Music Forecast 9.24-9.30: Beach House, Mark Knopfler, Destroyer, ZZ Ward, the Adicts, and Radkey

Beach House
Beach House has always had a vaguely futuristic vibe to its music, and that has never been more apparent than on the Baltimore duo’s Depression Cherry. Victoria Legrand’s voice stretches dreamily over Alex Scally’s alluring, glittering beats, and the whole thing sounds like it belongs to a civilization that’s generations removed from our own — one, perhaps, that travels through space and interacts with alien life. Legrand herself seems otherworldly as she sings in exquisite, languid tones about the heights of being in love (“Levitation”) or searching for that ever elusive inspiration (“Sparks”). Let this band give you chills Saturday.

Saturday, September 26, Liberty Hall (644 Massachusetts, Lawrence,
785-749-1972)

Mark Knopfler
In April, with zero fanfare, Mark Knopfler released Tracker, the latest addition to his library of solo albums. Tracker demonstrated (as if we needed more proof) that this industrious legend still has plenty to say, although the mellow folk songs are a few degrees removed from the rock of Knopfler’s former band, Dire Straits. In addition to going solo nearly two decades ago, Knopfler has scored TV shows and films — notably, The Princess Bride and Wag the Dog. Monday at the Midland, enjoy what surely will be a stirring concert from an artist whom Rolling Stone recognizes as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time.

Monday, September 28, the Midland (1228 Main, 816-283-9921)

Destroyer

Swirling saxophones and explosive drumbeats dominate Poison Season, the latest album from Dan Bejar, who performs as Destroyer. Poison Season‘s 13 tracks bounce playfully among chamber pop, jazz and synth-driven electronica as this Canadian king of reinvention waxes poetic about the many sides of New York City. Nothing about Bejar’s 19-year career suggests that he’s one to play it safe. Clocking in at around an hour, Poison Season seems designed to feel epic, and no matter how smooth the sax notes or how chill Bejar’s voice (seriously, it sounds like he recorded the entire album on Xanax), the album’s grandiose composition is what stands out most. Prepare for a memorable trip come Friday.

Friday, September 25, the Granada (1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-842-1390)

ZZ Ward

About a week ago, ZZ Ward released This Means War, the highly anticipated follow-up to her 2012 debut, Til the Casket Drops. This new album fuses blues, pop and elements of hip-hop, and is clearly meant to push her songs further up the radio playlists — and this shouldn’t be a problem. At her best, Ward sounds like a grittier version of Adele, except that Adele probably wouldn’t use punchy, funky hip-hop beats the way Ward does. At times, This Means War suffers from overproduction, obscuring her singing with busy noise, but the moments when she gets it right (“Rescue”) are worth it.

Wednesday, September 30, the Granada (1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence, 785-842-1390)

The Adicts

All it takes for the Adicts to get out on the road, it seems, is a whim. The legendary English punk band hasn’t released new music since 2012’s All the Young Droogs — a highly worthwhile album — but its five members are rallying for a short fall tour anyway. And we’re not complaining. In the same way that All the Young Droogs is a throwback to ’70s glam and the era of David Bowie, the Adicts’ Friday-night show at the Riot Room is likely to take you back into the weird and wild bygones.

Friday, September 25, the Riot Room (4048 Broadway, 816-442-8179)

Radkey

Dee Radke, lead singer and guitarist for local punk-rock band Radkey — which includes his brothers Isaiah on bass and Solomon on drums — has a voice that sounds like the devil gave it to him. It rises out, a robust and beastly tone that would terrify any listener — and on the trio’s debut full-length, Dark Black Makeup, it definitely does. Through the monster riffs, powerful hooks and destructive drumming that reign on the album, Dee’s ferocity doesn’t wane. Catch these local-boys-made-good Friday as they continue on their path to world domination.

Friday, September 25, the Bottleneck (737 New Hampshire, Lawrence, 785-841-5483)