MUSIC & NIGHTLIFE

Top Five Live: Death Cab visit will be holiday fare

Thanksgiving weekend features Indiana's Vulgar Boatmen and Big Damn Band

Seth Johnson
Star correspondent
Ben Gibbard will perform with Death Cab for Cutie on Dec. 1 at Old National Centre.

Picks from freelance writer Seth Johnson and Star reporter David Lindquist for the best Central Indiana concerts happening Nov. 27-Dec. 3.

Death Cab for Cutie

7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Murat Theatre in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $29.50 to $75, (317) 231-0000, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/106327896.

Radio station WOLT-FM (103.3) will celebrate the start of the holiday season with its "Deck the Hall Ball" headlined by much-loved rock band Death Cab for Cutie. Known for albums "Transatlanticism" (2003) and "Plans" (2005), the Washington-based act released its eighth studio album (“Kintsugi”) in March. Cold War Kids and Grizfolk will join Death Cab for Cutie on the "Deck the Hall" bill.

The Vulgar Boatmen

The Vulgar Boatmen will perform on Nov. 28 at State Street Pub.

9 p.m. Nov. 28, State Street Pub, 243 N. State Ave., $7 to $10, (317) 974-9285.

The Vulgar Boatmen's landmark roots-rock debut "You and Your Sister" is 25 years old, an anniversary marked by this hometown show as well as by a reissue release of the album. "You and Your Sister" sounds "just as fresh and powerful as it did back in 1990," says Irvington Vinyl owner Rick Wilkerson, who's putting out the new version on his TimeChange record label. Paul Mahern remastered the original recordings and NPR's Ann Powers wrote the liner notes.

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The Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band

The Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band will perform on Nov. 27 at the Vogue.

9 p.m. Nov. 27, The Vogue, 6259 N. College Ave., $15, (317) 259-7029, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/100812721.

In January, the Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band released its "So Delicious" album via Yazoo Records -- a label known for bringing early blues icons Charlie Patton, Blind Willie McTell and Blind Lemon Jefferson to new listeners in the 1960s and '70s. On Friday, the Indiana trio will continue its tradition of performing at the Vogue on the day after Thanksgiving. Fellow Hoosiers the Easthills and the Stampede String Band will open the show.

Modern Baseball

Modern Baseball will perform on Nov. 28 at Old National Centre.

8 p.m. Nov. 28, Deluxe in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $14, (317) 231-0000, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/107088175.

Formed in 2012, this four-piece pop-punk band started out playing basement shows around Drexel University in Philadelphia before connecting with a larger audience with the album "You're Gonna Miss It All." With another full-length on the way in 2016, Modern Baseball visits Deluxe with touring support from rising punk group Pup.

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Turbo Suit featuring Joel Cummins

Turbo Suit will perform Nov. 27-28 at the Mousetrap.

10 p.m. Nov. 27-28, Mousetrap Bar & Grill, 5565 N. Keystone Ave., $12 to $15 for single day, $20 for both days, (317) 255-3189, thingstodo.indystar.com/events/106581325.

Turbo Suit plays a pair of post-Thanksgiving gigs with keyboardist Joel Cummins of Umphrey’s McGee fame. Known for a distinctive approach to live electronic music, the band formerly known as Cosby Sweater released its “Out Here” album in March. The recording features collaborations with Cummins and fellow Umphrey's members Jake Cinninger and Andy Farag.