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Tag: Concert Previews

  • Livewire: 17 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in July

    Livewire: 17 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in July

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    Photo Credit: Charlotte Rutherford

    Justin Timberlake brings his latest tour to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. See: Sunday, July 7.

    FRI 07/05

    Amos Lee
    Transmissions, singer-songwriter Amos Lee’s 11th studio album and first new collection of original songs in more than two years, features elegant ballads such as “Beautiful Day” and “Hold on Tight,” a soulful number about unity and strength in numbers. On tour in support of the album, Lee performs tonight at 6:30 at House of Blues.
    308 Euclid Ave., 216-523-2583, houseofblues.com.

    Third Eye Blind
    The band known for ’90s hits “How’s It Going to Be” and “Semi-Charmed Life” comes to Blossom as it brings its Summer Gods Tour to town. Alt-rockers Yellowcard open the show, which begins at 6:30 p.m.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    SAT 07/06

    Summer of Love
    Formerly of Styx and Beatlemania on Broadway, singer-songwriter Glen Burtnik brings his Summer of Love Concert to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. Expect to hear classic ’60s tracks such as “Happy Together” and “Love the One You’re With.” The concert begins at 8 p.m.
    14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

    SUN 07/07

    53 Thieves
    This band that consists of two producers from the U.S. and two vocalists from the UK comes to the Beachland Ballroom tonight at 8. Songs such as “Coastal” possess a ’70s vibe with soft Sade-like vocals and fluttering synths. The atmospheric music should evoke a chilled-out vibe. Rachel Ana Dobken opens.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    Killer Queen
    The tribute act to the great British glam rock Queen performs tonight at 7:30 at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage. The band formed in 1993 and frontman Patrick Myers enjoyed playing the classic rock band’s music so much, he has kept at it.
    10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.

    Alexander Star and Sons of Mystro
    Emmy-winning singer-songwriter Alexander Star teams up with Sons of Mystro for this tour that brings them to Cain Park in Cleveland Heights. A duo, Songs of Mystro famously use the violin instead of their voices to make their music. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
    14591 Superior Rd., Clevelans Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

    Justin Timberlake
    Tonight at 7:30, the pop superstar who recently made headlines for picking up a DUI in the Hamptons returns to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Earlier this year, Timberlake released his latest album, Everything I Thought I Was, an album that features a mix of ballads (“Memphis”) and dancefloor fodder (“F**** Up the Disco”). Expect Timberlake to capably deliver the material with highly choreographed dance routines.
    1 Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

    TUE 07/09

    Bruce Hornsby & the Noisemakers Spirit Trail 25th Anniversary Tour
    The singer-songwriter brings his tour marking the 25th anniversary of his 1998 album Spirit Trail, a collection of roots-y tunes that enables him to show off his piano playing, to the Goodyear Theater in Akron. The show begins at 7:30 p.m., and every ticket holder will receive a copy of the Spirit Trail: 25th Anniversary Edition reissue at the show.
    1201 East Market St., Akron, 330-659-7118, goodyeartheater.com.

    Lake Street Dive: Good Together Tour
    “Better Not Tell You,” a groovy tune that’s the latest single from this group’s new album, Good Together, references Shakespeare. It accurately represents just how sophisticated the band’s funk/pop/rock tunes are. The group performs tonight at 8 at TempleLive at the Cleveland Masonic.
    3615 Euclid Ave., 216-881-6350, masoniccleveland.com.

    WED 07/10

    Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
    These two Rock Hall inductees struck gold when they began working together in 1979 on Pat Benatar’s debut album, In the Heat of the Night, which yielded the huge single “Heartbreaker.” Their streak continued with tunes such as “Hit Me with Your Best Shot,” “Fire and Ice” and “Love Is a Battlefield.” They perform at 7:30 p.m. at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.
    10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.

    Jon Spencer & the HITmakers
    Jon Spencer (Blues Explosion, Boss Hog, Pussy Galore, Heavy Trash) and his backing band, the HITmakers, bring their unique take on garage rock to the Beachland Tavern tonight at 8. They’re touring in support of their new album, Spencer Gets It, an incendiary collection of hard-rocking tunes that features distorted guitars and Spencer’s distinctive spoken/barked vocals. MK Ultras open the show.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    THU 07/11

    Norah Jones
    The singer-songwriter who had great success with her 2002 debut album, Come Away with Me, comes to Blossom. Singer Mavis Staples opens the show. The concert begins at 8 p.m.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    FRI 07/12

    Luke Bryan
    “Mind of a Country Boy,” the latest single from country superstar Luke Bryan, might sound like the jingle for a pickup truck what with lines like “I’m loving this life I live” and with its twangy guitars, but it’s become another big hit for Bryan, who’s been topping the country charts for the past two decades. Bryan brings his Mind of a Country Boy Tour to Blossom tonight at 7.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    The 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Michael Stanley Band
    Local musicians, some of whom performed with the late local rocker Michael Stanley, will participate in this tribute to Stanley and his band. The concert begins at 7:30 tonight at MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage.
    10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.

    SAT 07/13

    Thandiswa Mazwai
    The South African singer who began her career in the ’90s with music groups Jack Knife and Bongo Maffin performs tonight at 9 at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.
    14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

    SUN 07/14

    Mates of State
    This prolific indie rock act has released seven full-length albums since 2000. In the process of recording a new album with long-time collaborator Peter Katis (Death Cab for Cutie, Frightened Rabbit), they’ve hit the road to play 17 shows in 17 days. As a result, they should be in good form when they play the Beachland Ballroom tonight at 8. Al Menne opens.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    MON 07/15

    Train & REO Speedwagon
    The two groups from different eras bring their Summer Road Trip Tour to Blossom tonight at 6:25. REO Speedwagon formed in the late ’60s and would have a huge hit with 1980’s Hi Infidelity. The pop/rock act Train formed in 1993 and would become hugely popular thanks to “Meet Virginia,” the catchy single from their 1998 self-titled debut. Expect both groups to stick to the hits for tonight’s show.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

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    Jeff Niesel

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  • Livewire: 19 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland Through June

    Livewire: 19 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland Through June

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    Credit: John Abbott

    Take 6 kicks off the annual Tri- C JazzFest. See: Thursday, June 20.

