You got to wonder what’s going on in R. Kelly’s head.
The R&B singer has been hounded by allegations of sexual misconduct with minors for decades, starting back in 1994, just a couple years after he became a star, when he was briefly married to the singer Aaliyah, a 15-year-old who was more than a decade younger than him.
Then, in 2002, sex tapes started circulating, supposedly showing the singer sleeping with underage women. Criminal charges and civil law suits followed, leading to years of legal difficulties. He was found not guilty of criminal charges in 2008.
Amid all this, the singer continued to sing almost comically explicit songs about sex, from his multipart song sequence “Trapped in the Closet,” to his most recent hit album, 2013’s “Black Panties.” He’s balanced these R-rated outings with more classical throwbacks to the sound of soul, including 2010’s “Love Letter.”
Now he’s on tour, bringing his silken songs — and all their attendant controversy — on the road. He’ll play Xfinity Arena in Everett at 7 p.m. Feb. 7.
It’s a large venue for a man of seemingly large appetites, a guy who, despite the often unsettling details of his personal life, has remained a top-selling artist since 1992.
Tickets are $55 to $200 at xfinityarenaeverett.com or 866-332-8499.
Jamie Cullum also is headed to the Northwest, as the pop jazz vocalist prepares to hit the Moore Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 10.
The English singer has won a following thanks to his smooth voice and natural charisma — he’s known for his Rat Pack-like swagger.
He’s touring now after the Jan. 27 release of his new album, “Interlude.” That disc draws heavily on Cullum’s jazz influences, ditching the more modern pop sounds that have cropped into some past releases.
Tickets are $32.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
The Devil Makes Three, meanwhile, will play the Paramount Theatre at 8 p.m. Feb. 7.
Despite its strong folk leanings, the alt-country act does not fit into any traditional mold. Drawing on Americana influences, the band is made up of two guitarists and a string bassist — no drummer for this trio.
That line-up has helped the high-energy band cultivate not only a sound but a following. Formed in California, the group has a certain element of punk rock in its music, pushing its songs into areas that force concertgoers onto their feet.
The act hasn’t released a new album since its 2013 record “I’m a Stranger Here.” That disc, recorded in Nashville, hit No. 2 on the bluegrass charts.
Tickets are $21.25 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Famed singer Lucinda Williams will headline the Neptune Theatre at 8 p.m. Feb. 10.
The 62-year-old musician has become an icon of the alt-country scene, remaining remarkably consistent since releasing her first album, “Ramblin’ on my Mind,” in 1979.
Respected by fellow musicians and loved by her devoted fans, she’s touring now behind her double-disc album, “Down Where the Spirit Meets the Bone.” The ambitious outing, which has a nearly two-hour running time, hit No. 13 on the Billboard 200 last year.
Tickets are $37.50 at stgpresents.org or 877-784-4849.
Finally, Dr. Dog is headed to the Showbox at 8 p.m. Feb. 10.
The eclectic act out of Philadelphia is known for a sound that blends classic psychedelia with more modern indie rock flourishes.
It’s touring now behind its first concert album, “Live at a Flamingo Hotel,” which Rolling Stone praised for capturing the group’s freewheeling sound.
Tickets are $26.50 at showboxonline.com or 888-929-7849.
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