Not going to lie; we’ve been seeing a lot of concerts lately, even in the aftermath of NON-COMM. This week has plenty on our calendar — including one mega sold-out Hozier underplay, and a few sold-out stadium engagements with Taylor Swift. But as always, there’s much going on even if you didn’t get tickets to the big parties. Here are ten concerts to see in the next seven days, all around Philly. Tickets and more information can be found at WXPN’s Concerts and Events page.
Sunday 5/7: Kali Uchis at The Met Philadelphia
D.C.-area pop star Kali Uchis makes modern R&B slow jams for the overly-connected 2020s; when she sings “I hate your phone, throw it away / Wish it had never even been invented” on “All Mine,” the thought of solitude has never sounded so sexy. This spring’s tour in support of her third LP Red Moon In Venus comes to The Met tonight for a solid out-ish show, but for fans willing and able to pay the “verified resale” markup, a few tickets remain. // 8 p.m., $138 and up (verified resale), AA
Monday 5/8: Martin Sexton and K.T. Tunstall at The Appell Center
Veteran New England singer-songwriter Martin Sexton teams up with Scottish fave K.T. Tunstall for a co-bill to liven up your Monday at York’s Appell Center. The former has stayed busy since his song “The American” made it around the World Cafe mix some 20-odd years ago, and he self-released his most recent EP 2020 Vision in 2021. The latter’s seventh studio album, Nut, came out last fall, and her back catalog will have you singing along. // 7:30 p.m., $40, AA
Tuesday 5/9: The Natural Lines at Johnny Brenda’s
Long-running east coast indie troubadour Matt Pond launched a new project this year called The Natural Lines. Their self titled LP, out now on Bella Union, orbits the aching and introspective world as Pond’s back-catalog, but with perhaps more of a dreampop sheen. Catch them at Johnny Brenda’s on Tuesday, or for our Central PA friends, at Phantom Power on Saturday. // 8 p.m., $17, 21+
Wednesday 5/10: Alice Phoebe Lou at World Cafe Live
Falling between the atmospheric pop of Lana Del Rey and the psychedelic folk of Weyes Blood, Berlin’s Alice Phoebe Lou is starting to release her first new music since dropping back-to-back records in 2021. “Shelter” is out now, its from a record she’ll share details about later this year, and it’s a gorgeous slice of delicately orchestrated songcraft. Hear her play it live at World Cafe Live’s Music Hall; a few tickets remain for the gig, and the inimitable Lucy Stone opens the night. // 8 p.m., $20 and up, AA
Thursday 5/11: Seal at The Met Philly
Anniversary tours are great deals because you know exactly what you’re going to get. In the case of British pop icon Seal, his 30th anniversary run is actually celebrating two albums, his 1991 self titled debut, and 1994’s Seal II, and both will be played in full at The Met this Thursday. Warm up your voices to sing along to “Crazy” and “Kiss From A Rose,” and arrive early for a rare set from openers The Buggles. What’s the connection between the “Video Killed The Radio Star” band and Seal you ask? Those first two albums were both produced by The Buggles’ Trevor Horn. // 7:30 p.m., $29.50 and up, AA
Thursday 5/11: Yasmin Williams at Arden Gild Hall
Meditative finger-style guitarist Yasmin Williams has been praised for her innovative instrumental music since an impressive Tiny Desk Contest entry back in 2018. Her third LP, Urban Driftwood, draws inspiration from and reflects on the Black Lives Matter protests in the wake of George Floyd’s 2020 murder, and this Thursday her spring tour stops in Delaware to visit Arden Gild Hall. // 8 p.m., $20.40 and up, AA
Friday 5/12: Chisel at the First Unitarian Church
Before he was the premier singer-songwriter of 21st century DIY, Ted Leo led the D.C.-based Chisel, a band as focused on scrappy punk fuzz and solid pop songcraft. Though they parted ways in 1997, and Leo has traveled a fruitful solo career in the two decades since, Numero Group recently reissued their final album Set You Free, and the band reconvened for the first time in over 25 years to play the label’s anniversary festival this winter. Following it up with a short spring tour, they’ll play the First Unitarian Church this Friday. // 8 p.m., $18, AA
Friday 5/12: Bailen at Johnny Brenda’s
New York sibling trio Bailen put out their sophomore album Tired Hearts on Friday and played a dazzling NON-COMM set to celebrate. Songs like “Call It Like It Is” go hard in a live setting, and their back catalog is sounding better than ever. You can also consider this weekend’s JBs show a warmup for XPoNential Music Festival, which Bailen also performs at. // 8 p.m., $20, AA
Friday 5/12 and Saturday 5/13: Citizen Cope at The Keswick
For a chilled-out night of music in the immediate Philly burbs, Glenside’s Keswick Theater has a great option when XPN Welcomes two concerts by Citizen Cope on Friday and Saturday. The Pull Of Niagara Falls, the seventh album from Clarence Greenwood and his co-collaborators, came out in 2021. // 8 p.m., $39, AA
Saturday 5/13: Nonfiction at PhilaMOCA
Theatrical Philly art rock ensemble Nonfiction is sadly ending their time as a collective. The band isn’t leaving without a farewell, though, and this Saturday at PhilaMOCA gives one more opportunity to hear their epic LP I Painted This One Blue played live. Arrive early and see Philly’s The Lunar Year rock your faces off. // 8 p.m., $14.93, AA
