Selected Sounds: 6 Shows to Cram Into Your Holiday Schedule

Whether it’s final exams or simply finishing your holiday shopping list, your calendar is likely packed for the upcoming month. December is one of the busiest months of the year, which also means bands and performers will make their final stops in the Boston area. Escape from your hectic schedule and dance off the crazy year that was 2016 with a concert in the city. This round of Selected Sounds features several of our all-time favorite local acts such as Viva La Hop, Ripe, Tall Heights, The Western Den, and Strange Changes!

Friday, December 2nd, 2016

MØ at The Paradise Rock Club -Selected by Emily

Danish electric pop singer, MØ (pronounced “meu” like a cow who just got socked in the stomach), will play with Grace Mitchell at the Paradise Rock Club on Dec. 2. She has only released one album, No Mythologies to Follow, in 2014, but in the two years since, she’s put out a variety of singles. Most recently she released “Drum” which combines highly auto-tuned beats with her signature about-to-crack voice and endearing but poorly translated English lyrics. Tall, lanky, and an incredibly awkward dancer, MØ can’t be described as “cute,” but there’s definitely something charming about her haphazard stage presence. Her performance at the Paradise is guaranteed to be fun at the very least.

Viva La Hop’s Happy Hollidazze at Middle East Downstairs – Selected by Araz

Keep Friday night open because nine-piece hip-hop group Viva La Hop is hosting their third Annual Hometown Hollidazze. Midnight Snack , Dancelujah, DutchRebelle, and Maddie Jay will perform, lighting a fire under your feet and helping you fuel the holiday festivities early. Viva La Hop brings the funk and doesn’t skimp on the lyrics, so you can be sure that the Hollidazze, with its well-curated line-up, will not be an event to miss.

Wednesday, December 7th, 2016

Twin Peaks at The Sinclair -Selected by Matt E.

On their records, Twin Peaks cut a woozy, blues-tinged sound that bites just a bit harder than say Kurt Vile or Mac DeMarco. It’s easy listening full of fun choruses and swaying melodies. Seeing them live is a whole different experience. Call it the transformative power of live performance, or the drunken antics of a bunch of twenty-somethings, but a Twin Peaks show is sweaty rock chaos from start to finish. Last time they played the Sinclair there was a constant torrent of crowd-surfing and stage-diving which is unexpected at the venue, bringing a fun intensity to the night. Don’t miss out on openers Together Pangea, either; they bring the same intensity to their surf and garage rock sound.

Friday, December 9th, 2016

Ripe at Paradise Rock Club -Selected by Jon

It’s not the first time Boston funk band Ripe has played Paradise. Last time, they were supporting G. Love and Special Sauce. But when Ripe announced their headlining spot at Paradise, I bought six tickets. Why? From the high-energy vocals of lead singer Robbie Wulfsohn to the dueling electric guitar and horns, they’re the best live performance by a funk-rock band I’ve seen, and my friends seem to agree. Catch them now—in a few years you’ll be paying twice as much to see them headline House of Blues.

Friday, December 16th, 2016

Tall Heights at The Sinclair -Selected by Knar

We’ve heard local duo Tall Heights perform in a lot of unconventional venues in Boston. Whether they were busking outside Faneuil Hall, performing in a living room for our Neighborhood Sessions, or sharing their new sound on a tiny stage at Kendall Square’s CIC, the guitar-cello duo excels at delivering intimate performances peppered with playful banter. They’ll return to The Sinclair stage, where they’ve played many a time and I’d argue they sound their best, for a hometown show that’s bound to be a night to remember. Bonus: local folk favorites The Western Den will be opening!

Strange Changes at O’Brien’s -Selected by Matt M.

It’s been nearly a year since we’ve caught up with local, psychedelic jazz outfit Strange Changes. While this 9 piece band thrives on Mr. Bungle-esque unpredictability and chaos, they can also craft some irresistibly catchy hooks and lay down some impressive improvised trade-offs. From chugging metal riffs to finger-snapping smooth jazz, Strange Changes has a little something for everyone in their genre-bending repertoire. Vocalist/guitarist Tom Dowd is the band’s crazed ringleader, adding the perfect dosage of truly bizarre, abstract lyrics. Last year they opened for Consider the Source at Thunder Road, so it will be a treat to catch their headlining set at O’Brien’s!