Fall is traditionally a time when original music clubs in Buffalo really ramp up the action. With the major arena, shed and free outdoor shows that cram our summer calendar fading away for the time being, and the weather less of a factor in urging outside (read: "not in a club") activity, our concert clubs and live music bars kick into high gear.With the move indoors comes a simultaneous shift away from the mainstream pop, classic rock and country shows that fill the warmer months. This, in a sense, is the time of year most redolent of what makes Buffalo a musical mecca — that exciting and slightly subversive feeling of getting away with something, of being mice giddily playing while the cat is away. As is the case with many healthy arts scenes, the most vibrant and visceral art often happens a few steps to the left of the spotlight, in the forgiving and mildly dangerous shadows. So there may be fewer people at club shows in the fall than there are at free outdoor shows in the summer. But that’s as it should be. The independent spirit that has always informed our cultural life is evident in the work being done by area club owners and promoters, who reward live music devotees with a rich, variegated lineup of smaller, hipper, and often, more exciting shows. If it can indeed feel, during the summer, that the "cooler" shows are skipping over our town in favor of bookings in Toronto, or even Cleveland come the fall, that feeling flies south. Compare our roster of significant club shows between now and Thanksgiving with that of a major market like Toronto, and you’ll find we don’t come up lacking in bookings reflecting the finest in contemporary indie rock, techno, livetronica, jam band, alt-rock and folk. Local bands shine in this environment as well, because the rising tide saves all ships. There are natural convergences at work here, because most of these local promoters are veterans of the Buffalo independent music scene themselves, folks whose sense of what is cool and worthwhile developed over years spent toughing it out as members of Buffalo’s musical tribe. This fact lends an air of homegrown, region-specific integrity to the vast menu of club-based music on offer during the fall. Not only is this year no exception to that rule, it’s in fact a deepening of the tradition. If you, dear music-loving freak, thought you were gonna take a break after this insanely busy summer of concerts, think again. It only gets worse! Um, or better, I mean! You should follow the Gusto club and concert listings closely between now and Thanksgiving, since shows are being added all the time. But here are a few of my picks for must-see club shows this fall. Take a deep breath, folks. We’re off!Jeff Miers’ club picks* White Bison, Cosmic Shakedown and BearhunterTonight, Nietzsche’s, 248 Allen St.Three killer Western New York bands in the garage-rock/stoner-rock/psychedelic blues mold, at Buffalo’s longest-serving original music club. That should ease you into the fall with your dignity intact.* Whitehorse, featuring Melissa McClelland & Luke DoucetSept. 29, Mohawk Place, 47 E. Mohawk St.Satisfy your inner Canadian troubadour not once but twice as legendary former Veal frontman Luke Doucet teams with the lovely Melissa McClelland, who just happens to be his wife, for some eminently gorgeous, harmony-laced alt-country.* Jackie GreeneOct. 4, Tralf Music Hall, 622 Main St.A veteran, even at his tender age, of some killer shows with Phil & Friends will bring the soulfulness that belies his years to the wonderfully intimate Tralf. This is a very cool booking.* The Adrian Belew Power Trio with Tony Levin and Stick MenOct. 5, Tralf Music HallProgressive, virtuosic rock doesn’t come any finer than this double bill. Levin’s Stick Men and Belew’s power-trio can cover all the prog bases. Just think of the combined pedigree — everything from King Crimson to David Bowie to Frank Zappa to Peter Gabriel. Nice!