As the snowbanks finally shrink down and the sidewalks reappear, the city of Boston is starting to get into the swing of spring. Another breath of fresh air, this past week the brand new Cambridge venue Sonia was unveiled in the former T.T. and the Bear’s space, adding to the list of diverse and cutting-edge performance spaces across the city. We’re certainly excited for what this beautiful, re-purposed venue will bring to the ever-evolving Boston music scene in what is sure to be a jam-packed 2017. Music in the Boston area is always something worth celebrating, so check out a few our teams’ recommendations in this edition of Selected Sounds! From the psychedelic-funk bass grooves of Thundercat to local doom metal rockers Rozamov, we’ve got a little something for every concert-goer.
Thursday, March 2nd, 2017
Thundercat at Paradise Rock Club -Selected by Jon
Thundercat is the stage name of Stephen Bruner, a bassist, singer, producer, and sort-of-everything guy from LA who’s been funkifying shows since the early 2000s. Be warned: his brand of funk is less dance-y than a head-nodding psychedelic trip-out storm. But his pristinely composed squalls have led to some high profile collaborations; his latest album, which came out February 24th, features Kendrick Lamar, Wiz Khalifa, and Pharrell. Go get trippy.
Friday, March 3rd, 2017
Noname at The Middle East Upstairs -Selected by Knar
You’ve probably heard Noname before, even if you didn’t realize it. She’s in the tight-knit group of up-and-coming Chicago hip hop artists — which Pitchfork dubbed “Chance the Rapper’s Brain Trust” — and has collaborated with the likes of J. Cole, Saba, Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment, Mick Jenkins, and, of course, Chance the Rapper. Telefone (one of my top five favorite releases from the year) displays layers of bright and bubbly sounds, but don’t let that distract you from the tough topics the lyrics address: death, grief, violence, and survival. This show sold out a long time ago, but if by some miracle you can find tickets let this be a warning to not pass them up.
Rozamov, Wormwood, and Lesser Glow at O’Brien’s -Selected by Matt M.
The last time we checked in with local doom metal trio Rozamov, they had the honors of opening for thrash legends Slayer at the Sinclair for the memorable Converse Rubber Tracks series two years ago. After releasing two EP’s and a split, Rozamov finally has their debut full-length This Mortal Road ready to release on March 3rd. In fact, you can stream this collection of atmospheric, sludgy doom-metal experiments in full right now on Decibel! Come celebrate the band’s first record release at O’Brien’s with other Boston metal groups like Wormwood and newcomers Lesser Glow.
Monday, March 6th, 2017
Tim Darcy at Great Scott -Selected by Matt E.
Tim Darcy, the front man of great post-punkers Ought, has struck out on his own. In Ought he dominates the proceedings with a laconic flow that transfixes and hypnotizes. So it’s a bit of a surprise to see him indulge a pop sensibility on his debut album Saturday Night. “Tall Glass of Water” is down right catchy, not something you would ever think to say about an Ought track. But don’t worry Ought fans, Darcy can’t stave off the desire to indulge on a little weirdness on Saturday Night’s second half, and finds himself creeping closer to Ought’s aesthetic than pure pop-punk. Darcy is a versatile performer and genuinely captivating front man, it’ll be interesting to see how he does on his own.