Brooklyn, N.Y. trio-turned-quartet Heaven’s Jail’s forthcoming album, Widow’s Work (due for release May 6), will most certainly follow the path of its predecessor, 2014’s Ace Called Zero, in terms of its widespread critical praise. The band’s sound isn’t especially innovative, but it is incredibly well-constructed and melodic Rock & Roll. Even at its most rockin’, though, the band’s music maintains a distinctly melancholic atmosphere, which gives Widow’s Work a dark and mysterious allure. Much of that is due to frontman Francesco Ferorelli’s engaging low-register vocals, which have led to frequent (and fair) comparisons to Warren Zevon and The National’s Matt Berninger. Those singers are fitting touchstones when it comes to Heaven’s Jail’s other standout characteristic — Ferorelli’s intriguing, poetic lyrics, which often weave things like biblical and historical references into his thoughtful meditations on the human condition (loss and death are major themes on Widow’s Work). For the band’s Cincinnati tour stop, which comes just before the group’s appearance at Willie Nelson’s Luck Reunion fest in Texas, Heaven’s Jail will be joined by great local group The Hiders.
10 p.m. Monday. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com.
This article appears in Mar 2-9, 2016.