Top Five Live: NKOTB, St. Vincent to say goodbye to May
Picks from freelance writer Seth Johnson and Star reporter David Lindquist for the best Central Indiana concerts happening May 29-June 4.
St. Vincent
8 p.m. May 29, Egyptian Room at Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $27.50, (317) 231-0000, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/94484543.
Before wowing audiences with her charming frontwoman prowess, Annie Clark could be heard playing with The Polyphonic Spree or Sufjan Stevens' touring band. Since her debut album in 2007, the artist better known as St. Vincent has gained a large following of fans on her own with her unique style of fuzzed-out baroque pop.
New Kids on the Block
7 p.m. May 31, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., $20 to $96.50, (317) 917-2500, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/95712005.
This boy band captivated countless teens during the late '80s and early '90s , selling more than 80 million records thanks to hits such as "Step By Step" and "You've Got It (The Right Stuff)." Decades later, NKOTB finds itself on a summer tour of the U.S. with its most elaborate stage design to date. Appropriately titled "The Main Event," the tour also features fellow hitmakers TLC and Nelly.
Alabama Shakes
7:30 p.m. June 2, Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., $34.50, (317) 776-8181, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/94949003.
This gritty five-piece from Athens, Ala., made an immediate impression on many with its 2012 debut album, earning three Grammy nominations. A few years later, Alabama Shakes is on a headlining tour in support of 2015's "Sound & Color," which has received some rave reviews as well. The always-entertaining Father John Misty (or J. Tillman) will be featured on this particular tour date.
Lake Street Dive
8 p.m. May 29, The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave., $18 to $20, (317) 259-7029, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/94989125.
This Boston-born soul-pop group turned heads with its stripped-down street corner rendition of the Jackson 5's "I Want You Back," netting nearly 3 million YouTube views. Lake Street Dive has found much success continuing down this path while still holding strong to its humble roots. Drummer Mike Calabrese says, "We were, are and always will be a dive bar band. Whether we're playing for 10 people or 10,000 we want them to have that feeling."
Third Eye Blind and Dashboard Confessional
7 p.m. May 30, Farm Bureau Insurance Lawn at White River State Park, 801 W. Washington St., $29.50 to $49.50, (317) 776-8181, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/94619603.
Known for its late-'90s chart-toppers "Jumper" and "Semi-Charmed Life," Third Eye Blind continues to churn out albums. "Dopamine," the band's first studio album in six years and fifth overall, is slated for a June 16 release. Dashboard Confessional has no new album on the horizon, but fans can at least be content in knowing the emo act is on its first full-band tour since 2008.