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 April 26:
Beach Fossils + Nation of Language — Friday at XL Live
A fantastic double bill comes to Harrisburg this week with indie rockers Beach Fossils and purveyors of synth pop Nation of Language. Both acts are from Brooklyn, and each is supporting a new album, with Beach Fossils supporting last June’s “Bunny” while Nation of Language dropped “Stange Disciple” in September to widespread critical acclaim. Be sure not to sleep on the latter as it explores themes of hopeless devotion, toxic infatuation, outrage-baiting news cycles, the battle of agony vs. ecstasy and more, which promises to be delivered brilliantly live.
Meatbodies — Friday at PhilaMOCA
Los Angeles psych-rock outfit Meatbodies’ latest undertaking, and borderline lost album, “Flora Ocean Tiger Bloom,” is their most realized work to date. The LP details how frontman Chad Ubovich faced the trials of sobriety, redemption and reinvention, all while literally learning to walk and play again as he battled a life-threatening health crisis that put him in a hospital bed for a month. Resurrection not only accompanies the record but also planted the seed for Ubovich to get back onstage with a vengeance.
Kansas — Saturday at American Music Theatre
Due to overwhelming popularity, the Kansas 50th anniversary celebration, dubbed the “Another Fork in the Road” tour, has been extended, with this Lancaster date one of the additions. The shows will see the band’s illustrious music history commemorated over two full hours of memorable hits, fan favorites and deep cuts rarely performed live. The tour has already been hallmarked by energetic and spellbinding performances across the U.S. and into Canada, further cementing the legacy of a group known for monster hits like “Carry on Wayward Son” and “Dust in the Wind.”
Ty Segall — Sunday at Union Transfer
Back in January, Ty Segall returned with his most ambitious, elastic set of songs to date on his 15th album, “Three Bells.” The record ended up an obsessive quest for expression, with much of it being played by the singer-songwriter in conversation with himself, a decision that further elevates the album’s conception. All 15 songs brim with perspectives, shapeshifting incessantly as Segall pushed them out farther and farther compositionally, challenging the way they’d be played. The new challenge then will be how he reveals them in a live setting, which can be found out this Sunday at Union Transfer.
Kamelot — Tuesday at H-MAC
Kamelot’s most recent release, “The Awakening,” debuted at No. 2 on the U.S. Current Hard Music Albums chart and No. 27 on the Current Album Sales chart, leaving little doubt how much it connected with fans. The album entered the band’s legacy as their most massive and diverse offering yet, mixing symphonic, gothic, melodic, progressive and power metal styles while yielding some of the heaviest tracks in the Florida unit’s history. Their intense brand of ultramodern gothic and symphonic theatricality is amplified further and with more emotionality — elements critical to their concerts.
Alan Doyle — Tuesday at Sellersville Theater 1894
Alan Doyle has made the road his home for many decades, beginning as lead singer and songwriter for the multi-platinum selling Newfoundland band Great Big Sea. Live, he combines the musical traditions of his native land in folk, Irish and seafaring tunes with modern pop and the Americana of his more recent solo albums. Back in 2018, he was awarded the Order of Canada for his contributions to the musical traditions of Newfoundland and for his commitment to numerous charitable initiatives. His resume is extensive as a thrice-published author, a film and TV actor-producer with multiple major credits, and the co-producer of the recently released, 20-song Ron Hynes tribute album, “Sonny Don’t Go Away.” Yet he remains most electrifying before a live audience, abetted by his ace band.
Royel Otis — Thursday, May 2, at Johnny Brenda’s
After forming in 2019 and slowly drip-feeding music into the world during the pandemic, Australian duo Royel Otis garnered fans in BBC Radio 6 Music, triple j and on U.S. college radio. To date, they have amassed over 35 million streams, covered global playlists on Spotify and Apple Music and headed out on a debut headline tour of the UK and Europe. Now they’re touching down stateside for the first time, swinging between melodic, pop-inspired indie and woozy psych, never tied to one lane. As soon as one style or mood has outstayed its welcome, they handbrake turn into psychedelic weirdness or dissonant noise, keeping audiences on their toes.
Soundcheck
• Beach Fossils: “Don’t Fade Away”
• Nation of Language: “Sole Obsession”
• Meatbodies: “Move”
• Kansas: “Carry on Wayward Son”
• Ty Segall: “My Room”
• Kamelot: “One More Flag in the Ground”
• Alan Doyle: “Dancing Like We Did Last Night”
• Royel Otis: “Sofa King”
Source: Berkshire mont