R.I.P., mp3 – oh, and check these concerts

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If you’re a devoted Rockin’ Out reader (and surely you are!) you may have noticed my obsession with my iPod and with Apple products in general. Every song in my iTunes is labeled correctly. Every few months I go on a rampage and reassign genre categories to all my 7,000-plus mp3s – but honestly, how many variations on “folk” do I need? Folk rock? Freak folk? Indie folk? Folktronica?

About six weeks ago, however, the Republic of Burnhamstan experienced a musical meltdown, as Prime Minister Emily began a-clickin’ on her iPod, and nothing happened. It seems those random crashes it had been experiencing over the past few months finally took their toll, and it died most dishonorably.

I sent it back to Apple, since my AppleCare lasts through December, but they sent it right back to me and essentially said “Tough noogies, we ain’t fixin’ it.” I am so, so, breaking up with Steve Jobs. He is no longer my imaginary billionaire boyfriend. I’m going back to a simpler age. A time when we had to use CDs and tapes to listen to our music, and we had to read in the newspaper about when our favorite bands were touring near us – just like I’m about to do for you, since this does happen to be a column about live music, and not some girl complaining that her iPod died.

Technology, schmechnology. That is, until I get my hands on a new 80 GB.

Cumberland County Civic Center, Portland (www.ticketmaster.com)

Breaking Benjamin, Three Days Grace, Seether and Red, Oct. 28.

John Mellencamp and Los Lobos, Dec. 11.

Ozzy Osbourne, Rob Zombie and In This Moment, Jan. 3

The Station, Portland (www.eye9d.com)

Walls of Jericho, Suicide Silence, Love in Full Effect and the Agony Scene, Nov. 1

Silverstein, From Autumn to Ashes, Strike Anywhere, Nov. 2

From First to Last, Vanna, Bless the Fall and A Skylit Drive, Nov. 3

Drowning Pool, Nov. 6

Ky-Mani Marley, Nov. 9

Dillinger Escape Plan, A Life Once Lost, Genghis Tron and Stolen Babies, Dec. 20

Space Gallery, Portland (www.space538.org)

The Thermals, Oct. 29.

Castanets and Deer Tick, Nov. 7.

Ted Leo-Pharmacists, Dec. 2.

Merrill Auditorium, Portland (www.porttix.com)

Charlie Musselwhite, Mavis Staples, North Mississippi All-Stars and Joe Krown, Nov. 14

Cake and Agent Ribbons, Dec. 5

103 Ultra Lounge, Orono (www.eye9d.com)

GWAR and Horse the Band, Nov. 5

Hawthorne Heights and Amber Pacific, Nov. 6

Nonpoint, Skindred, Ankla and Karnivool, Nov. 25

Androscoggin Bank Colisee, Lewiston (www.thecolisee.com)

Lamb of God, Killswitch Engage, DevilDriver and Soilwork, Dec. 1

The Kave, Bucksport (www.myspace.com/thekave)

Terror at the Kave, Nov. 7

Camden Opera House, Camden (www.camdenoperahouse.com)

Derek Trucks Band, Nov. 13

Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield (www.stonemountainartscenter.com)

Loudon Wainwright III, Nov. 11

Susan Tedeschi, Nov. 13

Richie Havens, Dec. 2

State Street Church, Portland (www.mktix.com)

Suzanne Vega, Dec. 9

Grand Theatre, Ellsworth (www.grandonline.org)

Roomful of Blues, Nov. 23

Shemekia Copeland, Dec. 1