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 March 18:
K.Flay – March 18 at Union Transfer
Since making her debut in 2010, lo-fi indie pop artist K.Flay has spun fearlessly detailed lyrics that show the bright and dark of the world in her head. For her second full-length, last year’s Every Where Is Some Where, the L.A.-based alt-pop/hip-hop artist pushed deeper into introspection while adding an element of political commentary. The result is her most deliberate and dynamic work yet, a thrillingly vital album that channels the frenzy and anxieties of today’s world.
Earthless – March 18 at Underground Arts
Formed in 2001, Earthless has long prided themselves on creating energetic, utterly unique and free thinking instrumental music inspired by an eclectic mix of German krautrock and Japanese heavy blues-rock. The California-based trio has dedicated itself to mastery of the mind-bending jam session, evoking the spirits of Hendrix and Sabbath in equal measure. Named after a song title from vintage New York garage-psych band The Druids of Stonehenge, Earthless will be celebrating the release of their fourth album, Black Heaven, as it drops the day of the Philly show.
Miguel – March 20 at The Fillmore
Grammy Award winning recording artist Miguel first hit the mainstream in 2010 with his infectious single “All I Want Is You,” from his major label debut album of the same name. The song blended a stark hip-hop beat with Miguel’s smooth vocals to form a unique sound that missing from the radio and it ended up establishing him as one of the most unique and soulful voices in modern R&B. Miguel’s fourth album, War & Leisure, came out in December and landed at the top of the Billboard charts.
Fruition – March 21 at World Cafe Live – Upstairs
Early last month, Fruition released their fifth full-length, Watching It All Fall Apart, which sees them attempting to transform pain and heartache into something truly glorious. With their songwriting sharper and more nuanced than ever before – and their American-rooted sonic palette getting more daringly expansive and rocking – the Portland, Ore.-based band’s full-hearted intensity ultimately gives the album a transcendent power. It’s a break-up album for sure, but one that’ll have you coming back again and again.
Katie Toupin – March 21 at Johnny Brenda’s
Following years on the road with Indiana’s Houndmouth as keyboardist and backing vocalist, Katie Toupin left the alt-blues band in 2016. After a brief hiatus while getting settled in Los Angeles, she returned to writing, with an unexpected result in the EP Moroccan Ballroom, which was recorded entirely live during a session at the Village Studios to film some of her newly-written songs. Toupin was so in love with the outcome that she realized she had to release what is a totally authentic expression, with no overdubs or editing. The singer-songwriter is only doing a brief run of dates on the East Coast, so catching her now in such a small spot would be prudent.
Marmozets – March 22 at The Foundry
Marmozets are not what you would call shy. The explosive, dynamic family quintet from Bingley in West Yorkshire in England are tearing up the rock music rule book and rewriting it from the ground up. Inspired by the technical ferocity of bands like The Dillinger Escape Plan and The Mars Volta, they blend this with their own chaotic live show and epic melodies to create a truly inimitable blend of math rock, hardcore and post-punk. A head on collision of two families, the Bottomley brothers (Jack on guitar and Will on bass) have been joined by the MacIntyre siblings (Becca on vocals, Sam on rhythm guitar and Josh on drums) since the tender age of 14, making for an ultra-tight and devastatingly technical unit.
The Strypes – March 24 at Underground Arts
Formed by four friends in Cavan, Ireland and inspired by artists such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and the early Rolling Stones, The Strypes gigged around the pubs, clubs and festivals of Ireland, England and Europe beginning in June 2011, playing a no nonsense set of “speed blues,” mixing reworkings of rhythm and blues classics with their originals. Following their 2013 debut album Snapshot, they played a series of packed venues in the States, and are back for another round, this time supporting their most recent album, last year’s Spitting Image.
