Music Forecast: My Gold Mask, Heartland Men’s Chorus, Rachel Platten
My Gold Mask
In October, Chicago’s My Gold Mask put on a stunning show for about a dozen people at the now-closed RecordBar. Singer Gretta Rochelle, pale and long-limbed, commanded the stage like an otherworldly white witch, crouching next to the speakers and perching on the edge of the stage. The only thing more absorbing than her acrobatics was her singing: a flinty, warped, high sound that she deftly wielded around tight synths and sludgy goth rhythms. You’ll find those same elements on Anxious Utopia, the latest album from My Gold Mask. Listen at your own risk: Rochelle casts a spell you might not break. The Foreign Resort and Redder Moon open.
Monday, March 21
Minibar, 3810 Broadway
Heartland Men’s Chorus
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Heartland Men’s Chorus, and what a season it has planned. This weekend, the group presents Perfect Pitch, a largely a cappella concert focusing on — what else — pop music. Fans of the Hollywood musical comedies Pitch Perfect and Pitch Perfect 2 should be pleased to hear that the arranger and vocal producer for those films, Deke Sharon, has helped prepare the Heartland Men’s Chorus for this production. Local beatboxer Luke Harbur and KC A Cappella, Kansas City’s high school a cappella ensemble, also guest star. If you want to experience the sweeping majesty of hits such as Bruno Mars’ “Just the Way You Are,” best book your tickets for these shows now.
Saturday, March 19, and Sunday, March 20
Folly Theater, 300 W. 12th St.
Rachel Platten
You can’t help but feel happy for Rachel Platten and her latest — well, only — hit, “Fight Song.” That single, off her major-label debut, Wildfire, is a testament to the 34-year-old pop singer’s resilience. She’s waited a long time for this moment, and she greets it all with a Hillary Duff–style positivity. The album recalls certain sugarcoated elements of 1990s pop, which can get a little overbearing at times, but it’s never unenjoyable — especially with Platten’s sunshine-thick voice guiding you. If you’re feeling a little low on Vitamin D, check out Platten’s Wednesday-night gig at Liberty Hall.
Wednesday, March 23
Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts, Lawrence
