Music Forecast 5.7–5.13: Ray Wylie Hubbard, Rick Springfield, Bob Dylan, the Lone Bellow, Action Bronson

Ray Wylie Hubbard
The Ruffian’s Misfortune finds Texas singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard sliding into complacency as he nears his 70th year on this planet. The reflective wisdom of “Too Young Ripe, Too Young Rotten” and “Barefoot in Heaven” is a far cry from the malcontented man of previous Hubbard releases. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, though.
Hubbard’s voice retains its grit — even more so now than in past years, with the extra layers of scratches and dirt. And Misfortune still counts so many lyrics inspired by regret and accompanying blues guitar riffs that no one will mistake Hubbard for a cheerful soul. Just try not to weep into your beer Saturday at Knuckleheads.

Saturday, May 9, Knuckleheads Saloon (2715 Rochester, 816-483-1456)

Rick Springfield
If you know Rick Springfield only for his 1981 smash hit “Jessie’s Girl,” that’s probably enough to convince you to spend Sunday night with him at the Midland. In case you need extra enticing, know that Springfield has released several albums filled with tons of songs — many of them good, including 2012’s Songs for the End of the World  — since that fateful pop hit. Age hasn’t diminished his voice. It’s still the powerful instrument that it was more than three decades ago. And at 65, Springfield doesn’t look half bad. General Hospital fans, you know what I mean. 

Sunday, May 10, the Midland (1228 Main, 816-283-9921)

Bob Dylan
At this point, seeing Bob Dylan perform is less about hearing the artist — his live shows notoriously do not resemble the classic recordings — and more about a rite of passage. At 73, Dylan is one of this country’s greatest living artists. To attend a Dylan concert is to be in the presence of a genius poet. Such opportunities feel more rare now somehow, which is why Sunday night’s show at the Music Hall sold out so quickly. For those who managed to snag tickets, the latest installment of Dylan’s Never Ending Tour suggests a night founded on a universal love of music rather than a hokey reliance on nostalgia. No, he will probably not play “Like a Rolling Stone,” and yes, his voice is more frog than man these days, but there will likely be moments when a chord will strike you and your entire world will make sense. 

Sunday, May 10, the Music Hall (301 West 13th Street, 816-513-5000)

Action Bronson
Big, bearded and tatted up, Action Bronson might more likely be mistaken for a chef than for a rapper — and he likely wouldn’t mind. In fact, the Queens MC is a former chef, and he weaves culinary references into his rhymes with the assured lingo of someone who has spent decades in one high-pressure kitchen or another. It fits that Bronson’s career change is one that demands the swagger and bravado of, say, a pro wrestler. And Bronson frequently shouts out classic rasslers in his fresh, likable flow. Wednesday night, make room at the table for this rapper on the rise. 

Wednesday, April 13, Liberty Hall (644 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-749-1972)

The Lone Bellow
We last saw the Lone Bellow at Knuckleheads in the fall of 2013, just after the band released its self-titled debut full-length. That was a rapturous show, one in which the Brooklyn trio shook out all its heartfelt Americana influences and wore them proudly. The band is finally coming back, this time stopping at the Bottleneck in Lawrence in support of its second album, Then Came the Morning. The Lone Bellow isn’t reinventing roots music but rather carving out its own corner in the genre. Lead singer and guitarist Zach Williams’ voice could get the sun up an hour earlier, and his singing nestles beautifully against the guitar and mandolin compositions played by bandmates Brian Elmquist and Kanene Pipkin. If you’re not acquainted yet with the Lone Bellow, take the opportunity Tuesday. 

Tuesday, May 12, the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire, Lawrence, 785-841-5483)