Weekend Music Ideas: February 22, 2019

CRASHfest, Anderson .Paak, Cheap Trick, Deerhunter and more.

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Get ready for an intriguing mix this weekend. Avant-funk fusion bassist Melvin Gibbs hit Scullers Jazz Club a few weeks ago in a power trio with the guys from Living Colour. On Friday, he’s back at Scullers to kick it again with Harriet Tubman, a somewhat similar trio with guitarist Brandon Ross and drummer J.T. Lewis that has backed Cassandra Wilson and blends African-American styles from gospel and blues to hip-hop. Broad-minded music fans can delve into other adventurous jazz grooves the same night with the revolving cast of Club d’elf, which hosts percussion and oud virtuoso Brahim Fribgane and guitarist Duke Levine for two shows at the Lizard Lounge.

Remain in Light remains arguably the best album by Talking Heads (or just about anyone) with its Afro-beat inspiration, infectious grooves and spirited experimentation. What a perfect idea for the dynamite Afro-pop singer Angelique Kidjo (pictured) to tackle that venerable album in full, not only on record but in concert. Kidjo headlines Saturday’s CRASHfest, the annual indoor festival curated by World Music/CRASHarts at House of Blues. The program features 10 bands, also including the Bhangra party band Red Baraat, the Afro-Colombian rhythm outfit M.A.K.U Soundsystem and French fusion group the Blue Dahia as well as brass bands, flamenco dancers and global street food spread between the club’s main stage, restaurant and Foundation Room. More info here.

Saturday also soars with the hip-hop soul of the multi-talented, Grammy-winning Anderson .Paak at the Orpheum Theatre, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame-inducted Cheap Trick (be sure to count Rick Nielsen’s guitars — and picks!) and opener Aaron Lee Tasjan at Lynn Memorial Auditorium, and evocative pop songstress Julia Holter at Brighton Music Hall.  Idiosyncratic singer/songwriter Rickie Lee Jones performs the same night at the Cabot in Beverly (and Sunday at Northhampton’s Iron Horse) behind her New Orleans-influenced new album The Other Side of Desire. And Sunday should resonate with either the indie-rock guitar din of Deerhunter at Royale or the New Orleans grooves of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band at the Sinclair.


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