Summer Concert Guide 2005

Harsh winters are just one of the many things associated with Chicago—people the world over know Michael Jordan, Al Capone, Smashing Pumpkins, deep-dish pizza, and to avoid the Windy City from November through April. So it makes sense that, come summertime, performers converge on the area. Chicago’s central location dominates the Midwest, and the city has a long musical history, so touring artists usually make a stop here—and the summer of 2005 may break records for concert capacity. The city’s regular venues will see the usual action, but so will the streets (for numerous neighborhood festivals), Grant Park, Millennium Park, Union Park, Welles Park, and Northerly Island, where the new Lakefront Pavilion will soon open. Even Wrigley Field will have its first stand-alone concerts. Keeping track of all of them will be difficult; that’s why The A.V. Club offers this guide to the sounds of this summer.

On The Up And Up

The buzz—it’s an intangible accoutrement that takes bands from no-name schmoes to the objects of bidding wars, often in a dizzyingly short time span. Labels, managers, handlers, and other music-industry types devote massive amounts of money and energy into manufacturing buzz, only to discover that, most of the time, it can’t be fabricated. This summer, many artists basking in the radiant glow of a bright future will play around town. Hoosier band Murder By Death (June 18, Bottom Lounge) plays eerie Americana informed by punk rock and infused with cello. The group found surprise success with the Alternative Press crowd and landed on big tours with hardcore bands. Local power-pop band The Reputation and the mathy-metallic Russian Circles will open… Eisley (June 18, Double Door) plays piano-driven, emo-ish rock that seems prefabricated for the next OC soundtrack… On the same day, local punk-noir band Alkaline Trio (June 18, Riviera Theatre) will celebrate the release of its new, and arguably best, record, Crimson… Modest Mouse (June 28, Lakefront Pavilion), which long toiled under the mainstream’s radar, had a breakout year in 2004 with the single “Float On” from Good News For People Who Love Bad News. Newfound success takes the group to impressive new digs, Lakefront Pavilion on Northerly Island… Apparently the world did need a proggy punk-emo band, as Coheed And Cambria’s (July 3, Metro) unique sound took root last year and propelled the band from indie-dom to the big leagues. The group is living proof that almost anything can connect with the kids… Alt-country band Drag The River (July 22, Bottom Lounge) has established itself as one of the best unheralded bands in the genre over the past few years by playing earnest, genuine Americana without a trace of irony, even though its members all have histories in the punk scene… Local rapper Diverse (July 22, Empty Bottle) burst on the scene in 2003 with One A.M., an excellent piece of thoughtful, well-executed hip-hop. His new record is due this fall.

Still Strong

Beyond the buzz stand established artists whose loyal followers reliably fill venues whenever their idols swing through town. These are the bands who get the deli trays backstage. Sleater-Kinney (June 16, Riviera Theatre) redirected its sound into classic-rock territory on The Woods, even though classic rock has traditionally been the nemesis of the punk-rock scene. Against all odds, though, the band created a stellar record that could be its best yet… Eels (June 22, Park West) frontman E (a.k.a. Mark Oliver Everett), crafted an ambitious pop record in this year’s Blinking Lights And Other Revelations. It should be interesting to see how Everett pulls off the album’s complex instrumentation in concert… Chicago’s own alt-rock Howard Hughes, Billy Corgan (July 5-6, Vic Theatre) has apparently recovered from the fiasco that was Zwan, his post-Smashing Pumpkins project, to record a solo album called TheFutureEmbrace, out later this month… Chicago’s caustic post-punk band, Shellac (July 10, Subterranean), has played nearly five shows so far this year, a huge number for a group that promises to release a new record sometime before 2007. Shellac will be joined by Silkworm at this benefit for Jackson Diamond…

