Jeezy Talk about “Forever Young.” The fabled Columbia, South Carolina, rapper dropped the “Young” from his name in 2010 for a good reason. During his 18-year music career, Jeezy has gone from selling drugs under Philadelphia’s notorious Black Mafia Family to selling out arenas and surging to the top of the Billboard charts with hits like “Soul Survivor” and “I Luv It.” His penchant for transforming lore from his rough upbringing into radio rap anthems has earned him dozens of collaborations with hip-hop A-listers like Kanye West, Lil Wayne, Jay Z and Nas. And it goes further than music: Jeezy has dipped his feet into film by starring in 2009’s Janky Promoters, and he even opened up his house to survivors when Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005. Jeezy performances play out more like church services than concerts, with rabid fans rapping along with the emcee, so wear your Sunday best on Thursday. With Tee Grizzley. February 8, 8 p.m., $39, House of Blues.
Bad Cop/Bad Cop Pop-punk’s resurgence in the early-to-mid aughts was heavily inspired by bands like New Found Glory, Saves the Day and Yellowcard. Fat Wreck Chords—a label headed by Fat Mike of NOFX—did not succumb, instead signing a gruff all-female outfit that stresses the punk conventions of the genre. Sonically, Bad Cop/Bad Cop delivers a modern spin on the abrasive, rambunctious days of pioneers of the genre like the Descendents. The band’s latest effort, 2017’s Warriors, is a brief 30-minute opus as snotty as it is political. Familiarize yourself with the abuser-bashing “Kids” or the dark story about abuse leading to suicide in “Victoria.” Like any good punk band, Bad Cop/Bad Cop is a well-oiled touring machine, so expect a clean performance from the Bay Area quartet. With Go Betty Go, The Venomous Pinks, Glam Skanks. February 8, 8 p.m., $11, Beauty Bar.
Lights This Canadian musician, born Valerie Anne Poxleitner, is the indisputable pop star of the MySpace generation. She grew an organic fanbase by recording tuneful electro-pop and releasing it on the platform in the early 2000s, which led her to compose music for the television show Instant Star. She then harnessed that momentum to sign with Toronto label Underground Operations. Ten years later, Lights is a global pop star with a Canadian platinum-certified album (2009’s The Listening), three gold singles (“Drive My Soul,” “Savior” and “Up We Go) and several national and world tours under her belt. Lights’ latest, 2017’s Skin & Earth, is a concept album (with a supplemental comic book) that sees her narrating a fantasy via her alter ego, Enaia Jin. See if she can execute her ambitious vision live. With Chase Atlantic, DCF. February 9, 8 p.m., $21, Vinyl.
Jonah Matranga For nearly 30 years, this Brookline, Massachusetts-bred creative has harnessed his prowess for an impressive number of endeavors. Matranga served as the singer and guitarist of ’90s emo band Far. When it disbanded in 1999, he went on a creative kick by writing music and touring relentlessly with New End Original, and on his own. Mantranga’s knack for fusing emotional lyrics with heavy, driving melodies is manifested through a variety of mediums—poems, short stories, homemade recordings and full-band LPs. He’s spending Valentine’s Day in Vegas, so look no further if you want a tug on those heartstrings. February 14, 8 p.m., $10, Bunkhouse Saloon.
