Regional concert previews of Reik, Sponge, Roots Picnic, more [Seven in Seven]

by michael christopher

Welcome to Seven in Seven, where we look at shows coming to the region over the next week. As always, whether your musical tastes are rock ’n’ roll, jazz, heavy metal, R&B, singer-songwriter or indie, there will always be something to check out.

Here are seven of the best on the docket for the week of May 31:

Pop rockers Reik play the Xcite Center at Parx Casino, Bensalem, on Friday. (Courtesy of Reik)

Reik — Friday at Xcite Center at Parx Casino, Bensalem

The name Reik carries weight and recognition. For proof, look no further than their multiple sold-out shows each year across all Latin America, the United States and Spain as well as numerous radio hits and songs featured in ad campaigns by international brands. Sixteen years ago, nobody could have imagined the rapid ascent of these three kids from Mexicali, Baja California into wildly popular pop rockers. Since that time, they’ve accumulated 9.1 billion streams, 8.5 billion views and 9.8 million subscribers on YouTube, along with 20 million monthly listeners on Spotify.

Kacy Hill — Friday at Johnny Brenda’s

Singer-songwriter Kacy Hill has been busy planting and growing and is finally ready to invite the world into her garden to reap what she’s sewn via her fourth studio album, “Bug,” which came out the first week of May. Filled with confessional ruminations, nectarous vocals and instrumentals wafting through desert air, the LP is a work of grandeur that sees Hill weaving a tapestry of earthy folk, dream-pop and Americana, orbiting between the themes of angst and confidence.

Ghostly Kisses — Saturday at World Café Live

Comprised of French-Canadians and partners Margaux Sauvé and Louis-Étienne Santais, Ghostly Kisses has become an international sensation, cultivating a cult overseas audience. The electronica pair have synthesized a unique passion and aura into the just released LP “Darkroom,” a record that wills our inner monologue into view, tears falling on the dance floor only to find mystic connection in the darkest corners. Each track comprises its own world, with Sauvé’s vocals as the radiant arc connecting their orbits, the sonic moments an awe-inspiring hope for connection and love, even when it seems most impossible.

Sponge — Saturday at Reverb

Coming in at the tail end of the grunge explosion, Sponge never really got their just due. Their second album, “Wax Ecstatic,” remains one of the best of 1996 and an underrated alt-rock touchstone of the ’90s. Still plugging along, the Detroit outfit recently released their so-called “lost album,” “Planet Girls,” which was supposed to be record number three before the label shelved it. Eventually the band re-recorded it and released the work as “New Pop Sunday” in 1999. Live, it’ll be some of those songs plus classics like “Plowed,” “Molly” and “Have You Seen Mary?”

Roots Picnic — Saturday and Sunday at The Mann

The Roots Picnic is taking over The Mann in Fairmount Park on Saturday and Sunday. Headliners run the gamut from local neo-soul legend Jill Scott and hip-hop icon Nas on day one to rapper Lil Wayne backed by The Roots, one half of Outkast in Andre 3000 and rapper Gunna on day two. And those are just a few of the names at the top of the bill. Throughout the weekend, music lovers will have the chance to see Method Man and Redman from Wu-Tang Clan, Funk Flex, Trombone Shorty, Babyface, Cam’ron, Leon Thomas and Fantasia across three stages throughout the festival grounds. Single day, two-day and various VIP packages for the Picnic are still available via therootspicnic.com.

Knocked Loose — Monday at Franklin Music Hall

Kentucky’s hardcore punkers Knocked Loose have honed in on a diverse, cohesive and savagely aggressive sound on their latest album, “You Won’t Go Before You’re Supposed To,” which dropped earlier this month. The LP sums up the massive strides they’ve taken during their decade as a band and asserts their boundless potential going forward. Internally, there was the need to challenge themselves as songwriters while retaining the merciless intensity and unflinching honesty that have always been their calling cards. Externally, there was a whole new set of eyes on the hard-touring Louisville quintet following a banner year on the road, during which they’d brought their underground-seasoned sound to some of the world’s biggest stages. Now they’re back to the smaller venues, headlining and delivering a knock down, drag out show for the ages.

Sophie Ellis-Bextor — Wednesday, June 5, at Union Transfer

Talk about a revival. After being featured in the epic final scene of Emerald Fennell’s much talked about film “Saltburn,” Sophie Ellis-Bextor’s popular 2001 hit “Murder on the Dancefloor” has seen a huge resurgence. Old and new fans are streaming the track, and the song is being used as a trending audio for millions of videos across social media platforms. The song continues to mark new achievements, clocking up over 140 million streams so far in 2024 and landing on the Billboard Top 100 for the first time where it peaked at No. 51. The UK singer-songwriter is all too happy to ride the wave of the disco pop classic, which has resulted in her first ever headlining tour of the United States, including next Wednesday at Union Transfer.