    THU 06/20

    Walker Hayes
    The country singer-songwriter who had a hit in 2021 with “Fancy Like,” a catchy tune that finds him speaking/rapping more than singing, performs tonight at 6 at Jacobs Pavilion. Matt Schuster and Tigirlily Gold open.
    2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

    Take 6
    The award-winning vocal group that pays gospel, pop, jazz and R&B comes to the Mimi Ohio Theatre tonight at 8 as part of Tri-C JazzFest.
    1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue
    You don’t have to like jazz to like Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue. The group’s spirited live performances have won over crowds at alt-rock festivals like Lollapalooza. They perform tonight at 8 at Cain Park. OutKast’s Big Boi opens.
    14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

    FRI 06/21

    Marcus Miller & Bob James Quartet
    These two veteran jazz musicians have won numerous awards over the course of their length careers. Miller, a bassist who’s worked with acts such as Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock and Luther Vandross, and James, a keyboardist who released his free jazz debut, Bold Conceptions, in 1963, will perform at this concert that’s part of Tri-C JazzFest. It begins at 7:45 p.m. at Connor Palace.
    1615 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Jason Moran and the Bandwagon
    Pianist and composer Jason Moran brings his Bandwagaon Trio to the Allen Theatre as part of Tri-C JazzFest. Moran has composed scores for Ava DuVernay films and for a staged version of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s Between the World and Me. The concert begins at 5 p.m.
    1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Cécile McLorin Salvant
    Winner of three consecutive Grammys for Best Jazz Vocal Album, this singer draws from the vaudeville, blues and folk traditions for her music. She performs tonight at 6:30 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre as part of Tri-C JazzFest.
    1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Scary Goldings
    This funk supergroup that features guitarist Ryan Lerman and keyboardist Jack Conte performs tonight at 10 at the Mimi Ohio Theater. The show is part of Tri-C JazzFest.
    Mimi Ohio Theatre, 1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Hank Williams Jr.
    On the road to mark the 45th anniversary of the release of his hit album Family Tradition. the veteran country singer-songwriter performs tonight at 7 at Blossom. Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives will open the show.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    SAT 06/22

    Artemis with Flying Home: A Trumpet Summit
    Founded in 2017, Artemis features a multinational and multigenerational group of female jazz musicians. They’ll perform today at 2:30 at the Mimi Ohio Theatre as part of Tri-C JazzFest. The concert will also celebrate Tri-C JazzFest Jazz Academy alumni such as Sean Jones, Dominick Farinacci, Curtis Taylor and Tom Lehman.
    1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Harold Lόpez-Nussa: Timba a la Americana
    This Cuban-born jazz musician made his Blue Note debut with Timba a al Americana, an album of funky instrumentals that possesses a Latin vibe. He performs today at 5:15 p.m. at the Allen Theatre as part of Tri-C JazzFest. Brazilian jazz guitarist Diego Figueiredo opens.
    1407 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Charles Lloyd Ocean II
    Having recorded with the Doors, the Birds, the Grateful Dead and the Beach Boys, Charles Lloyd is a jazz icon who’s also known in the rock world. He brings the second iteration of his Oceans trio to the Mimi Ohio Theatre tonight at 7:30. It’s part of Tri-C JazzFest.
    1511 Euclid Ave., 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    Bonnie Raitt
    The bluesy singer-guitarist who enjoyed some commercial success in the ’90s comes to the Akron Civic Theatre tonight at 8. Her latest album, Just Like That, features narrative tunes such as the title track that feature Raitt’s low-key vocals and restrained guitar playing. British soul singer James Hunter opens the show.
    182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

    SUN 06/23

    Los Lonely Boys
    The Texas trio became a sensation shortly after forming in 1996 and delivering a major hit with the bluesy Latin ballad “Heaven.” The group performs tonight at 8 at Cain Park.
    14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

    TUE 06/25

    Janet Jackson: Together Again
    Famous for her theatrical, heavily choreographed live performances, Rock Hall Inductee Janet Jackson brings her Together Again tour to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse tonight at 8. The tour celebrates Jackson’s 50th anniversary in entertainment and spotlights three of her best albums: The Velvet Rope, janet and Rhythm Nation. Nelly opens.
    One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

    Dave Matthews Band
    On tour to promote its latest album, 2023’s Walk Around the Moon, the jam band makes yet another appearance at Blossom tonight at 7:30. The album, the band’s first studio release in five years, features a handful of tracks that had already made their way into the band’s live sets.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    WED 06/26

    Niall Horan
    A former member of the Boy Band supergroup One Direction, Niall Horan brings his tour in support of his new solo album, The Show, to Blossom tonight at 7:30. Originally from Mullingar, Ireland, Horan has sold over 80 million records. His 2017 full-length solo debut, Flicker, included the hit singles “Slow Hands” and “This Town.” New singles “Heaven” and “Meltdown” feature shimmering synths and anthemic choruses that should translate well to the stage even if the tunes reek of overproduction.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    THU 06/27

    AJR: The Maybe Man Tour
    The skinny jeans weaning indie rock act performs tonight at 6:15 at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. Inspired by Broadway, the current show features CGI/effects, narration and set design. Mxmtoon (aka singer-songwriter Maia) opens; last year, the indie rocker released plum blossom (revisited), a reconsideration of the early songs that propelled her to fame.
    One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

    SAT 06/29

    Brothers Osborne
    John and TJ Osborne grew up writing and playing songs for friends and family. After moving from Maryland to Nashville, they launched Brothers Osborne, a self-described “twang-and-crunch duo” that blends country and rock. The band’s been a huge success, and the current tour supports last year’s self-titled LP and this year’s EP, Break Mine. The group performs tonight at 7 at Jacobs Pavilion. Stephen Wilson Jr. opens.
    2014 Sycamore St., 216-861-4080, jacobspavilion.com.