* The Sadies with Jesse Sykes & the Sweet HereafterOct. 11, Ninth Ward @ Babeville, 341 Delaware Ave.Who doesn’t love the Sadies? The Toronto-based outfit has created some of the most enduring alt-country and roots rock of the past two decades. Be sure to get there early enough to see the opening set from Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter. That band’s "Marble Son" disc is one of the year’s most intriguing.* The Chris Robinson BrotherhoodOct. 14, Town Ballroom, 681 Main St.The Black Crowes singer is promising a blend of old and new stuff for this maiden tour of his new band, the Chris Robinson Brotherhood. The group is comprised of singer Robinson, guitarist Neal Casal, keyboardist Adam MacDougall, George Sluppick on drums and bassist Mark "Muddy" Dutton. Expect a blend of Southern heavy soul, jammy rock and plenty of roll. You’ll hear some Crowes stuff, but Robinson is all about inhabiting the musical moment, so this will not be a hits-fest.* Infected MushroomNov. 16, Town BallroomThere’s no way I’m missing this one! This livetronica outfit blends psychedelia with dance music and searing heavy rock. The band’s shows are already the stuff of legend. This gig should add to that legend.* A Weekend with Wasserman, featuring Grateful Dead/Ratdog collaborator Rob WassermanOct. 7 and 9, Duke’s Bohemian Grove Bar, 253 Allen St.Ratdog veteran and revered upright bassist Rob Wasserman playing two shows, with some of Buffalo’s finest musicians sitting in? Yes, please!Fall concert calendarFollowing is the listing of fall concerts at area concert venues. Music clubs, including Nietzsche’s, Mohawk Place and the Sportsmen’s Tavern, put on live events on a regular basis. Look for listings in the Calendar section of Gusto, as well as online at buffalonews.com/gusto.Saturday* 8 p.m. Living With the Past: The Music of Jethro Tull, Tralf Music Hall.Sunday* 8 p.m. These United States with Southeast Engine and Son of the Sun, Ninth Ward at Babeville.Tuesday* 7 p.m. Big D & the Kids Table with Have Nots and Lightning Killed My Parents, Town Ballroom. * 7:30 p.m. The Human League and Men Without Hats, Riviera Theatre.Wednesday* 7 p.m. Tapes ‘n Tapes, Ninth Ward at Babeville.Next Friday* 8 p.m. Tierney Sutton Band, benefit for the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Blue Room at Kleinhans Music Hall.Sept. 24* 8 p.m. Starship with Mickey Thomas, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.Sept. 25* 7 p.m. Foo Fighters with Rise Against and Mariachi el Bronx, First Niagara Center.* 8 p.m. Scott Henderson, Tralf.Sept. 26* 7 p.m. Dio Disciples, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Bruce Cockburn, Tralf.Sept. 27* 7:30 p.m. k.d. lang & the Siss Boom Bang, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.* 8 p.m. Yuck, Ninth Ward at Babeville.Sept. 28* 8 p.m. Conspirator, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. The Milk Carton Kids with Gaby Moreno, Ninth Ward at Babeville.Sept. 30* 7 p.m. Sean McCann & the Committed, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Liza Minnelli, Seneca Events Center, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.Oct. 1* 7 p.m. The Head and the Heart with Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Grand Illusion, Tralf.* 8 p.m. Rare Earth, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.Oct. 2* 7:30 p.m. Keb’ Mo’ Band, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.Oct. 4* 7 p.m. Matt Nathanson, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Jackie Greene, Tralf.Oct. 5* 8 p.m. Adrian Belew Power Trio and Stick Men, Tralf.* 8 p.m. Mac Miller with Casey Veggies and the Come Up, Rapids Theatre.Oct. 6* 8 p.m. Zeds Dead, Town Ballroom.Oct. 7 and 8* 8 p.m. Gino Vannelli, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.