Music Forecast: Vance Joy, Black Sabbath, Metric
Vance Joy, Elle King, Jamie Lawson
It would take considerable effort to dislike Vance Joy, the same kind of effort it would take to dislike fresh-baked cookies and puppies. If we’re being honest, Joy’s songs deliver the same warm and fuzzy sensations. For evidence, look no further than Joy’s breakout 2014 track, “Riptide” — a sun-filled anthem of tender, hopeful love. Bonus: Openers include Elle King, whose hit song “Ex’s & Oh’s” seems to be everywhere, and British singer-songwriter Jamie Lawson.
Wednesday, February 17
The Midland, 1228 Main
Metric
Emily Haines is the kind of frontwoman you look for in a rock band: outspoken, confident and a total badass. She has the wherewithal to deliver a powerful banger or an introverted ballad and have a stadium full of fans cower in the face of her talent. It’s a shame, then, that last year’s Pagans in Vegas doesn’t offer much in the way of bangers or ballads, settling instead for middle-of-the-road tracks that shimmer with inventive synths but fall flat in their delivery. Here’s hoping Metric’s Monday-night show at the Midland inspires where Pagans didn’t.
Monday, February 15
The Midland, 1228 Main
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath is calling this tour “The End,” and given that the English metal band’s core trio — Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler — are all past retirement age, perhaps we’ll take their word for it. After Osbourne suffered a brief bout of sinusitis in late January — and the band subsequently canceled two shows in Canada — the tour appears to be back on track. Expect a lengthy set of hits live for (maybe) the last time.
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Sprint Center, 1407 Grand
Also this week …
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 11
Davina and the Vagabonds: Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Bre the 1st Lady, Rece Slim, Lindsey Alderman, Codak Carter, the Phantom: Riot Room, Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
North By North, Sterling Witt: Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Chase Bryant: The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Women’s Soul Collective hosted by Jennifer Appell: Davey’s Uptown, 3402 Main
Shades of Jade: The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
Matt Hopper Trio, Brett Jackson Quartet: The Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Arc Flash, Leggy, Sneaky Creeps, Little Toughies: The Brick, 1727 McGee
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 12
Nick Moss with the Lauren Anderson Band: Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Shiftee, Tony Markham, Marcobiotics, Nmezee: Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Vintage Pistol: The Bottlebeck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Sona, La Guerre: Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Warrior King with Yard Squad: Davey’s Uptown, 3402 Main
James Ward Band: The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
The Band Oasis: The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
Boogaloo 7: The Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Arlo Guthrie: Liberty Hall, 644 Massachusetts, Lawrence
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13
The Quebe Sisters: Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
California Voodoo: Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Corey Kent White,: The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Fresh Hops, Marty Mootz, the Pollinators: The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Milkdrop, Approach: Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Carrie Nations and the Speakeasy, the Calamity Cubes, S.S Web, AndoEhlers, Billy Cook: Davey’s Uptown, 3402 Main
Love Songs for Lovers — Charles Williams Quartet with Asa Barnes: The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
My Oh My, Pocket Vinyl, 40 Watt Dream: The Brick, 1727 McGee
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14
Nace Brothers: Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
First Annual Heartbreaker’s Ball hosted by Stevie B. with DJ Alv Deisel, DJ Maxx Gruv: Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Groovement, Lucas Parker Trio: Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
627 Big Band: The Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
MONDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Mothers: Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Futurebirds, Susto, Westerners: The Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Children of Bodom: The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Bob Bowman & Ottobow: The Blue Room, 1616 E. 18th St.
Paul Shinn Trio: The Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16
Bullet for my Valentine, Asking Alexandria, While She Sleeps: The Midland, 1228 Main
Fleshgod Apocalypse, Carach Angren, Abigail Williams, Marasmus: Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Calamity Cubes, Monzie Leo & the Big Sky: Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17
Kevin Gates, Young Greatness, OG Boobie Black: Uptown, 3700 Broadway
Afroman, Dom Chronicles, HighRish, BluntRap, J Theiss, Brett Savage, Vinyl Richy, Dose: Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Jeffrey Foucault, Caitlin Canty: Tank Room, 1813 Grand
Berning Man featuring Spencer Mackenzie Brown, La Guerre, Carswell & Hope: The Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
The Peach Kings: Davey’s Uptown, 3402 Main
New Jazz Order: The Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
