Boston Calling, Boston Answering, and Campire Fest may all be officially over but the summer concert season is just getting started. (I mean, let’s be honest, East Coast summers don’t start until we’re halfway through July.) From the anthemic rock of Catfish and the Bottlemen, to the face-melting sounds of Japanese psych-rockers Kikagaku Moyo, check out a few of the shows our team is excited about this month.
Saturday, June 8
Anjimile at Boston Public LIbrary – Selected by Mikey
Anybody with their finger on the pulse of Boston’s local scene in the past few years has probably heard of Anjimile by now. Nominated for three Boston Music Awards and one of NPR’s Artists To Watch in 2019, the 25 year-old singer-songwriter and Somerville resident tackles heavy subject matter with a melody-first approach, a rare combination of both vocal and lyrical talent. “Sonja Smokes Me Out”, their most recent release, is also their biggest song to date, foreshadowing another big year for an artist headed for a bigger stage. Be sure to catch Anjimile, along with Home Despot and Phil and the Flying Leap at Saturday’s Pride Indie Music Showcase at the BPL.
Tuesday, June 18
Kim Petras at The Sincalir – Selected by Jared
Unapologetic German pop star Kim Petras is making a stop at The Sinclair during her sold-out North American headlining tour, blessing crowds with a glittered pop dance party on June 18th. Petras’ incandescent vocals and bright melodies come through on her latest disco-infused singles, “Sweet Spot” and “Got My Number,” both blazing hot summer Friday bangers. A modern disciple of Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper, Petras’ songs are steeped in a “material girl” teenage fantasy of endless LA designer shopping sprees and debauched celebrity parties. Scheduled to perform at NYC Pride this summer, Petras told the New York Times, “I don’t care about being the first transgender teen idol at all…I just want to be a pop star.” Signed with one of teen-pop’s all-time queenmakers, Larry Rudolph, who’s managed Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus, Rudolph told The Times, “I’m in the star business…and she’s a star.” Come see Kim Petras dream weave us into summer through tales of Beverly Hillside Boys, cars, and drugs on the 18th!
Wednesday, June 19
Catfish and the Bottlemen at the House of Blues– Selected by Alexis
If you’re looking for solid music and a summer night packed with catchy hooks, nostalgic narratives and brilliant guitar work, check out Welsh indie rockers Catfish and the Bottlemen. After performing a sold-out arena tour in the UK, the band is coming to Boston to promote their latest record, The Balance. Led by the young and spirited Van McCann, the band is eager to rile up a crowd and are well known for their ability to create an energetic dynamic with their audience. With a setlist packed with hits that span across three albums, such as “Fallout,” “7” and their latest, “Longshot,” it won’t be a show to miss.
Monday, June 24
Faye Webster at Great Scott – Selected by David
Kikagaku Moyo at The Sinclair – Selected by Mary
Japanese psych-rockers Kikagaku Moyo (meaning “geometric patterns” in English) are proper face-melters, taking style and inspiration from psychedelic sounds of the 70s. Rather than singing in English or Japanese, however, their lyrics are mostly comprised of made-up sounds and syllables meant to be open to interpretation to the listener. Their latest album MasanaTemples is brilliant in the way it balances quiet, reflective moments with insane, in-your-face fuzz riffs and breakdowns. Of course, Kikagaku Moyo uses the traditional guitar and bass, but Ryu Kurosawa brings a little something special to the group by playing the sitar, which he studied in India under the prolific Manilal Nag. Check out these qualities firsthand by listening to the nearly 8 minute track, “Dripping Sun.”
Tuesday, June 25
Little Simz at Great Scott – Selected by Knar
British artist Little Simz believes that women can be kings, and she’s proven she’s one of those women. But’s not just her attitude (see “Offence”—“I said it with my chest / and I don’t care who I offend”) that makes Little Simz bold. A few months ago, she put out one of the best albums of the year. 2019’s Grey Area, whose title references the strange place that is her mid-20s, blends clever lines with catchy hooks (including one particular earworm featuring Michael Kiwanuka). With the help of rising producer Inflo, who has worked as producer for recent releases by The Kooks, Jungle, and Danger Mouse/Karen O, her tracks blend sweeping strings with harsh drum snaps, and gritty vocal effects with high-pitched synths. “They will never want to admit I’m the best here / For the mere fact that I’ve got ovaries,” she raps on “Venom.” Ready to see why Little Simz deserves her title as king?