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’s seven of the best on the docket for the week of March 10:
Emily Scott Robinson — Saturday at World Café Live
Acclaimed singer, songwriter and musician Emily Scott Robinson comes to town with Alisa Amador and Violet Bell in celebration of her new release, “Built on Bones,” a song cycle for the Witches of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.” In addition to the trio performing the project in its entirety, each of the artists will also perform a selection of their own songs individually. “Built on Bones” was originally commissioned for the Telluride Theatre and first came to life on stage with Robinson directing the music and performing in the role of Hecate. Following a wildly positive fan response, she joined forces with producer Brandy Zdan as well as Amador and Violet Bell’s Lizzy Ross to record the modernized adaptations.
Squirrel Flower — Sunday at First Unitarian Church
Squirrel Flower, the Boston born, Chicago-based project of Ella Williams, has been riding high on the single “Your Love,” a full band reimagination of last year’s “Planet” EP standout, “Your Love Is a Disaster.” Featuring overdriven guitar from MJ Lenderman, the song is a stark contrast to the slower, stripped-down original. In addition the “Planet” EP, an intimate look at what makes Williams one of the strongest and most prolific songwriters of the new decade, Squirrel Flower released the critically acclaimed album “Planet (i)” in 2021, which received raves across the board.
The Mary Wallopers — Monday at The Foundry
The self-titled debut LP by The Mary Wallopers is the culmination of several years of the group touring all corners of Ireland, collecting traditional songs before dusting them down and reimagining them in their Dundalk rehearsal space. The result is a record that perfectly channels an island’s musical history while never once sounding overawed by the task in hand. Brothers Charles and Andrew Hendy and their friend Sean McKenna formed The Mary Wallopers as a three-piece ballad group, with their early live performances garnering praise for exuding a raw energy. They released their debut EP, “A Mouthful of The Mary Wallopers,” in 2019, and shortly after the band expanded to a seven-piece.
The Dropkick Murphys — Tuesday at Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza
It wouldn’t be the season of St. Patrick’s Day without The Dropkick Murphys, as the proudly Irish rock ’n’ roll underdogs-turned-champions out of Boston continue creating the kind of music that’s meant to be chanted at last call, in packed arenas and during the fourth quarter, third period or ninth inning of a comeback rally. Their celebrated discography includes four consecutive Billboard Top 10 album debuts along with 2005’s gold-selling “The Warrior’s Code,” featuring the near double-platinum classic “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” Grab a pint, put on some green and let your inner Irish out next week in Wilkes-Barre.
Rick Wakeman –— Wednesday, March 15, at The Colonial Theatre
Keyboard wizard Rick Wakeman brings his latest tour, “An Evening with Rick Wakeman: His Music And Stories,” to Phoenixville. Wakeman’s set will consist of music taken from across the wide breadth of his 50-year-plus career, stripped back to its roots in arrangements for grand piano. It will include work from his early days as a session player arranging and performing keyboards on hits like David Bowie’s “Life on Mars,” through his groundbreaking stint with progressive rock band YES and his own multi-platinum solo albums, plus quirky covers of other acts like The Beatles.
Unwound — Wednesday, March 15, at Union Transfer
Pacific Northwest post-hardcore stalwarts Unwound close out a seven-city tour, their first live shows in over 20 years, at Union Transfer next week. Born in 1991 as the Riot Grrrl and grunge music movements took hold of underground pop culture, Unwound leveled their small corner of the ’90s punk scene with the scathing 1995 effort “The Future of What.” One of the flagship acts on the Kill Rock Stars label, the band also released material on iconic labels such as Gravity, Troubleman Unlimited and Matador over their initial 10-year run. A notoriously relentless touring act, Unwound temporarily ended their endless adventure on April 1, 2002, after a tumultuous year of societal and personal breakdowns and breakups.
The Smithereens — Thursday, March 16, at Ardmore Music Hall
Formed in New Jersey in 1980, The Smithereens remain one of America’s musical treasures. The band’s timeless power-pop sound — chock full of strong, catchy melodies, meaningful lyrics and walls of layered guitar, bass and drums — remains intact. Continuing to tour with three original members, despite the unfortunate death in 2017 of founding lead singer, songwriter and guitarist Pat DiNizio, the band’s lead singer for this show will be another noteworthy veteran of the power-pop scene, Marshall Crenshaw, who is enjoying his time touring with the band while also having established his own noteworthy career.
Soundcheck
• Emily Scott Robinson: “Double Double”
• Squirrel Flower: “Your Love”
• The Mary Wallopers: “Cod Liver and the Orange Juice”
• The Dropkick Murphys: “I’m Shipping Up to Boston”
• Rick Wakeman: “Life on Mars”
• Unwound: “Demolished”
• The Smithereens: “Blood and Roses”
Source: Berkshire mont
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