiger at Johnny Brenda’s

Philly indie duo Honeytiger released their latest album, American Idyll, last week and it’s a heady melenge of trippy psychedelic atmospheres, jazz-informed melodies, and prouplsive garage rock. They’ll play it live tonight at Johnny Brenda’s; Number One Lovers and Mandy Valentine open. // 7 p.m., $12, 21+

Monday 8/29: The Mountain Goats at Anchor Rock Club

The prolific John Darnielle and his long-running project The Mountain Goats are back with their 21st album this year. The topic of discussion on Bleed Out is action flicks and the concept of revenge, and its songs find Darnielle rocking in a way we haven’t heard since 2016’s Beat The Champ. Hear it live and in person Monday in A.C. at Anchor Rock Club. // 7 p.m., $35, $18

Monday 8/29: My Chemical Romance at Wells Fargo Center

The anticipation for the Philly stop of My Chemical Romance’s reunion tour cannot be overstated. The show sold out instantaneously upon its initial announce in 2020; two and a half years an a couple reschedules later, it’s finally happening. In the meantime MCR shared an epic new single called “The Foundations Of Decay” — its first since 2014 — and reports from earlier tour dates are strong, full of deep tracks and striking wardrobe attire. Catch these arena-emo (aremo?) titans Monday night in South Philly; premium tickets are still available. // 7 p.m., $129.50 and up, AA

Tuesday 8/30: Sylvan Esso at The Mann Center

Over eight years and four albums, Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn have gone from quirky indietronic duo on the club circuit to formidable pop outfit rocking amphitheaters. This Tuesday they come to Philly with their very fun new album No Rules Sandy, playing direct support for Pacific Northwest EDM faves Odesza at The Mann Center. // 6:30 p.m., $29.50 and up, AA

Wednesday 8/31: Marc Cohn at Sellersville Theater

Best known for his 1992 top 40 hit “Walking In Memphis,” singer-songwriter Marc Cohn has remained active and agile in the studio and on the road in the decades since. His most recent offering found him covering his favorite hits of 1970 and this Wednesday WXPN welcomes Cohn to Bucks County for a show at Sellersville Theater. // 8 p.m., $55 and up, AA

Thursday 9/1: Petal at Open Sound Lansdowne

The excellently-curated free concert series Open Sound Lansdowne brings indie-centric lineups to Lansdowne Landing in the heart of the Delco borough, and this week it kicks off with a show from Petal, the project of singer-songwriter Kiley Lotz. Their latest album Magic Gone was released in 2018, and fresh off a tour with Camp Cope, they’ve hopefully got new material to share at the gig this week. Arrive early, since The Goodbye Party — the Big Star-channeling project of series co-curator Michael Cantor — opens the show. // 7 p.m., FREE, AA

Thursday 9/1: Loudon Wainwright III at City Winery

Heritage singer-songwriter Loudon Wainwright III has released idiosyncratic pop going back to his self-titled debut 52 years ago. The years in between have took him across folk, country, and covers of early 20th century American music; his 25th album Lifetime Achievement is out this year, and he plays City Winery on Thursday. // 8 p.m., $30 and up, 21+

Friday 9/2: Tubey Frank at Tellus360

Central PA singer-songwriter Tubey Frank can deliver gnarly and gruff Tom Waitsy jams as readily as soaring Jeff Buckley-an torch songs and glam-punk ragers — as we saw in a Key Studio Session earlier this year — and this Friday night he brings the whole shebang to Lancaster for a late night gig at Tellus360. // 10:30 p.m., $5, 21+

Friday 9/2: Best Bear at PhilaMOCA

Heart-on-sleeve Philly four-piece Best Bear hit the ground running when shows came back last summer, playing a stellar Porchfest set and working on the material that would become their debut album When, out now. Through riffs and licks and warm melodies by frontperson Blue, the band details love and relationships and queerness and being your best self over 14 songs; good stuff for fans of Waxahatchee and Cayetana. They’ll celebrate the record with a release party at PhilaMOCA this Friday. // 8 p.m., $15, AA

Friday 9/2: Boon at Ortlieb’s

Were they around two decades earlier, Philly’s Boon would have fit easily into the freak folk scene that gave us Grizzly Bear, Devandra Banhart, and Animal Collective. As it is, they put a terrifically Philly-in-the-2020s spin on a classic sound with their new album Bad Machine, out Friday on Window Sill Records. Celebrate with them and pals Julian and Ther Friday night at Ortlieb’s. // 7 p.m., $10, 21+

Saturday 9/3: Tyler The Creator, Jazmine Sullivan and more at Made In America

The Made In America festival is an endurance test on any number of levels. But now in it’s ninth iteration, the hip-hop / EDM / pop festival is bringing some serious heat to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this Labor Day Weekend. On Saturday, Tyler The Creator headlines — read Rahman Wortman’s review of his outstanding Call Me If You Get Lost in our Best Albums of 2021 roundup — along with Philly queen Jazmine Sullivan — let’s hope the MIA production team has their ish together and makes up for their poor showing at Roots Picnic, where Sullivan’s stellar performance was marred by dreadful sound. The day one undercard also features Pusha T and Flo Milli, while day two’s headliners of Bad Bunny and Burna Boy will bring massive energy the stage, along with Philly faves Armani White and Kur in the mix. Venture out if you’re up for it, or if staying in a nice air conditioned domicile is your thing, keep tabs on the MIA website for video Livestream updates. // 12 p.m., $150 and up, AA

Saturday 9/3: Red Hot Chili Peppers at Citizens Bank Park

They’re most closely associated with the music of the 90s and MTV’s golden era, but LA alt-funkateers Red Hot Chili Peppers have released albums in five different decades…so it makes sense that their first Philly concert in forever happens in a baseball stadium. The band released its twelfth studio album Unconditional Love earlier this year, and it finds them reunited with guitarist John Frusciante, who played on the Chilis’ classic-era albums (Californication, BloodSugarSexMagik), for the first time since 2006. Like their best work with Frusciante, the new music is dappled in world-weary sensitivity one moment and slides into heavy heady party mode the next. The band releases another album in October, Return of the Dream Canteen, and though some of their new material heads into the territory of self-parody, it’s going to sound massive at Citizens Bank Park — especially after rock and roll true believers The Strokes and LA bass virtuoso Thundercat have heated up the crowd. // 6:30 p.m., $200 and up, AA