FRIDAY, JUNE 23
Xenia Rubinos/Punch Drunk Tagalongs/Fake Species
When recording her latest effort, Black Terry Cat, singer-songwriter Xenia Rubinos and longtime drummer Marco Buccelli, who produced the album, put in some long hours. Working with engineer Jeremy Loucas, they logged an average of 16 to 17 hours a day for five months to complete the disc. Named after “a giant black scraggly cat” that surprised Rubinos one night at her Brooklyn home, the album allows Rubinos to show how capably she can embrace different genres. She effortlessly shifts from R&B to hip-hop and jazz. The lively album opener, "Romeo," features electronic bleeps and blips along with soulful vocals, making it sound like a cross between Macy Gray and Aphex Twin. (Jeff Niesel), 9 p.m., $10 ADV, $12 DOS. Grog Shop.
We Are the Northern Lights
We Are the Northern Light’s Hadar Orshalimy and Sheldon Low had a long journey of living two different lifestyles prior to We Are The Northern Lights. Orshalimy advised soldiers on proper clean up in case of a nuclear explosion and Low worked an an engineer. Orshalimy and Low decided to pursue solo projects until they collaborated together on “Take Me Home,” a song that unexpectedly made it into the 2013 film Beneath.” Then, the two realized they were meant to collaborate. The duo made its way to a New York cabin in 2016 to "I’m Still Here" and then released an EP of catchy indie pop tunes this year. (Daniela Cacho), 9 p.m., free. The Euclid Tavern.
SATURDAY, JUNE 24
Playing to Vapors Album Release/Paper Morning/Saint Light
With its upper-register vocals and off-kilter tempos, “Switchblade,” the latest single from the Columbus-based indie/math pop band Playing To Vapors has a Mutemath quality to it as the proggy synths contrast with the song’s infectious chorus. Tonight’s show serves as a release party for Shred the Master Design, the follow-up to the 2015 EP A Glitch In the Void. (Niesel), 8:30 p.m., $7 ADV, $10 DOS. Beachland Tavern.
Train/O.A.R./Natasha Bedingfield
You can bet the pop/rock act Train will “play that song” as well as the rest of its many hits when it performs at Blossom tonight. The San Francisco-based band comes to town in support of its tenth studio album, a girl a bottle a boat, which has already yielded the hit “Play That Song,” a catchy number about wanting a DJ to play a popular tune. The band aims to please so expect to hear all of its most popular songs as singer Patrick Monahan leads the audience in sing-alongs and spreads some family friendly love. (Niesel), 7 p.m., $25-$79.50. Blossom.
Tri-C JazzFest: Kamasi Washington
Saxophonist Kamasi Washington takes an ambitious approach on 2015's The Epic, a three-disc album. With its heavy drums and soaring strings, the opening track, "Change of the Guard," sets the tone for the often atonal album. One highlight, the beautiful ballad “The Rhythm Changes,” features singer Patrice Quinn who croons like Billie Holiday; her voice pairs nicely with the song's delicate string arrangement and Washington's tempered solo. In the wake of the album’s release, Washington worked with rapper Kendrick Lamar on his To Pimp a Butterfly, one of the most notable hip-hop records of the past decade. For tonight's show, which is part of Tri-C JazzFest, Washington will bring an eight-piece band to town. He says expect plenty of improv, 6 p.m., $30. Allen Theatre. (Niesel)
SUNDAY, JUNE 25
Kasey Chambers/Garret Kato
With her eleventh studio album, Dragonfly, singer-songwriter Kasey Chambers shows off her musical range. The double disc opens with the bluegrass-inflected “Pompeii” but also delvers into pop, alt-country and rock. She really pushes her voice to the max with the soaring power ballad “You Ain’t Worth Suffering For” and practically yodels her way through "Ain't No Little Girl." Singer-songwriter Paul Kelly produced the album’s first disc and Chambers’ brother produced the second disc, which features her live band, which she'll have in tow with her for tonight's gig. (Niesel), 8 p.m., $22 ADV, $28 DOS. Music Box Supper Club.
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