ARTS Pick: The Brothers Osborne

Like most great musical innovators, The Brothers Osborne don’t fit neatly into one category. They’re country performers first and foremost, as their drawling voices and lyrics peppered with ain’ts prove. But there’s equal influence from heartland rockers like Bob Seger and Tom Petty in their rollicking, high-energy shows. Sunday, August 26. $44-50, 7:30pm. The Jefferson […]

ARTS Pick: Sons of Bill

Overcoming injuries, battling “drinking issues” and months at a time on the road would change, possibly derail, most bands. But Sons of Bill put its collective heart on its sleeve and used these challenges to craft its newest album, Oh God Ma’am. Released in June, the record shows an increased maturity in the band’s sound, […]

ARTS Pick: Kurt Vile brings the futuristic folk

Listening to the music of Kurt Vile and the Violators is a lot like taking a trip without a clear destination in mind. The hazy-voiced lead singer has been compared to Neil Young, and for good reason—his meandering tracks have similar brands of folk and rock, and the lyrics cover themes of self-discovery and introspection […]

ARTS Pick: Calexico holds the line

With a blend of American folk and styles rooted in Latin America, Calexico, named for the southern border town in California, has a distinctive, playful sound. Vocalist/guitarist Joey Burns and John Convertino use Tex-Mex indie rock to approach current issues through melodies and lyrics. The band’s impassioned ninth album, The Thread That Keeps Us, is […]

ARTS Pick: Margo Price tells her truth

Hailed as an up-and-coming country star, Margo Price has succeeded in telling her story through vivid songwriting and compelling performances. From the loss of her family’s farm, to selling her car and pawning her wedding ring to buy studio time, Price’s journey is authentically crafted into songs drawn from experience. Her sophomore album, All American […]

ARTS Pick: Anderson East soothes with soul

Serious but not pretentious, Anderson East’s modern soul draws from the Alabamian’s raw vocals and charismatic live performances in which he rocks out a sinuous blend of rhythm and blues, gospel and country. East’s latest release, Encore, is the second record guided by hot-handed producer Dave Cobb, whose Low Country label has given rise to […]

ARTS Pick: Dr. Dog does some musical soul-searching

Since its inception more than a decade ago, Dr. Dog has been paying it forward musically with nods of respect to ’60s-era sound, as defined by bands such as The Beach Boys and The Beatles. On its new album, Critical Equation (out on April 27), the Philly-based band promises a rekindled creativity and new musical […]

Cry Cry Cry embarks on a brief reunion tour

Cry Cry Cry is back together, but not for long. A collaboration between established folk singers Dar Williams, Richard Shindell and Lucy Kaplansky, the harmony-based trio formed two decades ago to release one album before members went their separate ways to focus on individual careers. The project mostly sat dormant until last summer, when an […]

ARTS Pick: Cigarettes After Sex fans show some ‘Affection’

Cigarettes After Sex formed accidentally in 2008, according to the group’s founder, Greg Gonzalez, who says he was experimenting with the dreamy, languorous sound that defines the band. A move to Brooklyn and the release of the single “Affection” resulted in millions of internet clicks, and catapulted the group to its current success with a […]

ARTS Pick: Matt and Kim live up to the hype

Indie-pop duo Matt and Kim are known for energetic live shows and infectious beats. After taking a year off due to Kim tearing her ACL during one of their performances (yes, they get that hype), the Brooklyn-based duo is back with dance hits old and new, including the recent “Like I Used to Be,” a […]