DJ VADIM Straight outta Russia.

Now that the summer concert season (or what's left of it in today's downsized world) is over, it's time to look to the fall line-up of concerts. While there's a dearth of shows destined to pack the arenas, there's an eclectic group of acts scheduled to swing through town between now and Thanksgiving, keeping the fall slate busy as always. (They don't call it Rocktober for nothin'.)

The two big arena shows scheduled for September include the return of art-metal icons Tool, who play the Wolstein Center on September 25, and former Pink Floyd singer Roger Waters, who comes to Quicken Loans Arena on September 27 to play the seminal Floyd album The Dark Side of the Moon in its entirety. Not sure why Waters can't just get back with David Gilmour and the guys, but I'm sure bad blood and big money have something to do with it.

There's plenty of action on the club level in September, too. Little Steven brings his traveling garage-rock showcase featuring the Zombies, the Vacancies, the Gore Girls, the Mooney Suzuki and the Woggles to the Beachland Ballroom (September 15), Hatebreed preaches to the hardcore faithful at the Agora Theatre (September 16), emo rappers (you read that right) Gym Class Heroes play the Grog Shop (September 21), and singer-songwriter Josh Ritter returns to town to Finney Chapel (September 20) and the Kent Stage (September 21). Wu-Tang alumnus Method Man is at the House of Blues (September 26), and there's also the return of British rockers Kasabian to the Grog Shop (September 24) and an appearance by '70s singer-songwriter Jesse Colin Young at the Winchester (September 26). The month ends with the annual Nintendo Fusion Tour, which this year includes up-and-coming acts like Hawthorne Heights, Relient K, Emery, Plain White T's and the Sleeping. It's at Tower City Amphitheater on September 30.

Hawthorne Heights - Headliners on the Nintendo tour.

October starts strong with SoCal punk rockers Social Distortion, who added a second date at the House of Blues on October 4 after the October 3 show sold out. That first week of October is a busy one that includes shows by indie rockers Ladytron (Beachland Ballroom, October 4), cheesy pop singer Nick Lachey (Palace Theatre, October 4), jazz guitarist Larry Coryell (Nighttown, October 4), heavy-hitters Six Feet Under (Peabody's, October 5), indie rocker Jenny Lewis (House of Blues, October 5), indie singer-songwriter Richard Buckner (Parish Hall, October 6), and classic rockers Chicago (Akron Civic Theatre, October 7) and Alice Cooper (Tower City Amphitheater, October 8).

The rest of the month continues to be busy with the always outlandish rockabilly band the Red Elvises (Wilbert's, October 11), Juana Molina and Adem (Grog Shop, October 13) and country singer (and former Clevelander) Stacie Collins (Winchester, October 13). The Drive-By Truckers and the Drams make for a great Americana double bill (House of Blues, October 14). Speaking of Americana, acclaimed singer-songwriter Will Kimbrough (October 14), who titled his new disc Americanitis, plays Wilbert's that week, too. The month comes to an end with a tribute to Frank Zappa featuring his son, Dweezil, and guitarist Steve Vai (Canton Palace Theatre, October 22), former Grateful Dead member Bob Weir (Agora Theatre, October 24) and Russian-born DJ Vadim (B-Side Liquor Lounge, October 25). Halloween gets its own special shows as Los Straitjackets play the Beachland (October 27) in a Halloween spectacular, the Barenaked Ladies return to rock the Wolstein Center with former Soul Coughing frontman Mike Doughty (October 28) and the Red Hot Chili Peppers rock out with their socks on at the Q on Halloween itself.

By November, things start to wind down, but there's still a healthy selection of shows that range from the Cuban jazz of Jane Bunnett (Nighttown, November 2) to the trendy alt-rock of She Wants Revenge and Placebo (Agora Theatre, November 4) and the return of grungemeisters Alice in Chains (House of Blues, November 9). Popular indie rockers such as Hot Chip (Grog Shop, November 7), the Decemberists (Agora Theatre, November 9) and the Black Keys (Agora Theatre, November 18) are also slated to come through town. The month closes when Gary Puckett (Agora Theatre, November 25) celebrates the Agora's 40th anniversary.

December brings the Yuletide tradition of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra back to town. The prog-rock group plays Quicken Loans Arena on December 1 and 2, with two shows scheduled for the latter date. More Christmas-themed concerts already confirmed include smooth jazz guy Peter White (Palace Theatre, December 11) and local guitar hero Neil Zaza (Palace Theatre, December 16). S