    SUN 06/30

    Is for Lovers & Hawthorne Heights Presents: 20 Years of Tears
    The “Is for Lovers Festival” launched in 2022 with Hawthorne Heights, the founders and curators of the annual outing, bringing the touring trek to three cities for its inaugural run. In 2023, “Is for Lovers” expanded to 10 cities. Named after Hawthorne Heights’ iconic song, “Ohio Is for Lovers,” this year’s tour features Hawthorne Heights, I See Stars, Anberlin, Armor for Sleep, Emery and This Wild Life. The concert begins at 5 p.m. at Cain Park in Cleveland Heights.
    14591 Superior Rd., Cleveland Heights, 216-371-3000, cainpark.com.

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    Jeff Niesel

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  • Livewire: 10 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend

    Livewire: 10 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland This Weekend

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    Scene archives

    Chris Stapleton at a previous Blossom stop


    THU 05/30

    Lauren Daigle: The Kaleidoscope Tour
    The Christian rock singer-songwriter brings her Kaleidoscope Tour to Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse. The concert begins at 7 p.m., and Ellie Holcomb opens.
    One Center Court, 216-420-2000, rocketmortgagefieldhouse.com.

    Red Light Roxy
    Tonight at 7:30 at Market Garden Brewery, this local act will play a mix of jazz standards, jump blues, swing, boogie-woogie and old-school R&B.
    1947 West 25th St., 216-621-4000, marketgardenbrewery.com.

    Maggie Rose
    Since her breakout a few years ago, singer-songwriter Maggie Rose has shared the stage with artists such as Kelly Clarkson, Heart, Joan Jett, Marcus King, the Mavericks, Fitz & The Tantrums, Kingfish and the Revivalists. Currently prepping a new studio album, she also hosts her own podcast, Salute the Songbird, which is now in its fourth season. She performs tonight at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    FRI 05/31

    Baldassarre Rock Orchestra
    Local guitar hero Carl Baldassarre brings his rock orchestra to the Heights Theatre in Cleveland Heights. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
    2781 Euclid Heights Blvd., Cleveland Heights, grogshop.gs.

    Dru Hill
    Founded in Baltimore back in 1992, this R&B group has somehow survived all the ups and downs of the music industry to still tour and record. The group’s biggest hits came in the ’90s when collaborations with Redman and Ja Rule topped the charts. It comes to MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage tonight at 8.
    10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com/en.html.

    Kaboom Collective and Mourning [A] BLKstar
    Kaboom Collective, a local group renowned for “pushing artistic boundaries and challenging conventional educational norms,” will team up with local rockers Mourning [A] BLKstar, a self-described Afrofuturist soul collective, for this concert that takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Baldwin Wallace University’s Kleist Center for Art and Drama. The show will be recorded for a live studio album and filmed for a special documentary project.
    95 E. Bagley Rd., Berea, 440-826-2239, bw.edu/.

    Chris Stapleton’s All-American Road Show
    Gruff-voiced country singer-songwriter Chris Stapleton brings his All-American Road Show back to Blossom. The prolific Stapleton teamed up with uber-producer Dave Cobb (Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Sturgill Simpson, Jason Isbell, Take That, Rival Sons and Zayn Malik) for his latest effort, Higher, another collection of carefully crafted introspective tunes. Singer-songwriter Marcus King and the War & Treaty open.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    SAT 06/01

    Toronzo Cannon & the Chicago Way
    This Chicago bus driver has become the latest highly rated blues export from the Windy City. Unhappy at being told to keep his opinions to himself, Cannon uses his latest album, the aptly titled Shut Up & Play!, to express his views about the world. He comes to Music Box Supper Club tonight at 8 in support of the album.
    1148 Main Ave., 216-242-1250, musicboxcle.com.

    NEEDTOBREATHE and Judah and the Lion
    Formed in South Carolina in 2001, NEEDTOBREATHE has garnered two billion career streams and scored multi-platinum chart topping hits. One particularly popular anthem, the gospel-inspired “Brother,” pairs the group with singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw. The group brings its co-headlining tour with indie rockers Judah & the Lion to Blossom. The show begins at 7:30 p.m.
    1145 W. Steels Corners Rd., Cuyahoga Falls, 216-231-1111, livenation.com.

    Tank R&B Money Tour 2024
    R&B superstar Tank will draw upon two decades worth of material for tonight’s show that pairs him with Keri Hilson and Carl Thomas. The concert begins at 8 at the Akron Civic Theatre.
    182 South Main St., Akron, 330-253-2488, akroncivic.com.

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  • Taking Back Sunday Returns with ‘Most Realized’ Album

    Taking Back Sunday Returns with ‘Most Realized’ Album

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    Ashley Osborn

    Taking Back Sunday.

    The press materials for 152, the latest effort from the hard rock act Taking Back Sunday, maintain that it’s the band most “fully realized” album. Could it really be that the group has finally found itself after twentysomething years?

    “I do agree with that statement,” says singer Adam Lazarra via phone from his Charlotte home, where he was getting ready to rehearse for a tour that brings Taking Back Sunday to House of Blues on Tuesday, June 18. “I’m proud of a long list of things that we’ve done, but one of the main things is that each record is a snapshot of the people we were at that time — sonically and lyrically and musically. When we would go into the studio in the past, there would be this voice in your head that you don’t want to alienate anyone or go too far out to left field. With the approach with 152 and just where we are in our lives, I feel like all of us were able to quiet that voice better this time around than before. This is who we are.”

    The group started to write the songs for the album during the height of the pandemic. After continued lockdowns thwarted a few in-person songwriting sessions, the group finally got together about two years ago to begin working on the album in earnest.

    “When we did get back together, there were some ideas we had started kicking around in 2021, but we were throwing things at the wall,” says Lazzara.

