SUN NOV 6
A$AP Ferg w/Playboi Carti, Rob $tone; Roseland Theater, 8 NW 6th
A$AP Fergâs father made a living creating custom apparel for the likes of Bell Biv DeVoe and P-Diddy, so itâs easy to understand the Harlem rapperâs career trajectory. On his latest album, Always Strive and Prosper, Ferg calls upon the genreâs greats (Missy Elliott, Migos, Chuck D, and more) to illustrate a narrative thatâs laced with nostalgia and references to rapâs yesteryear. He shares stories about home and family without losing his signature edge (âHungry Ham,â an ode to his neighborhood, is a banger in the truest sense of the word), and raps about navigating the lifestyles of the rich and famous. The A$AP Mob oozes coolness, so itâs nice to hear a member of the hip-hop collective reminding us that heâs just a normal guy who used to work day jobs before he started donning Alexander Wang and meticulously curating his Instagram account.
Alien Boy w/Lubec, Helens, Floating Room; Lolaâs Room in the Crystal Ballroom, 1332 W Burnside
When it comes to emo music, I have very particular taste: I want SoCal-accented vocals that arenât too whiny, lyrics about scorned ex-lovers that arenât too corny, guitars that thrash but also make me want to weep, and a perfect mix of humor and sincerity. Alien Boy fulfills all of these very specific qualifications as a rock group tailor-made for the current pop-punk climate. The Portland bandâs new EP Stay Alive rounds out their sound without losing the catchiness required for impassioned sing-alongs. Its members clearly draw inspiration from other bands they admire, like the Smiths, Joyce Manor, and Wipers. But Alien Boy doesnât sound derivativeâinstead, traces of these influences show up in their songs like indirect love letters.