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 Sept. 26.
The Revivalists — Friday at Xcite Center at Parx Casino
Roots rockers The Revivalists are celebrating their breakthrough 2015 album, “Men Amongst Mountains,” with a 10th anniversary edition of the album that sees it expanded to a 36-track edition, including three alternate versions of their recently triple platinum-certified hit “Wish I Knew You,” including a remix by chillwave master Poolside. To further mark the decade milestone, the New Orleans outfit have embarked on a tour dubbed “All in the Family: 10 Years of Men Amongst Mountains” where they’ll be performing the LP in full along with a host of other songs.
Viagra Boys — Saturday at Franklin Music Hall
Back in the spring, Stockholm post-punk group Viagra Boys released their fourth album, “Viagr Aboys,” which is much easier on email spam filters than their actual name, which as one might imagine, causes a lot of blocked frustration in the digital world. V-Boys frontman Sebastian “Seb” Murphy shifts his focus inward from his previous lyrics, trading the political satire of 2022’s “Cave World” for a self-deprecating exploration of his own absurdity. Embracing the nonsense of existence, he seems to find solace in navigating life’s messy, stupid continuum with humor, self-awareness, and a touch of nihilism. Live, it’s nearly impossible to take your eyes off Murphy as he finds himself often shirtless and slovenly, covered in tattoos, while assuming full command of the room.
Jesse Ruben — Saturday at The Loft at City Winery
Though he lives in Atlanta these days, a big part of Jesse Ruben’s heart remains in his native Philadelphia, which is why he’s performing at City Winery to celebrate the release of next month’s “Belong” LP, which lands on shelves Oct. 10. The 10-song effort explores themes of mental health, living with a chronic illness, long-term relationships, and how essential community is for everyone’s survival and ability to thrive. It’s filled with Ruben’s signature catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and an emotional mix of pop, rock, and folk influences, including Paul Simon, Ben Folds, Matt Nathanson, and Ray LaMontagne.
The Beaches — Saturday at Union Transfer
Coming off the smash hit “Blame Brett,” The Beaches return with a brand-new record in “No Hard Feelings,” full of catchy anthems and deeply authentic lyricism, showcasing their ever-growing sonic prowess. From the indie melancholy of “Lesbian of the Year” to the contagiously fun bridge of “Last Girls at the Party,” the album is set to solidify the group as one of the driving forces of alt-rock today. It’s an album for dancing through the wins, the lows, and the real. Whatever reason you’re partying, it’s nice to know The Beaches are out there doing the same, well after the club has closed. A few weeks ago, Seven in Seven was out in Chicago and caught the kickoff to the current tour, and it was hands down one of the most fun gigs of the year. Catch them while you can at a venue the size of Union Transfer on Saturday.
Hiromi’s Sonicwonder — Sunday at Ardmore Music Hall
Over more than 20 years as a recording artist, the jazz piano phenomenon Hiromi has shifted seamlessly from one spellbinding project to the next. In the process, she’s earned a reputation as one of the most explosive live performers in the history of the genre and a global ambassador for the art form. Her many triumphs include an NPR Tiny Desk Concert that has racked up 2 million views, the opportunity to represent her native Japan with a performance at the 2021 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the 2024 winner for Best Music Score for the animated feature film “Blue Giant,” and a Grammy for a collaboration with fusion hero Stanley Clarke. Hiromi’s Sonicwonder features Hadrien Feraud on bass, Gene Coye on drums, and trumpeter Adam O’Farrill, all helping to propel the spirit of classic jazz-rock fusion, melded with classically rooted virtuosity, entrancing funk and pop flourishes.
G Flip — Wednesday at Union Transfer
Melbourne-born, Los Angeles-based G Flip dropped a thrilling new album this month, “Dream Ride,” which finds the musical polymath playing every instrument and teaming back up with co-writer/producer Aidan Hogg. The pair have created an album that both unpacks G Flip’s experience as a queer, non-binary artist while unabashedly inspired by Bruce Springsteen, late-night drives around L.A., ’80s reverb, and maximalist drums. The record has cemented their status as a truly singular voice in modern music, and at the same time becoming the role model they never had growing up. G Flip matches their potent musicianship with sonic originality and a fantastically outspoken point of view.
Cornelia Murr with Matt Maltese — next Thursday at The Fillmore
Brit singer/songwriter Matt Maltese comes to The Fillmore next week, but make sure to get there early and catch opener Cornelia Murr. The London-born, New York-based singer/songwriter released the album “Run to Center” at the beginning of the year, with its title mirroring where she found herself during its creation: at the geographic heart of the 48 contiguous United States, the small town of Red Cloud, Neb. — population: 948. There she hunkered down to restore an abandoned house, immersing herself in solitude and reflection. Music flowed out of her during this monastic period of stripping wallpaper in a derelict construction zone in the middle of nowhere. In the last place she expected, she was able to gain a vantage point of her own life and ultimately locate her own center, a grounding force that was inside of her the whole time. Now, she’s sharing it on stages across the rest of the country, along with a newly released collection, “B-Sides.”
Soundcheck
• The Revivalists: “Wish I Knew You”
• Viagra Boys: “Punk Rock Loser”
• Jesse Ruben: “Future”
• The Beaches: “Last Girls at the Party”
• Hiromi: “Pendelum”
• G Flip: “In Another Life”
• Cornelia Murr: “Skylight”
