It’s officially fall. The leaves are changing colors, it’s getting a little colder and high schoolers are back to the grind. Between homework, activities and part-time jobs, teens have to find their fun on Friday and Saturday nights.

The good news for them is that there is a cure for that weekend night boredom: ROCK.

Rock concerts in the Kansas City area have been popular with the younger crowd. In fact, there have been two huge rock shows in the past nine days. On Sept. 12, Puddle of Mudd and Rev Theory rocked the Midland Theatre. And in the biggest rock concert since June’s Rock Fest, the Sandstone Amphitheater hosted SummerSlam with seven of the biggest names in hard rock today like Seether, Buckcherry, Shinedown, Saving Abel, Theory of a Deadman and Avenged Sevenfold. The latter band, and its lead singer M. Shadows, is the reason Emily Dreier wanted to go to the show.

“M. Shadows is pretty hot and they play some really cool songs,” says the senior from Mid-Buchanan High School.

Rebecca Drier, who is Emily’s cousin and also a senior at Mid-Buchanan, says she is most excited for this year’s Twisted Christmas show. Last year’s Twisted Christmas featured Alter Bridge, Jackyl and Another Animal at the Uptown Theater. This year’s line-up has yet to be determined, but that doesn’t bother Rebecca.

“I don’t even know who’s playing this year, but I know I want to go,” she says.

Even with Rock Fest and SummerSlam, Kansas City’s most talked about rock concert of the year will fall on Oct. 25 when Metallica plays the Sprint Center. Coming off of the recent release of “Death Magnetic,” Metallica seems to have found a new energy and their old sound.

“They put out their new album and it just sounds like classic Metallica again,” says A.J. Johnson, an 18-year-old fan of the band from Kansas City.

For others, it’s an opportunity to see one of the originators of thrash metal live.

“I’d definitely see Metallica,” says Monica Palmer, an employee at Journeys in St. Joseph. “I’m in to the older stuff, and for younger people like me, it’s a chance to see one the legendary rock bands.”

Lifestyles reporter Shea Conner can be reached at sheaconner@npgco.com

For more information on upcoming concerts, see St. Joe Live on Thursdays or stjoelive.com.