Welcome to Seven in Seven, where we look at shows coming to the region over the next week. As always, whether your musical tastes are rock ’n’ roll, jazz, heavy metal, R&B, singer-songwriter or indie, there will always be something to check out.
Here are seven of the best on the docket for the week of March 22:
Matisyahu — Friday at Brooklyn Bowl
Grammy-nominated singer, songwriter and alternative reggae rock musician Matisyahu has not had an easy go of it on his current tour, which winds down Friday with the trek’s penultimate show at Brooklyn Bowl. The American Jewish artist has had a slew of shows canceled, some at the last minute, due to his support of Israel in the country’s ongoing battle with Hamas. Like some of the most gifted storytellers throughout history, Matisyahu spins the rare kind of stories that simultaneously enlighten, enthrall and expand the audience’s sense of possibility. At press time the Philly show was still a go. Let’s hope it stays that way.
Psymon Spine — Friday at Silk City
The third offering from Brooklyn-based band Psymon Spine is both an ode to the dissonance of temporality, and an ecstatic tribute to friendship and harmony in the face of that dissonance. “Head Body Connector” is a gritty, punchy, guitar-forward studio record from a band obsessed with production. It’s also a record that, more so than any previous Psymon release, is explicitly informed by the band’s notoriously cathartic live show. The end result is a little Sonic Youth and a little YMO, and basks in the glow of early 2000s New York-based dance punk and electroclash. In other words, it’s sure to be a blast hearing the songs live.
Laetitia Sadier — Friday at Johnny Brenda’s
“Rooting for Love,” the latest LP from Stereolab co-founder Laetitia Sadier, continues her journey of the self through time, space and collective consciousness, with an album set alight by the heat of a turbulent world, collapsing institutions her own fully engaged process of expression. Scored with organs, guitars, bass, synths, trombones, vibraphones, live and programmed drums, the album is guided by Sadier’s empathic presence, leading an ensemble that includes a vocal assembly of men and women billed as “The Choir,” alongside a talented cast of players and singers from Laetitia’s Source Ensemble and beyond. It’s a thrilling project, one that’s built to be performed onstage.
Nickel Creek — Sunday at American Music Theater
Together a sum of more than their staggering parts, Nickel Creek revolutionized bluegrass and folk in the early 2000s and ushered in a new era of what music fans now recognize as Americana music. After meeting as young children and subsequently earning the respect of the bluegrass circuit for a decade, the trio signed with venerable label, Sugar Hill Records, in 2000 and quickly broke through with their Grammy-nominated, Alison Krauss-produced self-titled LP. Since that effort, the trio has released four more studio albums to date, with the latest being last year’s “Celebrants.” The current tour adds to a landmark year for the band, who were nominated for Best Folk Album at the recent Grammy Awards for the record.
Claire Rosinkranz — Wednesday, March 27, at The Theatre of Living Arts
Over a soundtrack of alternative pop spiked with just the right amount of punk and electronics, Claire Rosinkranz asserts herself as a true Gen-Z storyteller whose vision instantly captivates. Since releasing her breakout — and Gold-certified — debut, “Backyard Boy,” the buzzing artist has built a diehard fanbase worldwide, racked up over a billion global streams, won the MTV Trending Award for “Best Breakthrough Song” at the 2021 MTV VMAs, garnered a “Social Star” nomination at the 2022 iHeartRadio Music Awards, toured with Alec Benjamin and sold out headline shows across North America, and performed at music festivals including Lollapalooza, Austin City Limits and Life Is Beautiful. If you’re looking to catch someone on the rise at an intimate venue while it’s still possible, don’t miss Rosinkranz at The TLA.
Guster — Wednesday, March 27, at XL Live
Guster comes to Harrisburg to celebrate a remarkable three-decade-plus run as part of a busy live schedule that includes their “We Also Have Eras Tour,” a unique theatrical performance featuring extended “Evening with Guster” sets chronicling the band’s history from 1994’s debut album, “Parachute,” to the long-awaited “Ooh La La,” which lands on shelves in May. Recorded at Woodstock, N.Y.’s Isokon Studio, the LP marks a bold departure from its predecessor, 2019’s acclaimed “Look Alive.” This time, Guster has carved out a lush and acclaimed expansive sound rich in acoustic guitars and graceful piano work. Next week’s show will be a great time to hear a sneak peek of new material like the just-released single “Keep Going.”
Kitchen Dwellers — Wednesday, March 27 at The Capitol Room at HMAC
Montana-based alt-Americana-tinged bluegrass outfit the Kitchen Dwellers bring their twist on bluegrass, folk and rock to Harrisburg next Wednesday. The band’s brand new record, “Seven Devils,” came out at the beginning of the month and is inspired by Dante’s epic voyage through the Nine Circles of Hell, with some songs drawing inspiration from “The Divine Comedy,” serving as checkpoints on a musical descent into the abyss. The Dwellers invite the listener to treat this experience as a musical journey inward — to the self — and promise to do much of the same when presenting the songs live.
Soundcheck
• Matisyahu: “One Day”
• Psymon Spine: “Wizard Acid”
• Laetitia Sadier: “Who + What”
• Nickel Creek: “Holding Pattern”
• Claire Rosinkranz: “Swinging at the Stars”
• Guster: “Keep Going”
• Kitchen Dwellers: “Pendulum (V)”
