Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Riff Raff and Rhett Miller lead your concert week
Riff Raff
Riff Raff is either an artistic genius or a ridiculous prankster, depending on how you perceive the Houston rapper born Horst Christian Simco. For the most part, the grill-wearing, cornrow-haired guy who walks around like he’s the star of a reality show about moon-worshipping celebrities seems content with his complicated existence. His latest album, Aquaberry Aquarius, is brash and vivid, with lyrics that are borderline nonsensical. But perhaps there’s something to be said for embracing the wildly ridiculous at this particular moment: If our weirdest artists can’t help us to laugh at something other than the news, what hope do we have? Tuesday night at Riot Room, embrace the strange.
7 p.m. Tuesday, February 7, at the Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Few musical groups can claim a legacy as renowned as that of the South African a capella group Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Since the early 1960s, the all-male ensemble — founded by Joseph Shabalala — has sounded its message of brotherhood, harmony and joy all over the world. The Grammy Award–nominated Walking in the Footsteps of Our Fathers, the band’s first studio album in five years, echoes those themes and, as the title suggests, includes songs from early in Ladysmith Black Mambazo’s half-century history. Wednesday at the Kauffman Center, experience the majesty of traditional Zulu rhythms given voice by a world-class choral group.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, at the Kauffman Center, 1601 Broadway
Rhett Miller
If the world were fair and everyone got what she deserved, it’d be easier to have a more optimistic view of 2017. Also, plenty more people would know Rhett Miller’s name. While he’s recognized largely as the frontman for the Old 97s, the prodigious singer-songwriter has built a distinctive solo catalog as well. The last of these so far is 2015’s The Traveler, a collection of smart and witty songs that plays a bit like bluegrass meets Hold Steady–like pop-rock. If you’re looking for an underdog to rally behind, few artists are more deserving than Miller. Wednesday at the Riot Room, show the guy some of the love he deserves.
7 p.m. Wednesday, February 8, at the Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2
Crosseyed Cat
7:30 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Jason Boland and the Stragglers
8 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Guitar Elation
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Cartwright, Clark & Strait
10:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Heavy Petty and Broken Arrows
7:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
La Guerre, Pale Tongue, Rae Fitzgerald, Garrett Marsh
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
CDM
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
A La Mode
9 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3
Levee Town
9 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Dead Voices, the Too’s
9 p.m., the Brick, 1727 McGee
Chief Keef, Hoolie Gu, Glo Gang, Ebony Tusk and more
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Molly McGuire, Giants Chair, the Water Moccasins, Drop a Grand
8 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Rich the Kid
7 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Tim Whitmer Quartet
5:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Electric Tinks
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Boogaloo 7
10 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Lost Wax
10 p.m., Kelly’s, 500 Westport Rd.
Indigenous with the Way Down Wanderers
8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
The Day the Music Died: A Buddy Holly Tribute with Zachary Stevenson
8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Galactic
7 p.m., Madrid, 3810 Main
Jake Stanton, Preston Ott, Instant Karma
9 p.m., MiniBar, 3810 Broadway
Datsik (avove)
8 p.m., Midland, 1228 Main
Erica Joy, Rachel Mallin & the Wild Type, Nathan Corsi
8 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Til Willis & Erratic Cowboy
6 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
The Roseline, Heidi Gluck & the Pony Show, Nicholas Saint James
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Marasmus
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
El Monstero: A Tribute to Pink Floyd
8 p.m., Uptown, 3700 Broadway
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4
Mama Ray’s Jazz Meets Blues Jam
2 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Blue 88
9 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Accidental Project, Scotch Hollow
9 p.m., the Brick, 1727 McGee
Mountain Sprout, Like Rabbits
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Mad Libby, Aluna, For the Broken
6:30 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Bob Marley Birthday Celebration
8 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Roger Wilder & Lisa Henry
2:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
OJT
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Gerald Spaits Quartet
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Natalie Bates Quartet
10:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Wonderfuzz
10 p.m., Kelly’s, 500 Westport Rd.
Katy Guillen & the Girls with Violet and the Undercurrents
8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Sarah Borges and the Broken Singles
9 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Rainbow Kitten Surprise (above)
8 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Snowchild, Keef Mountain, Youngblood, Supercut
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Well Deserved 2
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Timbers, My Oh My, Of/Tree
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Rojas, DeVan, Fondren & Hopper
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Steve Lambert Quintet
10:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The People’s Liberation Big Band
7 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Luxury Bump w/ DJ Marcobiotics
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6
Molly Hammer Duo
12 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Matt Hopper Trio
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Todd Strait Trio
10:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The Bunny Gang, the Bad Ideas, Boss Hooligan Soundsystem
7:30 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Leggy, Rextasy, Westerners
9 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Superbowl Hangover Party
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 7
Nick Schnebelen Band
7 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Aqueous, the Groove Orient
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Chris Hazelton Trio
7 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Perkins, Spaits & Strait
11:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Pop Evil (above)
7:30 p.m., Midland, 1228 Main
July Talk w/ Mona
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8
Pat Recob Duo
7 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Felly, Gyyps, Sam Maxfield
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
OJT
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Ernest Melton Quartet
10:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The Band of Heathens with Brother Bagman
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Bob Walkenhorst & Friends
6 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
