Rock Picks: Fol Chen, Moonrats, Brightblack Morning Light, Bachelorette

Also, the Curious Mystery, Graham Parker, Miss Derringer, Marduk and others

Comments (0) By L.A. Weekly Music Critics Wednesday, May 27 2009

Anthony Hamilton, Musiq Soulchild, Chrisette Michele at Nokia Theatre
Here’s a solid triple bill no fan of grown-and-sexy R&B should miss: One of soul music’s most underappreciated talents, North Carolina’s Anthony Hamilton has been doing excellent work since 2003, when his Comin’ From Where I’m From caught some commercial heat he hasn’t managed to reignite since. (At least among record-buyers, that is; Hamilton is a favorite of other artists — check his guest spots on discs by Young Jeezy, Mark Ronson, Buddy Guy and Al Green.) Last year’s The Point of It All is typical of Hamilton’s style, with a clutch of tender but muscular slow jams that make recession-era romance sound much sexier than you might think: “If we ain’t got enough for a movie we can just sit at home,” he sings in “Cool,” “Have a little role-play, baby — whatever turns you on.” Musiq Soulchild’s latest, Onmyradio, reflects his recent move from Philadelphia to Atlanta; it’s less tuneful than his earlier stuff but just as atmospheric. Opener Chrisette Michele debuted two weeks ago atop Billboard’s album-sales chart with her new one, Epiphany, so expect a bit of headliner ’tude from her. (Mikael Wood)

Miss Derringer

Graham Parker

More About

Also playing Thursday:

DELUX, INSITE, CLAXONS, RUIDO DE FONDO at House of Blues; JAMES OTTO at the Mint; COTTON JONES, THE PARSON REDHEADS, LINDA DRAPER at Spaceland; SWING OUT SISTER at El Rey Theatre; SARA WATKINS at Largo at the Coronet; I AM GHOST at the Knitting Factory; UPSILON ACRUX, POLAR GOLDIE CATS, HOWL, PETER KOLOVOS at the Smell.