Eminem has had a relatively quiet year, but his “Anger Management Tour” with 50 Cent and Lil’ Jon & The Eastside Boyz (July 11, Tweeter Center) should bring the ruckus… Em’s polar opposite, Wyclef Jean (July 11, Ravinia), will play the same day to a polite audience in the North Shore. The former Fugees member has kept fans guessing since the group fizzled years ago; in 2004, he released Welcome To Haiti: Creole 101, an examination of Caribbean music… Aimee Mann (July 30, Skyline Stage At Navy Pier) finally received some overdue attention for her contributions to the Magnolia soundtrack, but her work the past couple of years has faltered. Her latest, The Forgotten Arm, came out last month… Green Day (August 10, Allstate Arena) took what sounded like a terrible idea—a punk-rock slacker opera—and made a stunning epic, American Idiot. Joining Green Day will be second-wave emo-OGs Jimmy Eat World, whose Futures was one of 2004’s most underrated releases… Ben Folds (August 10, Ravinia with Rufus Wainwright) continues to prove himself as a songwriter on the new Songs For Silverman, which balances his biting sarcasm with a surprising wealth of tenderness… Although Nirvana’s ascent in the early ’90s promised to wipe out cock-rock forever, its fans and practitioners—like super-group Velvet Revolver (August 13, Tweeter Center)—continue to thrive. The band is relatively new, but its members are royalty: Slash, Duff McKagan, and Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses are joined by Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots… One of 2005’s most anticipated records is Get Behind Me Satan by The White Stripes (August 29-31, Auditorium Theatre). On it, Jack and Meg White stretch the limits of their haunting, bluesy sound without stretching themselves too thin.

Not Out To Pasture Yet

The Beach Boys (June 28, Ravinia) earned a reputation as musical visionaries thanks mostly to Brian Wilson, but the reclusive Wilson hasn’t toured as a Beach Boy in years. Only one original member, Mike Love, remains, though Bruce Johnston has been with the group for 40 years… Pairing John Fogerty and John Mellencamp (July 1, Tweeter Center) seems odd, because the performers come from different eras and seemingly different ideologies, but hey, they have the same first name! Fogerty has one of the most distinct voices in American music, and Mellencamp made his career celebrating the heartland… Robert Plant (July 9, Auditorium Theatre) has tried some interesting musical experiments over the past decade or so, and on his new record, Mighty Rearranger, the former Led Zeppelin frontman explores numerous sounds and genres… Sure, Bob Dylan looks 150 years old, but his tour with Willie Nelson (July 10, Alexian Field, Schaumburg) could be one of the summer’s most intriguing. Nelson’s new record, Countryman, is due in August on country upstart label Lost Highway… Carole King (July 8, Auditorium Theatre) began her career writing songs for people like The Shirelles and Bobby Vee, but her solo work practically defined the singer-songwriter genre of the ’70s…

Tom Petty (July 15, Tweeter Center) has released reliably solid records during most of his 30-year career, though his 2002 concept record about the death of radio, The Last DJ, received lukewarm reviews. He’ll be joined on this tour by the reunited Black Crowes… While Petty’s work has proved reliable over the years, Elvis Costello’s (July 27, Ravinia) has suffered since the early ’90s, especially his foray into classical (Il Sogno) and his collaboration with Burt Bacharach (The Sweetest Punch). His latest, King Of America, recalls some of his stronger work. Opening for Costello will be the continually strong Emmylou Harris… Neil Diamond (August 1-2, United Center) has dwelled in easy-listening land for about 30 years, though he could pull a Johnny Cash-like comeback with his new, Rick Rubin-produced CD in July… Parrot Heads will have a chance to get wasted away again in Wrigleyville when Jimmy Buffett (September 4-5, Wrigley Field) plays two shows at the Cubs’ home… Few personalities in the music business, regardless of genre, are bigger than Aretha Franklin’s (August 17-18, Ravinia)… Speaking of lengthy careers, Tony Bennett (August 19, Ravinia) has been around as long as Franklin, and he’s one of the most successful recording artists of all time. Bennett will turn 80 next year, but he still maintains a brisk touring schedule.