    A call from DJ Steve Aoki would set the wheels in motion.

    “[Aoki] was putting this record out that was all collaborations, and he reached out because they wanted me to do some [vocals],” says Lazzara. “Instead, I suggested he work with the whole band.”

    Aoki happened to  have a show in Charlotte, and the Charlotte studio where TBS recorded its last album, Tidal Wave, was available.

    “At that session, we met Tushar [Apte] who wound up producing 152,” says Lazzara. “It was fascinating seeing how those guys work in that world. We’re used to recording as a rock band. You go in and mic up the drum kit and do the whole thing. That’s still how we recorded 152, but the speed and efficiency of how these guys work rocked our world. From that point forward, we realized what we were chasing and how we could get there.”

    Album opener “Amphetamine Smiles,” a Bowie-esque ballad that commences with acoustic guitars and tender vocals, showcases the album’s rich sonic textures from the get-go. The soaring strings turn the track into an evocative power ballad.

    “Those are live strings on the song,” says Lazzara. “That song was originally a completely different thing. [Apte] pulled the rhythm section out for almost the first half of the song, and it was amazing. From there, we inserted synth-y sounds. The bulk of the lyrics came from [guitarist] John [Nolan]. When he first brought it to us, it was like a folky kind of tune. Then, our drummer wanted to speed it up to 200 bpm. We brought it down, down, down from there. It was one of the few songs on the record that was brought in and the bones and structure were pretty much realized.”

    The album shifts musical gears with “Keep Going,” an intense track that features accelerating synths and gang-style vocals.

    “There’s one chorus where it’s all of us singing and one where it’s John [Nolan] and I and one where it’s John and Tushar [Apte] and I,” says Lazzara when asked about the layered vocals. “It was all gang vocal style. I like the energy about it.”

    A shimmering ballad with ’80s undertones, “I Am the Only One Who Knows You” shows off Lazzara’s powerful voice. The band drew inspiration for it from an unlikely source.

    “It originally had a different chorus,” says Lazzara. “We recorded at a few different studios because we were doing the album in bursts. We could sit with certain decisions. We were at this one studio in Los Angles and trying to figure it out. We talked about how much we love ‘Sailing’ by Christopher Cross, and there’s this idea of slowing it down and changing the chords around, and once we did that, there was this ‘aha’ moment. We just added a bit more distortion to it.”

    While 152 isn’t quite a year old, the TBS guys have already started thinking about the next studio release.

    “On days off, we started going into the studio, and there is a lot of material there,” says Lazzara. “The plan for us — and we realize this now — is that you have to change with the times, like Bob Dylan said. We come from this mindset that it always has to be all analog. It’s so dumb. I see that there is another way and a middle ground with that other way, and it’s not only efficient way to work but some of the most fun I’ve ever had.”

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  • Alex Cuba Relishes Tiny Desk Appearance and First Grammy Win

    Alex Cuba Relishes Tiny Desk Appearance and First Grammy Win

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    Courtesy of Kari Zalik/Bad Parade

    Alex Cuba.

    Since moving from his native Cuba to Canada in 1999, singer-songwriter Alex Cuba has accumulated a number of significant awards and built his musical resume with guest appearances and production credits. He just won his first Grammy, and that award follows four Latin Grammys and two Canadian JUNO Awards.

    The songwriter behind half of the Spanish language album by Canada’s Nelly Furtado, Cuba also recently paid tribute to Carlos Santana at the 24th Annual Hispanic Heritage Awards alongside the Black Pumas and Juanes and has collaborated with Latin artists such as Pablo Milanés, Lila Downs, Leonel García and Cimafunk. Most recently, Cuba was recognized as writer and producer on a track Omara Portuondo’s Latin Grammy-winning album, and he delivered a rousing Tiny Desk performance, something he describes as one of 2023’s highlights.

    “To be completely honest, I had expected to do [the Tiny Desk series] a lot sooner in my career, but I was grateful it happened,” says Alex Cuba via phone from a Canadian studio where he was doing some recording prior to embarking on a spring tour that includes a May 1 stop at the Cleveland Museum of Art. “It’s quite the thing. You have to change the way you play. It’s a tiny place, and you have to play super quiet. You’re there, and you go, ‘Really? This is what it is.’ Some musicians go there and break down. They’ve been dreaming and then they realize you need to play differently. But it was an amazing experience. My fans around the world loved it.”

    Cuba grew up in Cuba and immersed himself in music at a very young age. He joined his father’s jazz group of 24 guitarists and toured the globe with them, learning from his father’s “encyclopedic knowledge of Cuban music.”

    “I had a pristine youth,” he says. “I compare it now to where I am, and I can’t help but to feel very lucky. All of the conditions were there for me to naturally grow into music and harvest what it takes to be a musician. I had opportunities that a lot of people don’t have today.”

    Even at an early age, Cuba, whose music draws from rock, funk, jazz and pop, embraced a wide range of musical styles. At age 11, he saw Michael Jackson perform on TV, and the experience was life-changing.

    “Life was changed from that point forward,” he says. “ To this day, I don’t know how Cuban TV put Michael Jackson on TV. Maybe someone made a mistake and was fired the next day. I’m very grateful. All of a sudden, I heard [Jackson]. it was so impactful that I ended up learning how to dance like Michael, and I started dressing up like Michael, so I could look like Michael. Music started calling inside of me.”

    At age 14, he saw someone playing an electric bass and decided he just had to have one.

    “I saw this instrument for the first time in my life, and I said to my dad, ‘What is that? I want one,’” he recalls. “My dad was a teacher at a house of culture. It’s a music center where they teach all forms of art to kids for free. It’s an amazing program. My father knew there was an electric bass there that nobody was interested to play. He got it for me. That’s when life when got interesting. I went into jazz, jazz fusion, rock, blues, punk. I closed myself in my room and never saw the sunlight again.”

    He’s exaggerating, of course, about never seeing the sunlight again, but at that time, he also started writing his own songs and channeling those influences into his music.

