The Profiler

The Suspect: Mates of State

This California husband/wife, organ/drums duo just released Mountaintops in early September. Pitchfork calls the album’s first single, “Palomino,” “celestial pop with a chorus as big as the sky,” and praises the band’s songwriting and seamless harmonizing.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Monday, October 3 at 9.p.m.

RIYD: Belle and Sebastian, Camera Obscura.

You Should Go If: You and your partner celebrate more than 10 different “anniversaries”; you’ve been making a concerted effort to cut down on the number of “!” and   you write in your texts; the comments you leave on your boyfriend’s Facebook page have friends pleading with you to “get an inbox”; Your dream job: a Build-a-Bear “Pawesome” Sales Associate.

The Suspect: Bonnie “Prince” Billy

Will Oldham (aka BPB) is one of the most interesting and prolific artists recording today. A recent New Yorker profiler called him a subterranean “canonical figure,” and pointed out his overall awesomeness by saying, “Johnny Cash covered him, Bjork has championed him, and Madonna, he suspects, has quoted him.” 

Can Be Found: Marshall High Studios, Wednesday, Oct. 5 at 7 p.m.

RIYD: Neil Young, Bon Iver

You Should Go If: You have rights of first refusal to all the coolest thrift shops in town; your belly laugh makes your table the envy of everyone else in the restaurant; your parents encouraged you to major in philosophy because they thought it might help you focus; your dream job … knitting sweaters for everyone on the Island of Misfit Toys.

The Suspect: Big Sean

This young rapper tracked Kanye West down at a Detroit radio station to perform freestyle. Two years later, West signed him to his label G.O.O.D. music. After the release of a couple of mixtapes, his first studio album dropped earlier this summer, and features guest appearances by West, Lupe Fiasco and Wiz Khalifa.

Can Be Found: The Orange Peel, Sunday Oct. 2 at 9 p.m.

RIYD: Kid Cudi, Lupe Fiasco.

You Should Go If: You chose your bank solely on the basis of lollipop selection; you’ve been covering your gigantic cell phone and car insurance bills by secretly selling everything in your parents’ basement on eBay; you can’t bring yourself to sit through even one inning of a game but you own 23 baseball jerseys; your dream job … exotic dancer talent scout.

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