* 8 p.m. Tony Galla with Bobby Militello and Bella Buscarino, Tralf.Oct. 8* 8 p.m. Neil Sedaka, Seneca Events Center, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel. * 8 p.m. Great Performers Series: Madeleine Peyroux, Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.Oct. 9* 6 p.m. Mushroomhead with Psychostick, Motograter, Ventana and Tenafly Viper, Town Ballroom.Oct. 10* 8 p.m. Skrillex, Town Ballroom.Oct. 11* 8 p.m. Bitch, Ninth Ward at Babeville.Oct. 13* 7 p.m. Minus the Bear with the Velvet Teen, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. The Rosebuds, Tralf.Oct. 14* 7 p.m. The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Brantley Gilbert, Rapids Theatre.* 8 p.m. Tanya Diona, Tralf.* 8 p.m. Parachute and Kate Voegele. Asbury Hall at Babeville.Oct. 15* 3 and 8 p.m. Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.* 6 p.m. Fran Cosmo & Hurtsmile, Rapids Theatre.* 7 p.m. Rick Springfield, Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel, Salamanca.* 8 p.m. Great Performers Series: Jeff Lorber Fusion, Performing Arts Center at Rockwell Hall.* 8 p.m. Junior Boys, Tralf.Oct. 16* 7:30 p.m. Mike Posner with the Brain Trust, Club Infinity.* 7:30 p.m. Tedeschi Trucks Band, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.Oct. 17* 7:30 p.m. Fall WYRK Acoustic Concert with Jerrod Niemann, Brett Eldredge and Craig Campbell, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.Oct. 18* 8 p.m. Butch Walker and the Black Widows, Tralf.Oct. 20* 7 p.m. Spin Doctors, Town Ballroom.Oct. 22* 8 p.m. Circa Survive with Maps & Atlases and Sleeper Agent, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Larry Carlton Trio, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.* 8 p.m. The Scintas, Riviera Theatre.Oct. 23* 7:30 p.m. Gerald Albright, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.Oct. 25* 6:30 p.m. New Found Glory, Town Ballroom.Oct. 25* 8 p.m. Cyndi Lauper and Dr. John, Kleinhans Music Hall.* 8 p.m. Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Rapids Theatre.Oct. 26* 7 p.m. Yellowcard, Town Ballroom. * 8 p.m. Jon Anderson and Rick Wakeman, Kleinhans Music Hall.Oct. 27* 8 p.m. Guitar Masters Tour with headliner Andy McKee, Tralf.Oct. 28* 7 p.m. Brett Dennen, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Chris Trapper with Kristin Cifelli, Ninth Ward at Babeville.Oct. 29* 8 p.m. Patti LaBelle, Seneca Events Center, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.Oct. 30* 3 p.m. Art of Jazz Series: Houston Person Quartet, Albright-Knox Art Gallery.* 7:30 p.m. George Winston, Asbury Hall at Babeville.Nov. 2* 6:30 p.m. Panic! At The Disco with Foxy Shazam, Town Ballroom.* 7 p.m. Colt Ford, Rapids Theatre.Nov. 3* 7:30 p.m. Bela Fleck & the Flecktones, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.Nov. 4* 7 p.m. Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. An Evening with Joan Baez, Kleinhans Music Hall.Nov. 5* 7 p.m. Badfish with Scotty Don’t, Town Ballroom.* 7 p.m. Lindsey Buckingham, Seneca Allegany Casino and Hotel.* 8 p.m. Coco Montoya, Tralf.* 8 p.m. Patty Smyth and Scandal, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.Nov. 11* 7 p.m. Mat Kearney, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Phil Vassar (from May 20), Rapids Theatre.Nov. 12* 8 p.m. Fare Trade, Tralf.* 8 p.m. Michael Franks, Bear’s Den, Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel.Nov. 13* 7 p.m. Furthur, First Niagara Center.* 7:30 p.m. Ray Davies with guest the 88, Mainstage Theatre, UB Center for the Arts.Nov. 15* 6:30 p.m. Anthrax and Testament with Death Angel, Town Ballroom.Nov. 18* 6 p.m. Feed the City with Willie Nile, Ron Hawkins & the Do Good Assassins, Jesse Malin & the St. Marks Social and more, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Bettye LaVette, Tralf.Nov. 19* 8 p.m. Scythian with Enter the Haggis, Tralf.Nov. 21* 7:30 p.m. Andre Rieu, First Niagara Center.Nov. 22* 7 p.m. Social Distortion with Chuck Ragan and Suedehead, Town Ballroom.* 8 p.m. Tommy Castro Band, Tralf.Nov. 25* 8 p.m. Kim Mitchell, Tralf.* 8 p.m. The Trews, Town