    His career took another turn when he got married and moved to Canada, where he began his career as a singer-songwriter based in Smithers, BC. His solo debut, Humo De Tobaco, earned him a Juno award for World Music Album of the Year in 2006. Cuba as steadily recording and touring when the pandemic hit in 2020. Unabated, he recorded at home in 2021. The resulting album, Mendó, took home the 2022 Grammy for best Latin Pop Album. It was Cuba’s fourth nomination and first win.

    The album kicks off with “Hablando x Hablar,” a funky tune that finds Cuba collaborating with the Grammy-nominated Cuban musician Cimafunk.

    “It was super meaningful,” Cuba says of the Grammy win. “I have won four Latin Grammys before, but in the music world, the ‘American Grammy’ as we call it, is the Holy Grail. We’re always aiming for that. It happened when I least expected it. I recorded the album in the middle of the pandemic by myself in my living room. I didn’t have a studio. We added all the guest vocalists and horns that we did in Cuba.”

    Last year, Cuba released his most recent album, El Swing Que Yo Tengo. With its thick bass grooves, the title track really shows off his love for funk.

    Cuba says he looks forward to returning to Cleveland and is a fan of the Rock Hall. And if the Johnny Cash bus is on the plaza and open to the public, he’ll be the first in line.

    “I love Cleveland,” he says. “I’ve been there to check out the Rock Hall, and the last time I was there, I really wanted to jump on Johnny Cash’s tour bus, but they wouldn’t let me do it.”

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  • JJ Grey Discusses the Inspiration for His First New Studio Album in 9 Years

    JJ Grey Discusses the Inspiration for His First New Studio Album in 9 Years

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    JJ Grey, a singer-songwriter who spent the latter part of the ’90s playing juke joints in his native Florida, says those early shows often found him playing to hostile audiences.

    But they taught him a valuable lesson — namely, how to work a crowd.

    “When it’s great, it’s great. When it ain’t, it ain’t,” he says via phone from an Atlanta tour stop when asked about those early days. JJ Grey and his backing band Mofro play on Friday, March 29, at the Agora. “You play in some rough places. But we never needed the chickenwire [to separate the band from the crowd]. Nobody ever really threw stuff at us.”

    The club drew a range of listeners, and Grey soon learned how to keep them satisfied.

    “It was near the naval air station, so you would have naval officers,” he says. “You will also have rednecks, and another night, you will have bikers. With the bikers, you lean on the Steppenwolf. With the Navy guys, you can lean on Steppenwolf too. With the rednecks, you make sure there is Skynyrd in there. You don’t want to go there and play a song by the Cure, which is a band I also love a lot. U2 was about the limit.”

    After cutting his musical teeth on the club circuit, Grey made his recording debut in 2001 with Blackwater and followed it up in 2004 with Lochloosa . Both albums were released on the Fog City label under the name Mofro, a moniker Grey chose to describe his music and sound while still working his day job at a lumberyard. In the wake of those releases, Grey steadily released new music, but 2015’s Ol’ Glory represents his last studio album.

    Grey says the songs on his new effort Olustee, his first studio album in nine years, started to come together in 2016.

    “It was about a year and a half after Ol’ Glory came out,” he says. “The rest of them I picked up here and there along the way. I was in no rush. And thank God I wasn’t in a rush. I wasn’t even paying attention to that. I wasn’t really aware that that much time had passed. I’m sure the label was sweating it.”

    “Free High,” “Starry Night” and “Top of the World” were the first three songs he wrote. He took his home demos to the studio and made studio demos that he thought he’d re-record, but the first time in the studio, “it just worked.”

    “That’s how I wound up being self-produced,” he says.

    On the album, Grey relates stories from both his past and his grandfather’s past in the title track, a song about getting caught in a forest fire that also references the town near where his grandfather grew up.

    “I did the music for that song instrumentally at the house,” he says. “It sounds like a forest fire. It reminded me of a story my grandfather told me, and it is also about how I was caught in one a few different times. I had a neighbor who almost got us all killed. It just ended up in the song. The music conjures that image up in my head.”

    He recorded the bulk of the album in the same Retrophonics Recording Studio in St. Augustine where he’s recorded his other albums. He did most of the vocals in his own studio, and he enlisted a symphony to record strings in Budapest.

    Many of the songs also include spirited horn arrangements, giving the tunes an old school soul/R&B feel.

    “I’ve wanted horns on every album, even my first two albums,” says Grey. “But my buddy Dan [Prothero], who produced those oldest records with me, said, ‘Don’t write a check in the studio that you can’t cash.’ As a result, I didn’t use horns early on even though I love horns. They’re a big part of all the music that I really love. I love having them, and the guys on the album crushed it.”

    The opening song, “The Sea,” features soulful vocals as Grey sings about his love for the ocean while using poetic imagery.

    “I played that music on acoustic guitar, and the chorus just came up,” he explains when asked about the track. “The chorus ‘I belong to the sea’ just came up. When that popped into my head, I could see visions of surfing and fishing along the ocean where I live. It also conjured up the whole concept of sailing ships around the world back in the day. There’s this thing that gets into you. Mountains do the same thing. These things have a way of making you feel small and wonderful at the same time.”

    With an expanded band backing him for the current tour, Grey says the live show will draw heavily from the new album.

    “We play about seven or eight from the new record,” he says. “I have an 11-piece band. It’s almost 50 percent bigger than in the past. It’s great. Everyone is killing it. I just have to show up and not blow it when I’m up there. We have played two shows so far, and it’s been great.”

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  • Livewire: 14 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in March

    Livewire: 14 of the Best Concerts to Catch in Cleveland in March

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    Courtesy of Lea Marra & the River Boys

    Lea Marra & the River Boys celebrate the release of their new album at the Beachland Tavern. See: Friday, March 15.

