It really seemed like things were on the right path, didn’t it Sure, we were all still wearing masks in the bars, clubs, and theaters. At least, when we weren’t furtively pulling them down to take a quick swig of beer, or glaring at the inconsiderate asshats who kept their masks permanently under their chins while packed in close quarters in front of the stage. But shows were back! We could finally see our favorite musicians once more plying their trade for appreciative crowds.
And then: omicron. One step forward, one giant round Greek letter back. By the time you read these words, the surge from this latest variant may have subsided. But for now, there’s a tough moral calculus at work in deciding to go see a live band or artist. Staying safe should be everyone’s top priority—and logic dictates that means staying home again, for now anyway—but for a lot of musicians, touring is their livelihood. And many are locked into tours they can’t afford not to continue. So you have to balance wanting to support artists with wanting to do your part to keep COVID in check. If you do go, please abide by the strictest of COVID protocols.
But this wave won’t last forever. And there are a bunch of great artists hitting the road in 2022, ready to remind you of the (clichéd but true) power of live music. Here is a partial list of the acts we’re most excited to see in coming months; we’d include every band we want to check out, but a list 200 names long is pretty unwieldy. So consider this our must-see checklist; feel free to add your own unmissable acts in the comments. Hopefully, we’ll all be out soon, safely head-banging the night away.
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Tyler, The Creator
The man responsible for the fourth-best album of 2021 is hitting the road, bringing the eclectic beauty of Call Me If You Get Lost to giant venues that he’ll doubtless make feel like sweaty nightclubs before the evening is over. On February 10, Tyler, The Creator will kick off the North American leg of the tour, where he’ll be joined by opening acts Kali Uchis, Vince Staples, and Teezo Touchdown. [Tickets available here.]
Olivia Rodrigo
Speaking of artists who made our best albums of 2021 list, Olivia Rodrigo is also finally heading out in support of her massively successful debut record, SOUR. Unfortunately, the tour sold out almost instantly, so you’ll have to get creative if you want to see the “Drivers License” singer live. May we suggest scouring your local Twitter feed the day of, in order to see if anyone’s holding an extra ticket [Tour dates here.]
Pavement
Okay, this one’s significant: It’s been 10 years since Pavement last went on tour, so this is not just a rare reunion—it’s one of the “who knows if you’ll ever get to see them again” situations. In September and October, they’ll be traveling across the U.S., before venturing off to Europe. The landmark indie-rock outfit is hitting most major cities in America, so hopefully even if you live in a rural area, you’re not far away from getting to hear “We Dance” in person. [Tour dates here.]
Big Thief
Big Thief’s upcoming release, the mouthful of a double LP Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You, isn’t due for another month, but the band is already gearing up for a massive tour. After spending February and March in Europe, it’ll return to the States for April and May, to ply its distinctive version of intimate Americana. (Though new singles like “Time Escaping” suggest an expanded musical palette this time out.) [Tour dates here.]
Snail Mail
If you’re noticing a certain amount of overlap with our best albums of 2021 list, well, that’s hardly surprising. Who wouldn’t want to see the people responsible for some of the best music of the previous year That certainly includes Lindsey Jordan, a.k.a. Snail Mail, and her band, as they hit the road beginning in April for a world tour. Honestly, we’re just happy to be able to catch the group live—in November 2021, Jordan was forced to cancel the first two legs of her Valentine tour due to surgery to remove some vocal polyps. [Tour dates here.]
Earl Sweatshirt and Action Bronson
Longtime friends and collaborators Earl Sweatshirt and Action Bronson decided to make touring a family affair of sorts in 2022. The pair has planned a co-headlining tour starting in late January and wrapping in early March. They’ll be joined by The Alchemist and Boldy James—though for us, the real draw will be the chance to hear Earl spit verses from his upcoming album, SICK, due out January 14. [Tour dates here.]
Billie Eilish
If you think we’re immune to the draw of one of the biggest pop stars on the planet, you are sorely mistaken. Spectacle is spectacle, and we’re as curious as anyone to see what Eilish puts together for her massive Happier Than Ever tour. (Also, the new record is really good, which always helps.) Barring any COVID-related delays, Eilish is going on the road starting in February, before jumping across the pond in June. [Tour dates here.]
Bon Iver
We’ve been waiting for another opportunity to see Justin Vernon take Bon Iver on the road, and 2022 finally looks like that chance. Starting at the end of March and wending its way sporadically through the rest of the year, the tour will find Vernon and company hitting up the U.S. and Europe, though we’re mostly curious to see if a legion of Swifties will be in attendance, thanks to the musician’s presence on both folklore and evermore. [Tour dates here.]
HAIM
We may have recently gotten an up-close look at Alana Haim—and her sisters—in the recent Paul Thomas Anderson film Licorice Pizza (one of The A.V. Club’s best films of 2021), but we’re still excited to see the trio getting back onstage in 2022. This is the first chance to see HAIM tour the music from 2020’s excellent Women In Music Pt. III, and the sisters are bringing some great opening acts along with them, including Faye Webster, Sasami, Waxahatchee, Buzzy Lee, and Princess Nokia. [Tour dates here.]
Yves Tumor
If you have yet to discover the inspired genre-mashup perversity of Yves Tumor, then perhaps the artist’s 2022 tour is the opportunity you’ve needed. Heaven To A Tortured Mind was one of our favorite records of 2020, an electro-pop-groove masterwork that never stopped mining different sounds and styles for inspiration. Tumor is no stranger to fascinating reinventions, and this tour—with its attendant oddball ’90s-inspired promo video—promises to be as fantastic as Tumor’s music. [Tour dates here.]
Arooj Aftab
Arooj Aftab’s latest album, Vulture Prince, was one of our favorites last year. The Brooklyn-based Pakistani composer fuses elements of traditional Pakistani music, jazz, classical, and more into a remarkably cohesive and singular style. Seeing her live will likely be even more entrancing than her recorded works—if we had to pick one artist above all to really endorse on this list of tours, Aftab might just be it. [Tour dates here.]
Sleaford Mods
If it’s a raucous dance party you’re looking for, Sleaford Mods have got you covered. Combining post-punk guitars with groovy drum machines and glitchy synth squawks, the duo has made a career of dark, pounding electro-punk in the early-aughts vein. The British act is hitting its home continent first, but will arrive on U.S. shores in late April for a month of doubtless high-energy shows—the kind where the skinny-jeans-wearing kids near you might actually bust out some moves instead of standing still with crossed arms. [Tour dates here.]
Current Joys
The 2021 album Voyager marked a noticeable uptick in both urgency and tempo from Nick Rattigan’s Current Joys. So naturally, we’re excited to find out how those higher-energy tunes translate into the live setting. Rattigan and company will set out in the back half of January, criss-crossing the U.S. before heading to Europe. Feeling bad rarely feels this good. [Tour dates here.]
Saba
Rapper Saba has been a longtime A.V. Club favorite, and not just because the artist shares our hometown base of Chicago—both the location and Midwestern sensibility are deep in the DNA of the site. It’s also simply because he continues to be one of the most thoughtful and engaging emcees out there, so we’ll never miss a chance to catch Saba on tour. This one starts out in Europe on March 1, before landing back in the States for a two-month stretch throughout April and May. [Tour dates here.]