April showers Bring May concerts: Best Shows To See As School Year Winds Down

MJ Lenderman & This is Lorele, Photo by Amanda M Hatfield

In less than a month, classes will be over, and the Spring 2025 semester will be behind us. Though we still have to get through finals to get there, a great way to fast-track the time until summer break is to see a concert.

May has an unreal lineup of artists touring in the tri-state area, so there's sure to be at least one show for you. Check out our concert picks below for dates requiring necessary attendance next month.

1. Charli XCX

Still feeling the FOMO from missing the Sweat Tour? Here's the next best thing: four nights of Charli XCX live in Brooklyn, New York. Fresh off two unbelievable, guest-filled sets at Coachella, Charli is returning to New York from April 30 to May 4 to spread "brat" energy.

This summer may not have the same "brat" phenomenon, but Charli's live sets have only become more of a spectacle. Her setlist is "brat"-dominated, but she leaves plenty of room for classics like Icona Pop's "I Love It (feat. Charli XCX)" and "Vroom Vroom." Seeing Charli XCX will release any finals week flurries.

2. Djo

After years of covering his face on stage, Djo is ready to be himself. You may know him as Joe Keery, but his music career has been building steadily for years, and his most recent album, "The Crux," is the pinnacle — or better yet — the crux of his career so far.

"The Crux" goes to places his past work hinted at and finds a Paul McCartney and Julian Casablancas-esque groove that most indie musicians fail at recreating. Songs like "Link" reflect the energy of a Strokes cut, while "Charlie's Garden" has obvious "Ram" influences. His setlist ranges between all ages of rock, making for a cohesive set that's just as dramatic as his acting. All three of his May dates in Brooklyn are sold out, but it is still worth doing everything you can to see him.

3. Kendrick Lamar & SZA

Your parents may have bragged to you about attending the 1987 Def Jam Tour or the 2000 Up in Smoke Tour for their legendary lineups, but now it's your chance to embed yourself in hip-hop history with Kendrick Lamar and SZA's Grand National Tour.

Hot off their own new LPs and chart-topping collab, Lamar's "luther (with sza)," this TDE duo touring together is a dream come true. The icing on the cake … Mustard is opening. The Grand National Tour is the tour of the year, and it's coming to MetLife Stadium on May 8.

4. MJ Lenderman

Brace yourself because MJ Lenderman and his band, The Wind, are prepared to blow you away. Lenderman struck a chord with the indie rock community last fall with his album, "Manning Fireworks." Songs like "Wristwatch" and "Joker Lips" gave listeners a fever … Let's call it Lendermania.

It's a hard disease to shake once you've heard Lenderman and his Jason Molina crossed with Neil Young-style songs. Lenderman and The Wind are not shy of the stage either. In 2023, Lenderman released "And the Wind (Live and Loose!)," a live album full of lengthy takes on deep cuts, mostly from his 2022 fan favorite, "Boat Songs."

They're starting a nearly sold-out North American tour in Brooklyn on April 28 and will play Philadelphia on May 17 with opener This Is Lorelei. It's one of those two-for-one concerts where the opener is almost as great as the headliner. Check out Lenderman's cover of "Dancing In The Club" for a taste of what to expect.

5. Vampire Weekend

Anyone who sees Vampire Weekend will leave the show surprised at how good the band is live. The group's studio tracks are tight, and its lyrics are clever and contemporary, but it's in the live show that the art takes form.

Vampire Weekend is made up of two drummers, a mess of guitarists and a pair of multi-instrumentalists who create arrangements you don't hear in the studio. Last year's release, "Only God Was Above Us," marked an intriguing shift in Vampire Weekend's discography, far from where the group started. Back in 2007, the band members were running on the highs of their early 20s when everything was fast-paced, and they honored indie rock giants like Phoenix and The White Stripes.

Today, Vampire Weekend is not afraid to mix in some oddities and produce a 2-hour-plus show of deep cuts and covers. Catch one of the most enthusiastic sets in rock in Philadelphia on May 30 and 31.

There you have it — our picks for the best regional concerts you should see as we roll into summer. If none of these shows interest you, fear not, as there are sure to be plenty of great concerts hitting the tri-state area soon!

(Originally published for The Daily Targum, April 2025)