    THU 03/14

    KMFDM
    Touring in support of the new album, Let Go, this veteran industrial rock act performs at 7 tonight at the Agora. The album’s title track features a compelling mix of chugging guitars, gruff vocals and orchestral synths, all the while embracing pop sensibilities. Expect to hear it alongside classic tracks such as “A Drug Against War,” “Godlike,” “Light,” “D.I.Y.” and “Megalomaniac.” Cyanotic opens.
    5000 Euclid Ave., 216-881-2221, agoracleveland.com.

    FRI 03/15

    Lea Marra & the River Boys
    The local singer-songwriter celebrates the release of her new album with tonight’s show that takes place at 8 at the Beachland Tavern. Marra, who previously released records with a different backing band dubbed the Dream Catchers, embraces bluegrass and folk music on the new album. Chloe & the Steel Strings and Dave Ziggy open.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    Sleepytime Gorilla Museum
    This experimental indie band just returned with Last Human Being, its first new album in 13 years. The songs feature off-kilter time signatures and verge on embracing noise rock while maintaining a slightly more accessible sound. A song like “S.P.Q.R.” careens like Adrian Belew-era King Crimson. The madcap group performs tonight at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom. Lung and Isolation Tank Ensemble open.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    SAT 03/16

    Tesla
    Named in honor of eccentric inventor Nikola Tesla who pioneered all things electrical, this hard rock group started with a bang. Its 1986 platinum debut album, Mechanical Resonance, included Top 40 hits “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Little Suzi.” The follow-up, The Great Radio Controversy, kept the hits coming with tracks such as “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” and “Love Song.” These tracks will likely make it into the setlist when the ’80s hard rock group plays MGM Northfield Park — Center Stage tonight at 8.
    10705 Northfield Rd., Northfield, 330-908-7793, mgmnorthfieldpark.mgmresorts.com.

    The Dollyrots
    On Night Owls, the latest effort from snotty punk rockers Dollyrots, retains the brash attitude for which the band is known., Album opener “5+5” provides a perfect distillation of pop-punk and holds up nicely to anything by more popular pop-punk purveyors such as Blink-182. The group plays tonight at 8 at the Beachland Tavern.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    TUE 03/19

    An Evening with Mike Doughty and Ghost of Vroom
    This special shows will feature songs from singer-songwriter Mike Doughty’s entire catalog, including his work with Soul Coughing, the ’90s group that featured his tongue twisting lyrics set to groovy jazz/funk/rock rhythms. The set will also feature selections from all three Ghost of Vroom albums as well as his solo material. The show begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Ballroom.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    WED 03/20

    Wayne Hancock
    Echoing the past while confronting the present, Wayne “The Train” Hancock embodies the classic style of straight-shooting songwriting. He plucks out jangling melodies on the guitar while his lyrics cut right to the chase. On tracks like “Lone Road Home,” Hancock ponders existentialism and eternity in the simplest of ways. Cory Grinder and the Playboy Scouts, a local honky-tonk group, opens the show. The concert begins at 8 p.m. at the Beachland Tavern.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    THU 03/21

    Here Come the Mummies
    This mysterious funk group has opened for the likes of P-Funk, Al Green, Mavis Staples, KC and the Sunshine Band,and Cheap Trick. It’s also a festival favorite. The anonymous band members have reportedly won several Grammies with other artists. The group performs tonight at 6:30 at the Kent Stage.
    175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

    SAT 03/23

    Black Violin Experience Tour
    This group that “reconceptualizes what a violin concert looks and sounds like, building bridges to a place where Mozart, Marvin Gaye and Kendrick Lamar harmoniously coexist. Black Violin invites you to think outside of the box,” as it’s put in a press release, performs tonight at 8 at the State Theatre.
    1519 Euclid Avenue, 216-241-6000, playhousesquare.org.

    SUN 03/24

    An Evening with Karla Bonoff and Livingston Taylor
    The two singer-songwriters whose careers date back to the 1970s come to Kent Stage tonight at 6:30. Bonhoff’s songs have become hits for Bonnie Raitt, Wynonna Judd and Linda Ronstadt. James Taylor’s brother, Taylor has had Top 40 hits such as “I Will Be in Love with You” and “I’ll Come Running.” For tonight’s show, they’ll perform both solo and together.
    175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

    Felicity
    After releasing a series of successful singles in 2023, indie rockers Felicity returned earlier this year with the new track “Charlie Sheen.” The quirky emo track features Point North’s Jon Lundin. Expect to hear it tonight when the band plays Mahall’s 20 Lanes in Lakewood.
    13200 Madison Ave., Lakewood, 216-521-3280, mahalls20lanes.com.

    Shovels & Rope
    This country duo — Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent — delivers what a press release describes as “character-driven narratives about around imperfect protagonists and their shortcomings.” Released in 2022, Manticore, finds the group in good form as synths and manic vocals drive songs such as “Domino” and softer vocals resonate on the ballad “Crown Victoria.” The group performs tonight at 8 at the Beachland Ballroom. Al Olendar opens.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

    WED 03/27

    Samantha Fish
    An internationally acclaimed blues singer, songwriter and lead guitarist who regularly makes Northeast Ohio one of the stops on her many tours, Samantha Fish has released six albums and appeared on many a magazine cover throughout her acclaimed career. A fierce guitarist and singer, Fish comes to the Kent Stage tonight at 6:30.
    175 E. Main St., Kent, 330-677-5005, kentstage.org.

    Robert Lockwood Jr Blues Birthday Celebration
    A fixture on the local blues scene for many years, the late Robert Lockwood Jr was a blues icon with both a local and national following. Tonight at 7:30 at the Beachland Ballroom, local singer-songwriter Austin Walkin Cane teams up with Colin Dussault to celebrate what would’ve been Lockwood Jr’s birthday. The concert begins at 7:30. DC Carnes and the DC3 host.
    15711 Waterloo Rd., 216-383-1124, beachlandballroom.com.

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  • Matisyahu Says He’s Finding ‘Energy and Light’ at His Concerts

    Matisyahu Says He’s Finding ‘Energy and Light’ at His Concerts

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    Juliana Ronderos

    Matisyahu.