The Power Of Nostalgia

Nostalgia has always been lucrative for musicians, but this is the golden age for aging rockers. Baby Boomers have kept people like Jimmy Buffett in business for years, and now ’80s hair-metal bands reap the rewards of their fans’ slow descent into middle age. The Rock Never Stops tour features Cinderella, Ratt, Quiet Riot, and Firehouse (July 8, Lakefront Pavilion) at significantly bigger venues than the roadhouses these bands have thrived in during the past decade… Journey (July 16, Lakefront Pavilion) celebrates its 30th anniversary this year, though frontman Steve Perry hasn’t been with the group in nearly a decade… In an improbable but apparently successful partnership, pop-metal band Def Leppard and pop-rocker-turned-balladeer Bryan Adams (July 30, Alexian Field in Schaumburg; August 5, Coveleski Stadium in South Bend) will unite for a potent exhibition of ’80s nostalgia… Mötley Crüe (August 27, Tweeter Center) struggled through the ’90s as a shell of its former self, but fan demand, coupled with a bestselling tell-all book, The Dirt, reunited the formerly bickering original members… Others milking yesteryear include Debbie/Deborah Gibson (June 24, Cubby Bear), Pat Benatar (July 6-7, House Of Blues), Daryl Hall And John Oates (July 14, Skyline Stage), Asia (July 15, Abbey Pub), Foreigner (July 17, House Of Blues), Whitesnake (July 20, House Of Blues), and Loggins And Messina (August 4, Lakefront Pavilion).

Feeling Festive

This summer features a seemingly endless series of festivals around the city, the biggest of which is Lollapalooza (July 23-24, Grant Park). After an aborted tour last year, the festival’s organizers followed Coachella’s formula and switched to a single-city, two-day event. Sixty bands are scheduled on five stages, with more added practically every day. Highlights include Pixies, Widespread Panic, Weezer, The Killers, the newly reunited Dinosaur Jr., The Arcade Fire, Death Cab For Cutie, the newly reunited Digable Planets, Liz Phair, Spoon, Trail Of Dead, Louis XIV, The Bravery, Blonde Redhead, Billy Idol, Cake, and documentary rivals The Dandy Warhols and The Brian Jonestown Massacre… The same day Lollapalooza begins, the punk-rock summer camp known as Warped Tour (July 23, Tweeter Center) returns for its 11th year with another beefy lineup that includes Fall Out Boy, My Chemical Romance, Transplants, first-timers The Offspring, Thrice, and Hawthorne Heights… Metalheads have their own traveling summer camp, OzzFest (July 30, Tweeter Center), featuring Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Rob Zombie, Mudvayne, Shadows Fall, Mastodon, and more… The weekend before Lollapalooza and its related chaos, the Intonation Music Festival (July 16-17, Union Park), organized by indie tastemakers Pitchfork, will bring roughly 20 bands to the West Loop near the United Center: The Decemberists, Tortoise, Les Savy Fav, Death From Above 1979, The Go! Team, The Wrens, Deerhoof, Andrew Bird, Broken Social Scene, Four Tet, Magnolia Electric Company, A.C. Newman, Out Hud, Xiu Xiu, Dungen, The M’s, and Head Of Femur are all scheduled to play…

Taste Of Chicago (June 24-July 3, Grant Park, including the Chicago Country Music Festival, June 24-25) is usually one of the summer’s biggest events, but it’s more like an also-ran in 2005. But the Taste will still bring in big names, or names that were big at some point: Lauryn Hill (June 24), LeeAnn Rimes (June 25), Clint Black (June 26), Donna Summer (June 28), Lynyrd Skynrd (June 30), Steve Winwood (July 1), Santana and Los Lonely Boys (July 2), and Moby (July 4)… Jam-band aficionados will want to head to Schaumburg’s Alexian Field for the Big Summer Classic (July 8-9), which features The String Cheese Incident, Keller Williams, Umphrey’s McGee, Spearhead, New Monsoon, and Yonder Mountain String Band. No word on whether hemp jewelry will be available for purchase… Finally, the American Music Festival (June 30-July 3, FitzGerald’s) features bluegrass, country, rock, blues, and other rootsy artists, including Marcia Ball, Jon Dee Graham, Ian McLagan, Subdudes, The Gourds, and more.
 

