Stage Buzz
Who’s next
A highly condensed South By Southwest was supposed to land on Chicago this week, as an accredited roster of on-the-verge artists busk for your pleasure: Gotye-siren Kimbra, Future, Japandroids, Cadence Weapon, and Death Grips.
That’s the sway: I like it!
Despite how bus schedules generally draw it back, or renewed efforts to extend the day, 3:00 represents nirvana for schoolchildren. 2:54 have something to add to that this weekend, as do The Flatlanders, Boom Chick, Baby Dee, Pinback, Sean Bones, and The Sights.
Acting family
Angie Mead and Stephen Howard have been threatening a Redgrave album for about a year, and while National Act ain’t quite a full-length, it’s worth celebrating this week. Also in town: Morning Parade, Band Called Catch, and The Hundred In The Hands.
The Dr. is on
As The Black Keys put their production hands on another artist, they manage to push him back in time. Slightly. Dr. John appears this weekend, as do Gospel Music.
When life gives you Lemonade . . .
. . . you certainly don’t make tracks like U2’s “Lemon.” Nevertheless, in town this weekend are Lemonade, Madonna-picked DJ Martin Solveig, and Royal Headache. Whether you add raspberry, Lynchburg tea, or gobs of sugar is up to you.
New Edition reunion
Even though New Edition’s remained a consistent presence on the road in various incarnations, this year marks a complete reunion for the R&B supergroup in celebration of its 30th anniversary. Besides taking a trip down memory lane to dust off
World’s longest Canasta match
Chess games get all the hype, but Chicago’s Canasta have dealt their indie-pop rummy into a second decade this month! Also as June opens: Two Brothers Hop Juice fest, The Cult, Sonny Landreth, and Margot & The Nuclear So And So’s.
Mayday! Mayday!
May’s going down! Before it all ends and we head into the unknown — has anyone named the next month yet, for God’s sake???!!! — live every day like your rockin’ last with Big Science, Emeli Sandé, Patrick Watson, and Machine Gun Kelly.
Connventional war
If Bobby Conn were as big as Oprah, the national association of mac-and-cheese producers would be lining up to fight him. His home release show is Friday, as are the first TopGolf “Let’s Play” party, ALO, and Haley Reinhart’s post-“Idol” blitz.
Post script
That schoolchildren aren’t mandated to learn cursive has the irrational class believing that the art of letter-writing will disappear with it. Keeping faint hopes alive, PS I Love You are in town, as are Shovels & Rope.
NATO! Run!
Gridlock downtown! Restrictions on commuter trains! Riot gear! (Thanks to considerate Loop employers, less traffic on Foster this morning.) Only Jennifer Herrema, ex-Royal Trux, would do a show this weekend! Ane Brun waits a day or two.
Down in the country
As with any genre, many aren’t shy about their opinions of what country music should be. Admittedly, we’re glad it’s not all about heartache and crops drying up and tears in beer: Jason Boland & The Stragglers, however, like to keep things serious. Also in town: Rocky Votolato and Here We Go Magic.
The little ‘o’
Anime had its Big O; well-traveled singer/songwriters look to Alejandro Escovedo and Damien Jurado. That, and more tenuously tangential links in our roundup for the 16th, also including Hope For Agoldensummer, The Royalty, and We Are Serenades.
Right now!
You have a big weekend: after Maps & Atlases finish their hometown release party at Metro, wake up, brush teeth, and get in line to be first for The Right Now’s. Also: Sheffield’s Water For Ale, Father John Misty, Chicha Libre, and Royal Canoe.
Chuck wagon’d
No one really addresses it, but one of the hallmarks of post-millennial hip-hop has been very punk rock: you don’t need a good voice to make an impact. Danny Brown epitomizes this and is in town this week, along with Ty Segall, Stryper, Maps & Atlases, and Plants And Animals
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