    Last year, reggae singer-songwriter Matisyahu wrote some 40 songs over a six month time period between winter and summer. The songs on his new EP, Hold the Fire, an album about holding out hope during times of violence, come from that time period. And while they might speak to the recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East, the tunes emerged prior to the events of Oct. 7.

    “When I’m singing the [new] songs, they seem 110 percent relevant to exactly what is going on,” says Matisyahu via phone from Lubbock, TX as he was on a travel day after a stop in Austin, TX. Matisyahu performs at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, at House of Blues. “There are times when writing songs this theme of overcoming and conquering comes into play. A lot of times, I’m referring to conquering your own inner demons and that kind of thing.”

    Matisyahu, who’s Jewish, says the meaning of his older songs has changed as well as he’s sensed the significance of touring during a time when a crisis has emerged in Israel.

    “It’s a difficult time and a hard time, but there is a ton of energy and light and hope at my concerts,” he says. After this interview took place, concerts in Santa Fe and Tucson were cancelled due to reported security concerns. “That’s between me and the fans, and it’s been really special. It’s a very special tour. Now, all of a sudden, the metaphor becomes literal when I sing all of my songs. In songs like ‘Lord, Raise Me Up,’ I’m thinking of hostages underground. That’s the thread. When I sing ‘Surrender,’ I’m singing that Hamas should surrender. It’s not a spiritual surrender about myself but about how there are evil people in the world who need to lay down their weapons. The plight of the Jewish people over thousands of years has to do with antisemitism, and the canon that I write from comes from that place of ancient Jewish spirituality, so it becomes extremely relevant.”

    Matisyahu adds that he wrote another new song, “Ascent,” after “all the Kanye [West] stuff.” That song will come out in early March, but he’s included it in the live show.

    “It comes from the Hebrew prayer ‘Song of Ascents,’” he says. “It has some Hebrew in it, but mainly it’s about antisemitism and is an empowering song for all the young Jews out there.”

    This past summer, Matisyahu released Live in Brooklyn, an album he recorded at the Brooklyn Bowl in New York during his annual Festival of Light concert. Last year, Matisyahu also made a surprise appearance at the March for Israel in Washington, D.C. in November and performed “One Day” with the Maccabeats.

    Like the other studio albums in his back catalog, Hold the Fire features a good number of inspiring tunes, including “Fireproof,” a tune with echoing vocals and layers of mid-tempo percussion and synths.

    “It’s a concept that comes from the Burning Bush in the Bible,” says Matisyahu when asked about the track. “It’s a fire that doesn’t consume itself, and the song and entire EP is based on a dream where I was praying in an ancient Middle Eastern synagogue and was playing with a baby tiger. The momma tiger was shooting flames out of her eyes at me, and I was engulfed in flames, but I realized I wasn’t burning up, and when I looked at my hand I realized it was made out of water. When I woke up, I was immediately struck by the dream. As an artist moving forward throughout time and getting older, it’s like, ‘How do you keep that fire burning and not get consumed by it?’ You have to keep throwing wood on the fire to keep it from going out. There’s this play between fire and water which is a real thing in all of us, especially as artists.”

    In “Fool’s Gold,” a poppy song with a thick bass riff and percolating synths, Matisyahu addresses our current obsession with celebrities.

    “It’s about not paying attention to what people who are not important people in your life think about you,” he says of the song. “I remember in the old days of Twitter, I would come back to the bus after my show and open up my phone and start reading the comments just to see what everybody thinks. You’re looking for constructive feedback, but it’s often fool’s gold. If you’re like me, you skip past the positive stuff and focus on the negative stuff. I stopped reading comments altogether. My wife reads them now and looks to see if there is a fan who needs special attention or something along those lines.”

    “Love Supplier” has an uplifting reggae lilt and includes nods to a few different styles of music.

    “The song is pretty Afropop, but when the chorus kicks in, it’s more of a reggaeton thing,” he says of the track. “It even has a bit of a dancehall beat. It’s like most of the music I’ve listened to for the last couple of years. I wanted to bring that kind of rhythm to the song. The kick in the drums and the high hat are hitting in different places, which I really like.”

    Twenty years into his career, Matisyahu says he continues to find inspiration by listening to other artists whose music has a powerful message.

    “I’ve always had a deep love of music and still do,” he says. “In these days of Spotify playlists, it’s very easy to discover new music and go exploring without having to physically walk into a record shop. There is so much music out there now, and for me, it’s all about finding music from those artists who are inspiring. Listening to music still moves me.”

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  • Bobby Rush Aims To Keep the Blues Alive

    Bobby Rush Aims To Keep the Blues Alive

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    Arnie Goodman

    Bobby Rush.

    Early in his career, blues singer-songwriter Bobby Rush, who was relatively unknown at the time, recruited guitarist Elmore James, already a notable musician who’d go on to become a Rock Hall Inductee, to play alongside him when he was performing at small Arkansas clubs like the Jitterbug. How’d he pull it off?

    “I had been singing at juke joints around town,” says Rush in relating just one anecdote from his storied career. Bobby Rush performs with Austin Walkin Cane and DJ Pete London at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 7, at the Beachland Ballroom. “In that band, Elmore James was the most popular one of all of us. I wanted him to play with me. It’s a drawn-out story, but there was a little lady in Mississippi getting married to a friend of mine. He saw her coming down the sidewalk one day and said, ‘Who is that pretty girl? I’d do anything to get that.’ I said, ‘Maybe I can help you out.’ I knew her and could make the introduction. He wanted $5 a night. I said ‘I can’t pay you that. I could give you $3.’ That’s how I got him to play with me. It was a dirty trick. That ain’t right.”

    Those juke joint gigs gave Rush the confidence to buy a $7.50 bus ticket to Memphis where guys like B.B. King, Sonny Boy Williamson and Rufus Thomas worked on Beale Street. He worked on Beale Street and saved up enough money to move to St. Louis. After working there alongside the likes of Chuck Berry and Albert King, he migrated to Chicago.