JUNE
16: Kem w/ Fantasia & Rahsaan Patterson, Chicago Theatre, 8 p.m., $47/$57, all ages
16: Simmering w/ Bad Vibes, Tonight Let’s Be Heroes, Double Door, 9 p.m., $8, 21+
17: Tsunami Bomb w/ The Loved Ones, Kane Hodder & Crowned King, Bottom Lounge, 5 p.m., $10/$12, all ages
17: Better Than Ezra, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $22.50, 18+
17: Donna The Buffalo, Martyrs’, 9 p.m., $12-$14, 21+
17: Del Rey w/ The Building Press, Schubas, 10 p.m., $8, 21+
17: DJ Sneak w/ DJ Heather, Smartbar, 10 p.m., $15, 21+
17-19: Taste Of Randolph St. w/ Cowboy Mouth, Poi Dog Pondering, My Morning Jacket & More, Randolph at Peoria, $10, all ages
18: Bottle Of Justus w/ Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers, House Of Blues, 8:30 p.m., $15, 18+
18: Stars w/ The Most Serene & Republic, Metro, 9 p.m., $14/$16, 18+
19: Marillion w/ Jason Hart, Double Door, 9 p.m., $25, 21+
19: Rosie Flores, Martyrs’, 8 p.m., $10, 21+
20: Ja Rule, House Of Blues, 8 p.m., $20/$22.50, all ages
20: Oasis w/ Jet, UIC Pavilion, 7 p.m., $37.50-$45, all ages
21-22: The Headhunters, Schubas, 9 p.m., $28, 18+
22: Tyler Hilton w/ Tara Naomi, House Of Blues, 7:30 p.m., $15/$17.50, all ages
22: Meat Beat Manifesto, Metro, 9 p.m., $22.50, 18+
22: Eels, Park West, 7:30 p.m., $23.50, all ages
22: Doobie Brothers, Ravinia, 8 p.m., $15-$45, all ages
23: The Moaners, Abbey Pub, 9 p.m., $$8, 21+
23: Vivian Green, Park West, 7:30 p.m., $25, 21+
24: East Star All-Stars, Abbey Pub, 9 p.m., $10/$12, 18+
24: Evil Beaver w/ Diamond Nights, The Dutchmen & Vibrolas, Bottom Lounge, 8 p.m., $8/$10, 21+
24: Graham Parker w/ The Figgs, Double Door, 9 p.m., $20, 21+
24: Funk Brothers, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $26.50/$28, 21+
24: Chicago w/ Earth, Wind & Fire, Lakefront Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $59.50-$75, all ages
24: Big Head Todd & The Monsters, Lincoln Park Zoo, 7 p.m., $20, all ages

25: City On Film w/ Unwed Sailor, Rescue & Unique Chique, Bottom Lounge, 6 p.m., $8/$10, all ages
The City On Film is the latest project from Bob Nanna, formerly of Hey Mercedes and Braid. In Formal Introduction, due out just before this show, mines similar sonic territory to the former.

25: Visqueen, Bottom Lounge, 10 p.m., $8, 21+
25: The Moody Blues, Chicago Theatre, 8 p.m., $45-$75, all ages
25: The Dirty Projectors w/ Volcano!, Dogme 95 & Wind Up Bird, Subterranean, 9 p.m., $8
25-26: Collective Soul w/ Silvertide, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $15, 21+
25-26: Over The Rhine, Schubas, 10 p.m. (25) & 8 p.m. (26), $17, 21+
27: Salvador Santana, Double Door, 9 p.m., $10, 21+
27: Johnny Dowd w/ Edward Burch, Hideout, 9 p.m., $8, 21+
28: La Ley, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $35/$40, 18+
30: The Academy Is w/ Days Away & Paris, Texas, Bottom Lounge, 5 p.m., $12, all ages
30: Embrace w/ Long-View & Augustana, Double Door, 9 p.m., $12, 21+
30: The Why Store, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $15, 18+

