Kansas City concerts Feb. 13-19: Roddy Ricch, Excision, Tyrese, Dustin Lynch, Chris Thile

Roddy Ricch recently attained folk hero status even among people who never listened to a single song by the California rapper born Rodrick Moore Jr. in 1998. Detractors of pop star Justin Bieber celebrated when the organic popularity of Ricch’s abrasive hit “The Box” blocked Bieber’s cloying single “Yummy” from the top of the charts. The surprising victory isn’t Ricch’s only impressive achievement. He also rapped on Mustard’s Grammy-nominated smash “Ballin’,” a track produced by Overland Park resident Justus West. 816-753-8665. Tickets are $30 through uptowntheater.com.

Canadian electronic dance music artist Excision pledges that the production he will bring to Independence is “guaranteed to blow your mind.” The display, offering a “brand new audiovisual experience,” is named the Evolution. A vast array of lights, lasers and special effects resembles the invasion of a fleet of malevolent spacecraft. The bass-heavy sound reproduction of Excision favorites like “Throwin’ Elbows” will be correspondingly disquieting. With Virtual Riot, Marauda, PhaseOne, Wooli, Champagne Drip, G-Rex and Calcium. 816-442-6100. Tickets are $39.50-$49.50 through silversteineyecentersarena.com.

“Tullahoma” might sound like a fictional location, but the title of Dustin Lynch’s latest album refers to the Tennessee hometown of the country star. Lynch’s upbringing in Tullahoma informs several of his new songs. He insists that “I’d burn this whole town down if it wasn’t for my momma’s house” on the heartbroken “Momma’s House.” He rhapsodizes about “crickets singing the background” on “Country Star” and fondly recalls the “Main Street drag with the courthouse square still flying the flag” on “Dirt Road.” With Travis Denning. 816-283-9900. Tickets are $30.50-$46 through arvestbanktheatre.com.

The premise of the throwback pop made by Mikaela Straus, the 21-year-old New Yorker who works as King Princess, is deceptively simple. She recasts the dramatic sweetness of 1960s hits by the likes of Dionne Warwick, Dusty Springfield and Lesley Gore for young fans unfamiliar with the vintage style. Although the sound recalls a different era, Straus’ profanity-laced lyrics and her embrace of gender fluidity and flexible sexual preferences place her squarely in the here and now. 816-205-8560. Tickets are $27.50 through thetrumankc.com.

Valentine’s Day will be a two-day holiday for R&B fans in Kansas City as an impressive bill of romantic balladeers will serenade lovers at the Sprint Center the day after the holiday. Tyrese Gibson, the Los Angeles singer who has inspired romance since the release of his debut album in 1998, headlines the show. In addition to making knees buckle with hits like “Sweet Lady,” the handsome crooner has starred in films including “2 Fast 2 Furious.” With Joe, Ginuwine, Avant and Brownstone. 816-949-7100. Tickets are $58-$98 through sprintcenter.com.

The Pedaljets were among this area’s foremost representatives of the 1980s college rock revolution. The group’s self-titled 1989 album received admiring reviews from around the globe. The Pedaljets failed to achieve the crossover success of like-minded bands such as Soul Asylum, but scene stalwarts Cody Wyoming and Matt Kesler help original members Mike Allmayer and Rob Morrow revive the vintage sound with authenticity on the new album, “Twist the Lens,” in the current version of the group. With Dan Jones and The Squids. 816-326-8281. Tickets are $8 through minibarkc.com.

Moriah Rose Pereira, who is fully committed to maintaining her cyborg-like persona Poppy, spent the first portion of her career as a novelty act who insisted she was “from the internet.” The YouTube sensation’s head-turning new album, “I Disagree,” makes Pereira’s act more than a gimmicky stunt. By effectively incorporating elements of heavy metal and Japanese pop culture into her sound, Pereira is now as noteworthy for her compelling music as for her extreme image. With Vowws. 785-749-1972. Tickets are $25.25-$35.25 through libertyhall.net.

Uncharitable observers might accuse Chris Thile of possessing a disproportionate amount of talent. It almost seems unfair that one person can excel in so many artistic endeavors. Since rising to stardom as a mandolin prodigy in the progressive bluegrass band Nickel Creek, Thile has blossomed into an eminent renaissance man. He’s an imaginative chamber-folk artist and a collaborator in genre-bending projects with renowned musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma. He also moonlights as the engaging host of the weekly NPR program “Live from Here.” 785-864-2787. Tickets are $19-$50 through lied.ku.edu.

This story was originally published February 11, 2020 at 10:56 AM.