    “I thought I was in heaven,” he says of the Windy City. “Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley and Jimmy Reed were there. All the guys I could think of with my little country mind were in Chicago. That was like heaven to me. But then, the Lord took me to the Blue Island suburb. At that time, there weren’t any Black people that I knew of in Blue Island. I got this job playing behind a curtain. They wanted to hear my music but didn’t want to see my face as a Black man. That’s how I got off the ground. I put some musicians together and got a good band together with some musicians from down South.”

    Significant success didn’t arrive until 1971 when “Chicken Heads” became a big hit. Prior to that, Rush “played every juke joint [I could] for no money and got pushed around just enough to  learn what I was doing.”

    He cut “Chicken Heads” in 1968, but the track, a slow jam that starts with a funky bass riff before Rush’s woozy vocals come into the picture, didn’t come out until 1971.

    “People thought it was nothing, a zero,” he says. “Then, when put it out, it went to No. 1. I had a No. 1 and James Brown had the No. 2 record and Bill Withers had the No. 3 record. To beat those two guys at that time was hard to do. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was just playing music and hoping to be popular enough for the girls.”

    Eventually, Rush decided to move back to Mississippi, where his grandparents lived. He wrote his autobiography, I Ain’t Studdin’ Ya: My American Blues Story, based on researching his family background.

    “I didn’t write the book so people would feel sorry for me,” he explains. “I wanted people to read and think, ‘If Bobby Rush can do it, I can do it.’”

    He also cut the 2020 Rawer Than Raw album with his roots in mind.

    “I was trying to take back what the white musicians had taken from the Black guys,” he says. “Black guys had changed their identities and tried to sound white. I said, ‘I’m going to take it back and be this Black guy.’ I write and joke and have fun, and that’s blackness. Then, I started to crossover. I have crossed over to a white audience. You can name a few black guys now who have a big Black audience, but black audiences don’t know who they are.”

    His latest album, All of My Love, came out last year and won a Grammy for Best Traditional Blues album. Expect to hear some songs from it at the upcoming Beachland show, which will allow Rush to celebrate his remarkable legacy. When it comes to playing live, Rush  says he aims to entertain at a high level and rely upon his decades of experience.

    “Oh, I just be Bobby Rush,” he says with modesty when asked about playing live. “I’m old and ugly, and I just be me. I have learned what to do on stage after 70-some years on stage. I know what not to do, and that’s important. It’s the really the same thing as I’ve been doing all my life. When I was a kid, I didn’t have a bathroom inside the house. We had to go out to the toilet. It looked bad and smelled bad. Now, I got nine bathrooms, and they look good and smell good, but you do the same thing in them. That hasn’t changed. That’s kind of like the music. I’m just trying to keep the blues alive. It’s the root of all music. If you don’t like the blues, you probably don’t like your momma.”

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  • Cold War Kids Take More Aggressive Approach on New Self-Titled Album

    Cold War Kids Take More Aggressive Approach on New Self-Titled Album

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    Sean Flynn

    Cold War Kids.

    Dating back to the ’80s, Orange County, CA, home to acts such as Social Distortion and the Offspring, has delivered its share of alternative and indie acts. Cold War Kids, a band that formed in Orange County in 2004, has tried to tap into that energy during its 20-year run.

    “From No Doubt to Sublime and Social Distortion – all these things were very inspiring,” says singer-multi-instrumentalist Nathan Willett in a phone interview from a Vancouver, BC tour stop. Cold War Kids perform at 7 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 26, at House of Blues. “We liked the aggression of the punk scene, and that’s always been important to us.”

    For the latest album, last year’s self-titled affair, the band took its time. As a result, the songs feel polished while still capturing the manic energy that comes across in Willett’s yelping vocals and the lurching soul and blues-inspired music.

    “We had done a trilogy of these eight-song EPs,” says Willett. “We just wanted to mix it up and do something different. After doing that, we wanted to get back to a more focused album with a vision. I got together with a lot of different producers and tried new things. It’s a little different approach. We didn’t start it and say, ‘We’re gonna make this record in four months.’ It was more low-key. I wanted to do it in a way that was on my schedule and as if it was a more sustainable day-time job. It was really amazing.”

    Willett says he knows there are drawbacks to “overcooking” the recording process, as he puts it, but he says he enjoyed revisiting ideas without any real pressure. He says one of the first songs he completed for the new album was actually the album’s first single, “Run Away with Me.”

    “It’s funny because we had that song for a very long time,” he says. “We had started recording during the pandemic and had recorded so much music. We were struggling because I was looking for something different and couldn’t find the sweet spot. We started the song with Carlos de la Graza, but then his daughters’ band the Linda Lindas blew up and he was about to start a Paramore record.”

    Producers such as Militarie Gun’s Max Epstein, Casey Lagos (Kesha, Wrabel), Ethan Gruska (Phoebe Bridgers, Weezer), Jenn Decliveo (Miley Cyrus, Hozier) and Malay (Frank Ocean, Lorde) all wound up contributing to the album.

    Album opener, the jittery, self-referential “Double Life,” sets the album’s tone.

    “There’s something about weaving through these genres and types of songs that are ‘indie,’ which to me means they have more abstract lyrics, and doing something more confessional and pop,” Willett says when asked about the tune. “It’s about presenting a version of yourself that you want people to know, but you can also be a dad behind-the-scenes and we’re championing that.”

    The live show at House of Blues will celebrate two decades worth of material, and Willett says the band has particularly enjoyed presenting material from the past four years in a live setting.

    “We rounded things up a bit to make this into a 20-year anniversary tour,” says Willett. “There were so many songs we recorded during the pandemic. We didn’t even know how they would work live. Now, we have the chance to play them live and stretch things out and make the most of things. I have the mindset now that I just want to write. I want to get the music out there, and I don’t care if it moves the needle for the band. This self-titled record is the story of the band in songs. It’s who we are.”

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