JULY
1: Steel Pulse w/ Toots & The Maytals, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $29.50/$31, 18+
1: Rachael Yamagata w/ Erin McKeown, Metro, 7 p.m., $17/$19, all ages
1: Reigning Sound, Subterranean, 10 p.m., $10, 21+
2: Groovie Ghoulies w/ J Church, Teenage Bottlerocket & Teenage Harlot, Bottom Lounge, 9 p.m., $8/$10, 18+
2: Funkadesi, Double Door, 9 p.m., $10/$12, 21+
2: Steel Pulse w/ Toots & The Maytals, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., ($29.50/$31), 18+
2: Michelle Shocked, HotHouse, 9 p.m., $22/$25, 21+
3: Frankie Knuckles, House Of Blues, 10 p.m., $18.50, 21+
5: Master P, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $20/$22.50, 18+
5-6: Peter Himmelman, Schubas, 8 p.m., $25, 21+
6: The Living Blue, Double Door, 9 p.m., $7, 21+
6: Alison Krauss And Union Station, Ravinia, 8 p.m., $15-$40, all ages
7: The Aquabats w/ Epoxies & The Phenomenauts, Metro, 6:30 p.m., $13.99, all ages
7: Southern Culture On The Skids, Abbey Pub, 10 p.m., $15, 21+
7: Sloan, Double Door, 10 p.m., $18, 21+
9: Earatik Statik w/ The Pacifics, Matlock & Verbal Kent, Abbey Pub, 9 p.m., $8/$10, 18+
9: Pretendo w/ Self-Evident & Sequoia, Beat Kitchen, 9:30 p.m., $7, 21+

9: Dianogah, Empty Bottle, 10 p.m., $TBA, 21+
Since the release of Millions Of Brazilians in 2002, Chicago’s Dianogah has kept an understandably low profile, as bassist Jason Harvey had two children and bassist Jay Ryan kept busy as an artist. The band plans to play some new material at this show and will record a new album later in the year.

9: Luau By The Lake w/ Los Straitjackets & The World Famous Pontani Sisters, FitzGerald’s, Noon, $30, all ages
9: Dilated Peoples, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $22.50/$25, 18+
9: Femi Kuti, Metro, 9 p.m., $23/$26, 18+
9-10: Chicago Folk & Roots Festival w/ Alejandro Escovedo, Otis Clay, Ozomatli, The Zincs & More, Noon, Welles Park, $5, all ages
10: Cardboard Vampyres, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $25, 18+
10: Subhumans w/ World/Inferno Friendship Society & From Ashes Rise, Logan Square Auditorium, 6 p.m., $10, all ages
10: Shelby Lynne, Park West, 7:30 p.m., $22.50, all ages
11-12: Lyle Lovett, Ravinia, 8 p.m., $15-$60, all ages
12: The Wallflowers w/ Anna Nalick, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $3$37.50, 21+
12: Nicolai Dunger, Schubas, 9 p.m., $8/$10, 21+
13: Shannon McNally, Schubas, 8 p.m., $12, 21+
14: Gavin DeGraw, Lakefront Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $33.25, all ages
14: Daryl Hall & John Oates, Skyline Stage At Navy Pier, 7:30 p.m., $55-$65, all ages
14-15: Phix, Beat Kitchen, 9:30 p.m., $10, 21+
15: Cowboy Junkies, Park West, 7:30 p.m., $30, 21+
15: A-Frames w/ Camaro Rouge, Empty Bottle, 10 p.m., 21+
15: Bleeding Through w/ Darkest Hour, Zao, Martyr AD & Fight Paris, Logan Square Auditorium, 6 p.m., $15, all ages
15: Richard Buckner w/ Anders Parker, Schubas, 7 p.m., $12, 21+
15: GBH w/ The God Awfuls, Vic Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $17.50, all ages
16: Blowfly, Abbey Pub, 10 p.m., $10/$12, 21+
16: The Forecast w/ Sunday Driver, Bottom Lounge, 5 p.m., $8/$10, all ages
16: Adrian Belew, Park West, 7:30 p.m., $20, all ages
19: Hilary Duff, Allstate Arena, 7 p.m., $39.50-$49.50, all ages

19: Stevie Nicks w/ Don Henley, Tweeter Center, 8 p.m., $29-$129, all ages
It’s hard to think of a Woman In Rock who has aged better than Stevie Nicks, whose voice sounded ancient and gravelly when she first started out in Fleetwood Mac. This tour pairs her with Don Henley, whose success as a solo artist nearly overshadows his involvement with ’70s rockers The Eagles.

