What’s Hot in Music July: New Albums, Local Concerts
Much anticipated albums from Megan Moroney and Clairo, plus Outlaw Fest, Alanis Morrissette come to Xfinity Center
Alanis Morissette, AP Photo/Ben Hider/Invision (from left); Clairo, AP Photo/Sipa USA; Cigarettes After Sex, AP Photo/Sipa USA/Mairo Cinquetti
What’s Hot in Music This Month: New Albums, Local Concerts
Much anticipated albums from Megan Moroney and Clairo, plus Outlaw Fest, Alanis Morissette come to Xfinity Center
Happy July, Terriers! If the summer heat is getting to you, you’re in luck, because this month is bringing a whole lot of chill new grooves to help you cool off, starting with some jazz from indie mainstay Clairo. Then, if you’re looking to embrace the heat like a true cowboy, look no further than breakout country star Megan Moroney’s second studio album, Am I Okay? And just because it’s hot outside doesn’t mean you can’t dance your heart away with Alanis Morissette at the Xfinity Center later this month or get rowdy in a Chief Keef moshpit.
With the season well underway, it’s about time we decide what the song of summer 2024 is going to be…these new releases are likely to make the decision a whole lot harder.
New releases
Am I Okay? Megan Moroney
It’s no secret that country music is hot right now, and much of that is thanks to Georgia native Megan Moroney, who first gained traction with her 2022 single “Tennessee Orange,” which went viral. The certified platinum song is a college football–inspired love story, with Moroney describing betraying her home state for the University of Tennessee: “He’s got me doin’ things I’ve never done/In Georgia, they’d call it a sin/And I still want the Dawgs to win/But I’m wearin’ Tennessee orange for him.” Since then, Moroney has risen steadily in the ranks of country stardom. Now, with her second studio album since signing with Columbia Records/Sony Music Nashville, this self-proclaimed “emo cowgirl” has the opportunity to prove that her songwriting chops can make her a true country staple. Am I Okay? arrives July 12.
Evolve, Phish
Phish, the jam band created in a University of Vermont dorm room in 1983, is one of those bands that will always be classic, but never quite mainstream. And arguably, that’s what makes them so good. Evolve, being released through the band’s own record label, JEMP, is their 16th album, a milestone few bands can claim. Known for their improvisational stage presence, Phish leaves nothing off the table. Evolve’s title track sees them exploring groovier funk sounds, temporarily bidding farewell to the rock influences that have defined their long career. Whether that’s true for the rest of the album is up in the air until it drops on July 12.
Charm, Clairo
Charm, the third studio album by local indie-pop singer Clairo (who grew up in nearby Carlisle, Mass.), comes three years after the commercial success of her 2021 album Sling. The songwriter first made a name for herself when “Pretty Girl” went viral on YouTube, quickly becoming a lo-fi staple for internet teenagers. Though Clairo’s last album was produced by Bleachers frontman Jack Antonoff, known for producing albums for Taylor Swift and Lana Del Ray, for Charm she’s partnered with Leon Michels, whose work has been producing jazz artists. And you can see Michels’ influence in the first single, “Sexy to Someone,” with its 1970s jazz beat. Clairo has retained the honest self-reflection that makes her lyrics so relatable. Expect synth, sweet rhythms, and an indie groove when Charm arrives July 12.
X’s, Cigarettes After Sex
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I Love You So F***ing Much, Glass Animals
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Upcoming concerts
Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Outlaw Fest
Nothing says summer like a music festival. So if you missed this spring’s Boston Calling, or couldn’t make it to New York City for Governor’s Ball, mark your calendars, because Outlaw Fest is coming to Mansfield’s Xfinity Center, and the lineup couldn’t be more epic. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear these legendary musicians on one stage, led by Nobel laureate, 11-time Grammy Award winner, and Academy Award winner Bob Dylan, who released his first album 62 years ago. Also iconic: Alison Krauss, winner of an astonishing 27 Grammys, and her frequent musical partner Robert Platt (8 Grammys), who first collaborated on 2007’s acclaimed Raising Sand. Their most recent release together was 2021’s Raise the Roof. The festival will end with an hour-long set from country music icon Willie Nelson, who, with only a guitar, a gorgeous voice, and his signature shoulder length locks, is bound to bring the Xfinity Center crowd to tears.
Cavetown and Mother Mother
Having seen Cavetown perform the last time they were in Boston, at the House of Blues, I can guarantee this is a show indie-heads will not want to miss. This time, the British singer/songwriter (real name: Robert Skinner) will perform in a bigger venue—MGM Music Hall—alongside Canadian rock band Mother Mother, who you may know from their hit single “Burning Pile.” The show is bound to bring a newfound energy to Cavetown’s bedroom-pop sound. Though you might expect a mellow concert from Cavetown, it will be anything but. A word of advice: if you’re planning to attend the concert, make sure you’ve memorized some Cavetown lyrics, otherwise the devoted fan base may never forgive you. Trust us—this is one concert where you’re going to want to sing your heart out.
The Triple Moon Tour, Alanis Morissette
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A Lil Tour, Chief Keef
Say what you will about Chief Keef, the hip-hop artist has cemented his place in rap history. When he released his debut album, Finally Rich, in 2012, everyone thought he was a shoo-in for hip-hop fame. But subsequent mixtapes met with minimal success. But with the release of Almighty So 2, a sort of follow-up to his 2013 mixtapes 11 years in the making, Chief Keef demands respect. And he earns it. The rapper is starting “A Lil Tour” right here in Beantown on July 16, and will be joined by Lil Gnar and The Glo Boyz, two signees of his own label. If you’re heading to MGM Music Hall for Chief Keef, prepare for crowds of Sosa groupies and an unforgettable night of moshing.
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