It might’ve rained for what seems like three straight weeks, and the onset of April means there’s bound to be more. But that doesn’t mean you can’t get out and still enjoy some live music. You’ve got an umbrella, right? Grab it and head out to these great shows:
When Margo Price released her debut album
Midwest Farmer’s Daughter in 2016, critics everywhere fell over themselves to announce that Price was the next big talent. While her voice has that alluring quality, it’s her songwriting that really stands out. The narratives about hardships and heartaches are delivered with a beautiful resilience that almost seems joyous. That mixture has drawn comparisons to powerhouse female country stars Dolly Parton and Tammy Wynette. However, Price isn’t just a throwback to country’s glory years, she is a fresh take on the grand tradition of Nashville music. She also gets points for being an Illinois native.
Listen to this now: Hands of Time
John Mayer @ United Center – April 11
John Mayer has always had amazing guitar chops. He hasn’t always used them for good, often preferring to play fizzy love songs to straight-forward, bluesy-rock music. However, when he returns to United Center in support of his latest album,
The Search for Everything, Chicagoans will get three sides of John Mayer. He will perform three distinct sets throughout the evening: one with his full band, one with just his guitar, and the last with his blues trio. With this set-up, Mayer’s guitar prowess will undoubtedly be on display. And if this three-set format still isn’t enough for you, Mayer will be back later in the summer with the Dead and Company at Wrigley Field.
Listen to this now: Gravity
The Flaming Lips @ Riviera Theatre – April 17
Younger fans will recognize this band as Miley Cyrus’ backing group, but in reality, the Flaming Lips have been around long enough that they just released their 15
th album,
Oczy Mlody. The experimental album sounds like the mixed feelings you get when you know your alarm clock is about to wake you up, but you just want to keep sleeping. It’s psychedelic, with ambient tones added to effervescent pop, complete with some heavy philosophizing (in a Darth Vader voice?). If that doesn’t get you excited, remember that a Flaming Lips concert usually involves colorful costumes, oversized props (ranging from rainbow unicorns to giant hamster balls) and copious amounts of confetti. Good times.
Listen to this now: The Castle
Jeff Tweedy @ The Vic – April 21 & 22
Giving back is important to Jeff Tweedy. The local musician and Wilco frontman plays The Vic every year to raise money for the Montessori school that his children attended. But this isn’t some stuffy fundraiser. Tweedy grabs his guitar and asks the first 30 people in line to create the set list. The songs can be any Wilco song (include the obscure ones), songs from Tweedy’s band before Wilco, Uncle Tupelo, or any of Tweedy’s solo songs. It is a really deep dive for Tweedy and his fans. It’s a unique chance to hear rarely-performed tunes in a small venue surrounded by other die-hard fans.
Listen to this now: You know what? You choose.
Chainsmokers @ Allstate Arena – April 29
After burning up 2016 with their runaway hit “Closer,” the Chainsmokers, true to their name, are not about to stop smoking. The pop EDM duo has hit the road for the Memories: Do Not Open arena tour, taking them to 40 different cities from April through June. And the pair hasn’t even released their debut album yet! (Which is due later this year). The night in Rosemont will be one of your last chances to see the Chainsmokers before they embark on a three-year residency in Las Vegas, where they’ll perform exclusively in Wynn Nightlife venues until 2019. So, get out there, dance, have a great time – but remember, smoking is bad for you.
Listen to this now: Closer
