WHAT’S GOING ON
En Vogue.
THU 8/26 The Mountain Goats
As the world was burning and one day after California-based stalwarts of folk the Mountain Goats wrapped Getting into Knives in 2020, the fourpiece drove from Memphis to Muscle Shoals, Alabama to record the band’s 20th studio record, Dark in Here. Released earlier this year, Dark in Here could be, at first glance, considered the broody, gloomy, doomy, and desolate companion. But what the ohn Darnielle-led outfit manages to do is shine a heat lamp on those feelings through subtle and swelling instrumentation and thoughtful lyrics that explore a colorful world in grayscale.“Swim right through the night/Break the surface and rise like a geyser/When my time is right,” Darnielle sings on the album closer, “Let
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Me Bathe in Demonic Light,” a song that trails off like fireflies dancing at dusk with finger snaps and flute. The Mountain Goats will appear with Laura Cortese & the Dance Cards. — Jerilyn Jordan Doors open at 7 p.m. at the Royal Oak Music Theatre; 318 W. Fourth St., Royal Oak; 248-399-2980; royaloakmusictheatre.com. Tickets are $30. *Venue requires proof of vaccination
THU 8/26 Boyz II Men and En Vogue
Something magical happened in the early nineties and no, we’re not talking about the advent of the Hot Pocket. We’re talking about the R&B scene, baby, which filled the airwaves with sensual hits, power ballads, and so
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much harmonizing. Two of the genre’s biggest names have decided to give us the gift of a joint headlining tour and our loins are not ready. Of course we’re talking about power trios Boyz II Men and En Vogue. The timelessness of Boyz II Men has propelled the Philadelphia group to become the best-selling R&B group of all time, with more than 64 million albums sold thanks to hits like “End of the Road,” “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday,” and, our personal favorite, “I’ll Make Love to You.” What? It’s a really sexy song even if you’re, like, singing to a Hot Pocket. Anyway, over the years, Boyz II Men have also launched a charity, performed as part of a celebrated Las Vegas residency, earned scores of awards, including a nomination at the CMT Music Awards for their Crossroads performance of “Motownphilly” with country singer Brett Young, and, later, collaborated
with Steep Canyon Rangers on a bluegrass track. It’s no wonder the Boyz have teamed up with En Vogue, which is recognized as one of the top 5 highest selling American female music groups of all time. Known for hits like “Hold On,” “Free Your Mind,” “Never Gonna Get It,” “Whatta Man feat. Salt N Pepa”, and “Don’t Let Go,” En Vogue continues to surprise and enchant with creative collaborations and genre-shifting. In 2004, they landed on the indie Billboard chart for their sixth record Soul Flower and, in 2019, they collaborated with Chance the Rapper alongside Kierra Sheard and Ari Lennox on “I Got You (Always and Forever).” — Jerilyn Jordan Doors open at 7:30 p.m. at Michigan Lottery Amphitheater at Freedom Hill; 14900 Metropolitan Pkwy., Sterling Heights; 313-471-7000; 313presents.com. Tickets are $39.50+.
