Welcome to “Seven in Seven,” where each Friday we take a look at shows coming to the region over the next week. Whether your musical tastes are rock and roll, jazz, heavy metal, singer-songwriter or indie, there’ll always be something to check out in the coming days.
Here are seven of the best for the week beginning July 2:
The Pains of Being Pure at Heart – July 2 at World Cafe Live – Downstairs
Indie pop outfit The Pains of Being Pure at Heart have long set the benchmark for big-hearted, idealistic pop songs. This July sees the release of their fourth album, The Echo of Pleasure, which has the band push beyond their many inspirations and embrace their role as indie pop heroes in their own right. Showcasing the songwriting of frontman Kip Berman, The Pains’ are at their most confident and accomplished with a collection of songs that possess something deeper and more satisfying than anything the band has done since their iconic, self-titled debut in 2009.
Nalani & Sarina – July 3 at Levitt Pavilion SteelStacks
It wouldn’t be too far off to say that singer/songwriters Nalani & Sarina were born in stereo: they’re identical mirror twins. Nalani plays her guitar right-handed and Sarina is a lefty. When they’re both singing and strumming, it feels like the song has come to greet the listener with arms wide open. Their video for “Get Away,” a propulsive cut from their most recent EP Scattered World recently won The Freshmen contest on mtvU, and remains in regular rotation on the channel. In the clip – which is akin to their stage show, too – the pair present themselves with the swagger and confidence of an established act who know they’ve got something essential to share.
Wawa Welcome America! Festival – July 4 on The Benjamin Franklin Parkway
For almost 25 years the Wawa Welcome America! Festival has been celebrating freedom in the City of Brotherly Love with a series of free events, including concert performances by some of the biggest names in music. This year is no different with R&B superstar Mary J. Blige headlining. There will also be a special tribute to hometown heroes Boyz II Men, as well as performances by up and coming musicians like Mandy Gonzalez – currently a star in the hit Broadway play Hamilton – Tony DeSare and Luis Figueroa-Roig. And as always, the Philly Pops will be on hand to usher in a night of fireworks.
John Mellencamp – July 6 at the Mann Center for Performing Arts
The perpetually irascible John Mellencamp has survived everything from controlling record labels to a heart attack. Not only did he get through those sorts of things, he has thrived as the defining heartland singer for decades, never selling out and sticking to his beliefs, his prickly persona and common man themes – critics and anyone else who doesn’t like it be damned. This June saw the release of his 23rd LP, Sad Clowns & Hillbillies, which received rave reviews across the board.
Mad Decent Block Party – July 7 at Festival Pier
Record label Mad Decent, which got its start in Philly but is now based in Los Angeles, has been throwing their Mad Decent Block Party for a decade now at cities throughout the world. Though it’s been wildly successful, at the 10 year mark organizers have decided to scale it back and throw it in just two locations; Red Rocks in Colorado and at our very own Festival Pier. Label head Diplo will be headlining, and Flosstradamus, 4B, Nadastrom, Swizzymack and Matt Ox will also be performing. The forecast calls for it to be, well, “mad decent.”
Vans Warped Tour – July 7 at BB&T Pavilion
Since 1995, the Vans Warped Tour has been America’s premiere traveling music and lifestyle festival of the summer, breaking up-and-coming indie talent as well as showcasing major established artists. This year will feature dozens of bands over in Camden, from well-known ones like Hawthorne Heights, Hatebreed, Sick of it All and Save Ferris to upstarts like Knocked Loose and Trophy Eyes. Also on hand will be various band doing signings, giveaways as far as the eye can see, and even a waterslide to help beat the heat!
Mitski – July 7 at Union Transfer
Born in Japan, Mitski grew up surrounded by her father’s Smithsonian folk recordings and mother’s 1970s Japanese pop CDs in a family that moved frequently. She spent stints in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Malaysia, China and Turkey among other countries before coming to New York to study composition at SUNY Purchase. Last year, the indie rocker released her fourth studio effort, Puberty 2, featuring brilliant, soulful and complex tracks that will draw out emotions in even the most hardened listeners.