20: Say Anything w/ Emanuel, Circa Survive & Dropping Daylights, Bottom Lounge, 5 p.m., $10, all ages
20: Enon w/ Thunderbirds Are Now! & Cathedrals, Bottom Lounge, 10 p.m., $TBA, 18+
21: Eva Ayllon, HotHouse, 7 & 10 p.m., $25/$30, 21+
21: Corrosion Of Conformity w/ Fu Manchu, Alabama Thunderpussy & Danko Jones, House Of Blues, 6 p.m., $13.50/$15, all ages
21: Spitalfield w/ Action Action, Gatsby’s American Dream & Waking Ashland, Metro, 6:30 p.m., $11/$13, all ages
22: Blues Traveler, Lincoln Park Zoo, 7 p.m., $20, all ages
22: Gravy Train!!!! W/ The Plus Ones, Open End Gallery, 9 p.m., $10, all ages
22: Funk Brothers w/ Neville Brothers, Skyline Stage, 8 p.m., $59.50, all ages
22: Junior Brown, Subterranean, 10 p.m., $20, 21+
22: 3 Doors Down w/ Staind & Breaking Benjamin, Tweeter Center, 5 p.m., $21.50-$42.50, all ages
23: ZZZZ w/ Dance Disaster Movement & Kill Me Tomorrow, Empty Bottle, 10 p.m., $8, 21+
24: Turin Brakes, Double Door, 8 p.m., $10/$12, 21+
26: Static X w/ American Headcharge, Bloodsimple & 10 Years, House Of Blues, 6 p.m., $20/$22.50, all ages
29: Chin Up Chin Up w/ Parish School & Euphone, Empty Bottle, 10 p.m., $8/$10, 21+
29: The Dan Band, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $18.50/$20, 18+
29: Olivia Tremor Control, Subterranean, 10 p.m., $15, 21+
30: Kings Of Leon w/ Secret Machines, Congress Theater, 7 p.m., $23.50, all ages
30: Anita Baker w/ Babyface, United Center, 7:30 p.m., $35-$85, all ages

AUGUST
4: Smog, Empty Bottle, 9:30 p.m., $12, 21+
4: Loggins & Messina, Lakefront Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., $49.50-$69.50, all ages
6: Planes Mistaken For Stars w/ Smoke Or Fire & Glass And Ashes, Bottom Lounge, 6 p.m., $10, all ages
6: Alan Jackson w/ Sara Evans & The Wrights, Tweeter Center, 6:30 p.m., $30.50-$65.50, all ages

8: American Idols Live, United Center, 7 p.m., $37-$47, all ages
The future stars of Branson strike while the iron’s hot with this superfluous (but no doubt lucrative) tour of American Idol also-rans. The tour features the “top 10 American Idols live on stage.” Somewhere, a Fox executive is frolicking in a swimming pool full of money.

10: Green Day w/ Jimmy Eat World, Allstate Arena, 7:30 p.m., $39.50-$45, all ages
10: Ben Folds w/ Rufus Wainwright, Ravinia, 8 p.m., $15-$35, all ages
11: Gil Mantera’s Party Dream w/ Suzukiton, Empty Bottle, 9:30 p.m., free, 21+
12: Sonny Landreth, Cubby Bear, 10 p.m., $15/$17, 21+
12: Maxi Priest, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $21.50/$23, 18+
13: Brain Surgeons NYC, Abbey Pub, 10 p.m., $10/$12, 21+
13: Kelly Clarkson, Lakefront Pavilion, 8 p.m., $39.50, all ages
13: Chaka Khan, Ravinia, 7:30 p.m., $10-$40, all ages
13: Allman Brothers Band w/ Moe., Rosemont Theatre, 7 p.m., $35-$59.50, all ages
14: Nanci Griffith, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $25, 21+
17: Oneida w/ Kinski & Plastic Crimewave And The Fix, Empty Bottle, 9:30 p.m., free, 21+
19: Pretty Girls Make Graves w/ Kill Me Tomorrow & IQU, Bottom Lounge, 7 p.m., $12, all ages
20: Los Lonely Boys, Ravinia, 7:30 p.m., $15-$40, all ages

25: Devo, House Of Blues, 9 p.m., $65, 18+
Although mostly remembered for “Whip It,” Devo does have a legacy extending far beyond that one hit. The band combined jerky, esoteric music and a bizarre image to make a statement about the role of technology in society. Although Devo always had a message lurking behind the madness, the group has more or less embraced its novelty-act image in more recent years.

26: Cracker, Cubby Bear, 10 p.m., $17.50/$$20, 21+
29-30: Gipsy Kings, Ravinia, 8 p.m., $15-$60, all ages