Selected Sounds: April Show(er)s

Happy Spring! (At least, we hope.) Who knows what weather awaits us? Whether rain, snow, or sunshine is coming in the next few days, we at least have a few great shows lined up for you to enjoy.

Sunday, April 14

Broods at Paradise Rock Club – Selected by Jared

New Zealand duo Broods is on tour promoting their latest EP, Don’t Feed the Pop Monster. Known for their dark electro-pop sound, siblings Georgia and Caleb Knott gained international fame with their 2014 single “Mother & Father.” Their fame grew after sweeping the New Zealand Music Awards in 2016; the duo toured with Tove Lo and Two Door Cinema Club later that year. Broods gives off a Lorde-esque vibe, but with more camaraderie – their sibling chemistry is unmatched, and it’s clear that they’ve been playing together since they were young. 2018 brought two new singles for the band, with “Peach” peaking at number 1 on the NZ Hot Singles Chart. With an opener by U.K. indie group Bad Sounds, Paradise is the place to be on April 14th for off-center pop.

Friday, April 19

Lindsay Foote, Graham Stone, and Will Orchard at Gallery 263 – Selected by Arielle

If you’re looking for a night of masterful musicianship and heartfelt stories conveyed through alternative folk songs, you won’t want to miss Lindsay Foote, Graham Stone, and Will Orchard. Lindsay Foote is a songwriter from Winchester, MA. Spending time in both Boston and Toronto, Lindsay placed as a finalist in the Canadian Songwriting Competition. Raw Ramp described her music as “confessional and intimate, capable of thawing the coldest heart.” Graham Stone is an artist from Richmond, VA. He is currently on tour and has been sharing his roots sound across the country. Formerly known as Littleboybigheadonbike, Will Orchard is a prolific songwriter from Providence, RI. He studies performance at Berklee College of Music. Surrounded by local art and the stunning natural acoustics of Gallery 263, expect a memorable, intimate night of skillfully crafted folk music.

Amanda Palmer at the Orpheum Theatre – Selected by Tadhg

Amanda Palmer is a singer, songwriter, and Boston native known for her solo career as well as her work with The Dresden Dolls and Evelyn Evelyn. Her music has ranged in style from alt-goth and punk to cabaret and alt-rock, and always maintains an incisive, political, jump-off-the-page lyricism which has won her a loyal fanbase (who has crowdfunded many of her projects). Her current tour centers on her long-awaited new album, There Will be no Intermission, a record that is as ambitious as it is intimate. NPR dubbed the project “a cyclonic effort to run down the meaning of life and death,” and Palmer herself calls it her “most vulnerable and personal” album yet. It’s no surprise, given its subject matter includes abortion, miscarriage, and suicide.

Foals at the House of Blues – Selected by Alexis

British rock band Foals is coming to Boston by storm with a tour after the release of their new record, Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost—Part 1. This is their first album after a four-year hiatus. The set list consists of some of their most infectious hits, such as “My Number,” “Late Night,” and hauntingly beautiful tracks like “London Thunder” and “What Went Down.” The band has played at notably prestigious music festivals and venues, such as Coachella and Glastonbury, with appearances on Later…with Jools Holland, and a live show at the historic Royal Albert Hall in London. They have garnered countless accolades from the Q Awards and British music magazine NME. Famously known as one of the United Kingdom’s most talented live bands, Foals is sure to put on a brilliant show that will shake the House of Blues to its core.

Wednesday, April 24

Camp Cope at ONCE Somerville – Selected by Kristen

Australia’s beloved indie-rock trio, Camp Cope, are performing their 2018 album How to Socialise & Make Friends at the ONCE Ballroom in Somerville on April 24th. This all-women trio are a force to be reckoned with – melding angsty, searing, confessional verses under melodic, pop-punk instrumentals. How to Socialise & Make Friends is concerned with individuality, growth and resilience; it’s a confrontational album on all fronts, leaving listeners feeling heard, consoled, and impacted. With a strong sense of empowerment delivered in each song, this show should be an unforgettable one.

Friday, April 26

Black Belt Eagle Scout at Great Scott – Selected by Knar

Australia’s Julia Jacklin may be the headliner, but it’s queer Native rocker Black Belt Eagle Scout that deserves the shout out today. It only takes one listen of the guitar solo that firmly plants itself in “Soft Stud” to understand why she would land a feature in She Shreds (a beautiful print magazine dedicated to women guitarists and bassists) or why the likes of NPR and Fader are spreading the hype. Get lost in the gritty riffs of “Just Lie Down” or the softer “Sam, A Dream,” but also make time to learn her story and her people’s history—and present. She’ll help you begin that journey if you haven’t already (“Indians Never Die” is a song about indigenous people, the protectors of this land, for example) but remember that it’s not one that will start and end with listening to a record. And yes, this is already sold out. But if you can find a way to get a ticket, you definitely should.