Weekend Music Ideas: May 12, 2017

Perfume Genius, Empire of the Sun, Justin Townes Earle and more.

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Rave on at Blue Hills Bank Pavilion as the harborside tent’s warming up for the season with electronic music in the days ahead. Before Tuesday’s Boston debut of French pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre (jump to my interview here), the flamboyant Aussie alt-electro duo Empire of the Sun holds court at the Pavilion on Friday, suggesting alien/Aztec circus performers augmented by dancers and lasers.

Friday also offers a cool Brighton Music Hall bill that reunites former labelmates for the ’80s alt-punk label SST in the Kirkwood brothers-led Meat Puppets, ex-Minutemen bassist Mike Watt and his latest outfit the Jom and Terry Show plus onetime Husker Du singer/drummer Grant Hart. Speaking of brothers, guitarist Luther and drummer Cody Dickenson ride the junction of Southern rock and Hill Country blues with the North Mississippi Allstars at the Sinclair the same night.

Saturday’s a busy, diverse night. Legendary drummer Roy Haynes (still working it at age 92!) brings his Fountain of Youth Band to Scullers Jazz Club. Singer/pianist Mike Hadreas rocks a more outward, sonically bolstered role with his Perfume Genius band at Royale the same night, or you could take your pick of seasoned Americana troubadours in Justin Townes Earle at the Sinclair or Stephen Kellogg at the Cabot in Beverly. On Sunday, cap your Mother’s Day with compatible folk-rocking mothers Deb Talan (stepping out from the Weepies to perform solo in support of her effusive new album Lucky Girl) and Jennifer Kimball, former co-singer of the Story behind her charming new chamber-pop effort Avocet.


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