July is not joking with this heat. Just one look to the news and you see the whole world suffering from a heatwave that nearly managed to cancel fireworks on the fourth. Over here at Sound of Boston, we think the only way to beat this weather is to stay hydrated (duh) and chill out to some good live music—the best distraction from high 90s and humidity you can feel. As always, you will find our curated concert picks below:
Monday, July 8, 2018
Tedeschi Trucks Band with Drive by Truckers at XFinity Center – Selected by Amie
Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Ms. Lauryn Hill at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion– Selected by Jacqueline
After years away from the spotlight, singer-songwriter Lauryn Hill returns to the stage to celebrate the 20th anniversary of her groundbreaking debut solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. The album mixes hip-hop, soul, reggae, and R&B in an emotional outpouring inspired by Hill’s pregnancy and relationships at the time. A critical and commercial success with hits including “Doo Wop (That Thing)” and “Ex-Factor,” the album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, breaking records for first-week sales by a female artist. And at the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, Hill was the first woman to be nominated for ten Grammy awards and to win five in one night, including Album of the Year. Her passionately honest album has influenced other great artists including Beyoncé, Kanye West, and Drake, and has been credited with helping to bring hip-hop into the mainstream.
Saturday, July 14, 2018
Healy at Sonia– Selected by Knar
Healy’s 2017 debut SUBLUXE has got blends glimmers of lo-fi hip hop with a bubble-snap RnB style that would fit right into a playlist featuring the likes of Smino, Noname, Chance the Rapper, and Tom Misch. On “Reckless” he manages to squeeze Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Sufjan Stevens, and Lorde of the Rings all in one song (“Teenage mutant / Coming out of my shell, aye…Breaking up to Sufjan / Wake up on your futon…Might grow my hair long / Like Legolas”). The name drops could’ve felt like forced pop culture references, but a look at Healy’s other songs prove his lyrics are too smart, too deliberate, to be mistaken as lazy metaphors. Let’s hope his skilled jazzy backup band has come along with him on tour.
Sunday, July 22, 2018
Foo Fighters, Dinosaur JR, and Speedy Ortiz at Fenway Park– Selected by Matt
Touring in support of their ninth studio album, Concrete and Gold, Foo Fighters are back at Fenway Park! There is no better guarantee of a good time then a Foo Fighters show. On top of it all if you have incredible local supporting acts: the legendary Dinosaur JR and rising stars Speedy Ortiz both hailing from Western Massachusetts. So support local music AND see Foo Fighters July 22nd at Fenway Park!
Monday and Tuesday, July 23 and 24, 2018
Greta Van Fleet at House of Blues – Selected by Mary
For Greta Van Fleet, high school might have just ended, but that doesn’t mean they’ve stopped studying some of their blues, rock, and folk influences like Eric Clapton, Fairport Convention, and Howlin’ Wolf. A quartet comprised of the Kiszka brothers and drummer Danny Wagner, Greta Van Fleet keep their music heavily grounded in classic rock elements, but are arguably more rebellious in nature for favoring multivitamins and hikes in the woods over drugs and parties. Lead vocalist Josh Kiszka’s voice has often been compared to Jimmy Page’s signature howl, who Kiszka studied extensively and also cites as a major influence. Even though they’ve only released one double EP, From the Fires, Greta Van Fleet have already won the favor of Elton John, who’s said, it was “the best rock & roll [he’s] heard in 20 f*cking years.” Throw on your dad’s vintage fringe vest at this show and get ready for a major throwback.