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 June 19.
Jimmy Eat World — Friday at The Mann
While purists point to “Clarity” as Jimmy Eat World’s high-water mark, the correct answer is “Bleed American,” which the band will perform in full Friday at The Mann to celebrate the LP’s 25th anniversary. To prepare for the tour, the group set out to approach the songs from the album with a perspective they lacked in the blur of 2001: intentional gratitude. It’s led them to promise an “elevated version” of their typical, energetic sets. “Bleed American” has been certified platinum in the States and Gold in the UK, with the single “The Middle” recently joining the Spotify Billion Streams Club. The record was not only a commercial breakthrough, but also a touchstone for up-and-coming acts, with artists including Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Dashboard Confessional, Taking Back Sunday, and The Wonder Years citing the album as a major influence.
Smif-N-Wessun — Friday at City Winery — Main Stage
Last year, Brooklyn hip hop duo Smif-N-Wessun reaffirmed their 30-year legacy with the appropriately titled LP “Infinity.” Hailing from Brownsville and Bed-Stuy, they brought streetwise lyricism and unmistakable presence, famously renaming their borough “Bucktown” with their breakout single. Their 1995 debut “Dah Shinin’” remains hailed as a cornerstone of hardcore East Coast hip-hop. After a legal clash with the Smith & Wesson firearms company, the duo reemerged as Cocoa Brovaz and released “The Rude Awakening” in 1998. Come 2005, they went back to the Smif-N-Wessun moniker and haven’t looked back.
Secondhand Serenade — Friday at Archer Music Hall and Saturday at The Foundry
Secondhand Serenade, the solo project of singer-songwriter John Vesely, rose to fame in the mid-2000s as the No. 1 unsigned artist on MySpace, turning a self-released acoustic album into a phenomenon. His debut album, “Awake,” launched a career that quickly led to a record deal and multi-platinum success. Now celebrating the 20th anniversary of the LP, Vesely returns to the stage with a special world tour featuring reimagined songs enhanced by live string arrangements, delivering the emotional, intimate performances fans have come to know and love, raised to a new level.
Future Teens — Saturday at Ukie Club
Future Teens are growing up. It’s been a decade since they coined the term “bummer pop” to describe their tracks about romantic frustrations, misfortunes, and miscommunications. As they’ve gotten older, the bummers have become heavier and more complex, but the friendships and life lessons that help carry them also grow deeper and more meaningful. On their fourth album, “Still Life,” the band presents a collection of headfirst dives into grief, anger, shame, regret, identity, and ultimately, the hope that only comes from winning a staring contest with the abyss.
Kinkstravaganza – Saturday at The Fallser Club
Live Local Philly presents Kinkstravaganza, a celebration of 60 years of The Kinks, featuring local artists each performing specific time periods or albums released by the legendary British outfit. Special guests include Wesley Stace, Adam Weiner of Low Cut Connie, John Faye, Roberta Faceplant and Steve Skinner. The Modbeats will perform pre-1971 Kinks hits, the first side of “Muswell Hillbillies” will be played by Citizen Riot, while side two will be performed by The Edge Hill Rounders. To close things out, The No Good Crowd will perform post-1971 hits. Proceeds from Kinkstravaganza will go to Juntos, the community-led, Latine immigrant organization in South Philadelphia fighting for human rights for workers, parents, youth, and immigrants.
Indie rockers Ratboys will take the stage on Monday at Arrow at Archer Music Hall. (Miles Kalchik)
Ratboys — Monday at Arrow at Archer Music Hall
Despite its title, “Singin’ to an Empty Chair,” the latest album from indie rockers Ratboys isn’t defined by what’s missing. Rather, it’s the beginning of an important dialogue with a close loved one, vocalist/guitarist Julia Steiner, whom she finds herself estranged from. The music on the band’s sixth studio LP fills the space that person left behind with 11 songs showcasing the band’s twangy effervescence. They’re as confident as they’ve ever been — both live and on record — and more emotionally interrogative than ever before.
Chris Stapleton — Wednesday at Hersheypark Stadium
Country mega-star Chris Stapleton brings his “All American Road Show” to Hershey next week, part of a monumental run for the performer, who won Best Country Solo Performance at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards with “Bad as I Used to Be,” and was the most-nominated male artist at this year’s Academy of Country Music Awards with six nods. He also became the first country artist ever to have a song certified RIAA Double Diamond, as “Tennessee Whiskey” sold over 20 million units. Known for his electric live shows, the gig at Hersheypark Stadium is part of an ongoing run that will reach nearly 200 performances when it comes to a close in the fall.
Soundcheck
• Jimmy Eat World: “The Middle”
• Smif-N-Wessun: “Bucktown”
• Secondhand Serenade: “Fall for You”
• Future Teens: “Half Loser”
• The Kinks: “20th Century Man”
• Ratboys: “Anywhere”
• Chris Stapleton: “Heart Letting Go”