Allen Stone And Ripe - The Get Sweet Tour

CRITIC’S PICK:
Sat. Nov. 29
Allen Stone, Ripe, Bombargo, Tabernacle—It’s crooner Stone’s Get Sweet Tour which combines the singer with other R&B and funk acts for an evening of 90s-styled soul. Stone has been at it since 2009, building his audience one show at a time. Without seeing him, listeners might think that, with his Stevie Wonder/Marvin Gaye-stylings, he’s a staple of urban radio. The approach is ballad heavy but there’s some New Jack Swing in his toolbox too. He also isn’t afraid to unplug and deliver music in an acoustic format as on 2021s romance-inducing Apart. A new single, Closer, with its gospel-inflected vibe, is quintessential Stone. The Boston-based Ripe brings jam elements into their funky soul on their new album Play the Game. — Hal Horowitz