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 Dec. 3:
Narcotic Wasteland – Dec. 3 at Kung Fu Necktie
Narcotic Wasteland started as a side project Dallas Toler-Wade had been working the past few years when he was not touring or in the writing/studio mode with the technical death metal band Nile. The more songs he put together for the then new project, the more he wanted to put a full lineup together and take it out on the road. The metal outfit’s overall concept is very reflective of the city where bandmembers grew up in Fayetteville, N.C.
Dustin Lynch – Dec. 3 at The Fillmore
Dustin Lynch occupies a unique place in today’s country music. Thanks to his classic sensibilities, he’s been heralded as the heir to George Strait’s throne. Yet with one listen to his music and it’s obvious the young Tennessean knows how to combine his traditional influences with an edgy intensity that places him at the vanguard of today’s contemporary country scene. His third LP, Current Mood, came out this past September, and landed one spot shy of topping the country music charts.
Morrissey – Dec. 4 at The Fillmore
The middle of November saw the release of Morrissey’s 11th solo album, Low in High School. And while it’s getting mixed to positive reviews, there’s little question that the singer’s status as legend is already cemented. His former outfit The Smiths were one of the most influential acts in the 80s, and his own works, with hits like “Suedehead,” “The Last of the International Playboys” and “Irish Blood, English Heart,” have him as an enduring artist of epic stature.
The National – Dec. 4 at Verizon Hall
Indie rock act The National became the hipster act of the decade after moving from Cincinnati, Ohio to Brooklyn, N.Y. and releasing the masterwork Boxer in 2007. That was their fourth album, and a decade later, they firmly retain their position as favorites not just to the hipster sect, but to mainstream music fans and media. Sleep Well Beast came out this past September to overwhelmingly positive reviews, proving not just that they have staying power, but that The National are a band for a generation.
Wage War – Dec. 4 at The Foundry
If you think that you’ve already heard it all when it comes to heavy music, you just haven’t heard Wage War. The Florida metalcore band formed in 2013 and began releasing songs intent on exploring both personal to political issues in a way that’s as raw and honest as the music that supports them. In a heavy music scene that’s increasingly formulaic, Wage War pride themselves on the fact that they are influenced by a diverse range of artists. To admit to stepping outside of their own genre, and to do it proudly, is just one more element that sets them apart from the pack.
LCD Soundsystem – Dec. 5, 6 and 7 at The Fillmore
Led by James Murphy, LCD Soundsystem is currently touring in support of its fourth LP and first No. 1 album, American Dream. Murphy founded the dance-rock outfit 15 years ago, releasing the classic 12-inch single “Losing My Edge,” a relentless groove topped with a monologue cataloguing the trendsetting bands and rare records discovered by its protagonist in his younger, cooler prime. Their third album, This Is Happening was supported by a massive world tour culminating in an instantly sold out marathon farewell show at Madison Square Garden, documented by the feature film Shut Up and Play the Hits and the audio compendium The Long Goodbye. The hiatus ended with the surprise 2015 “Christmas Will Break Your Heart” holiday single, followed by a 2016 tour featuring headline appearances at Coachella, Lollapalooza and more.
Mogwai – Dec. 9 at The Theatre of Living Arts
Glasgow, Scotland experimental rock band Mogwai formed in 1995, and in the two decades since, they’ve established themselves as one of the most important and influential underground artists of the past quarter century. In addition to the critical and commercial success of their many studio albums, Their music has appeared in dozens of iconic films, and they’ve scored several high-profile productions – most notably the French supernatural drama, “Les Revenants” (remade in America as The Returned). Mogwai are the rare band who seamlessly infuses the spirit and integrity of punk rock into the patient, cinematic bombast that can unquestionably be called their own.