If you’ve already glanced at the upcoming concert schedule, you may be giving thanks that you live in Chicago and can experience such a spoil of riches in your proverbial backyard. Otherwise, be aware the new live music season may force you to make some difficult choices, with some concerts overlapping on the same day. The next five weeks in particular are packed with so many options, you might want to consider a staycation. And we’re not even taking into account Riot Fest (Sept. 20-22 in Douglass Park, 1401 S. Sacramento Drive; riotfest.org) or its aftershows.
If you seek adventure
Two modern visionaries, André 3000 with Meshell Ndegeocello (8 p.m. Oct. 21 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com), promise journeys into spiritualism, Blackness and beyond at a concert that promises to capitalize on the liberating, risk-taking and soul-searching nature of jazz. Sigur Rós (8 p.m. Sept. 21 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; auditoriumtheatre.org) prefers escapades into unknown landscapes. The Icelanders add a new wrinkle to their cinematic soundscapes on this outing with an orchestra.
Look for Air (8 p.m. Oct. 8 at Auditorium Theatre; auditoriumtheatre.org) to rely on synthesizers as the French electronic maestros perform the entirety of its 1998 landmark “Moon Safari” album. A completely different beast from the same year, “Amplifier Worship,” will get its live due from Japanese experimentalists Boris (8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Ramova Theatre, 3520 S. Halsted St.; ramovachicago.com). For darker drone and impressionistic visuals to match, surrender to the disarming atmospheric odysseys of the long-running Canadian collective Godspeed You! Black Emperor (8 p.m. Nov. 8 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com).
Only PJ Harvey (8 p.m. Sept. 30 at Salt Shed; saltshedchicago.com) knows what she’ll do on her first American dates in seven years. The element of surprise ranks as one of the many reasons to catch the British pioneer on a rare tour. It’s been 14 years since we got a chance to see ANOHNI and the Johnsons (8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Orchestra Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave.; cso.org) together onstage. The show’s theme — “It’s Time to Feel What’s Really Happening” — reflects the passionate urgency of the beautifully voiced singer’s frank lyrics.
The toughest ticket of the fall? BEAT (8 p.m. Nov. 1 at Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave.; copernicuscenter.org), a supergroup comprised of guitarist Adrian Belew, guitarist Steve Vai, bassist Tony Levin and drummer Danny Carey. The virtuosos will tackle the immense challenge of playing ’80s King Crimson tunes. If your mind just exploded, you’re in good company.
You have pop FOMO
Sure, summer will technically be over, but look for Charli XCX (8 p.m. Sept. 30 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; unitedcenter.com), the vocalist responsible for this year’s brat summer trend, to extend the season and party hard at her biggest local gig yet. Running on espresso or not, Sabrina Carpenter (7 p.m. Oct. 13 at United Center; unitedcenter.com) enjoys similar momentum courtesy of her breakout “Short n’ Sweet” and clever array of lyrical one-liners bound for meme status. With an Academy Award-winning song and Olympics performance among her latest feats, count on 22-year-old phenom Billie Eilish (7 p.m. Nov. 13-14 at United Center; unitedcenter.com) to preside over a lavish production at her second go-around as an arena headliner.
Seeking more intimacy? That’s a specialty of the confessional outpourings of Beabadoobee (6:30 p.m. Sept. 17 at Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; bylinebankaragonballroom.com) and unflinching observations of Julien Baker (8 p.m. Sept. 23-25 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; thaliahallchicago.com), a Boygenius member whose penetrating narratives and guitar-woven tapestries should come with a first-aid kit.
The self-described “tenderpunk” crafted by Sarah Tudzin in Illuminati Hotties (8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; lh-st.com) feels relatedly smart and on-point. Though she hails from Los Angeles, the film capital of the Western world, Tudzin isn’t the subject of a movie. That honor falls to Irish rabble-rousers Kneecap (7 p.m. Sept. 27 at Concord Music Hall, 2047 N. Milwaukee Ave.; concordmusichall.com), stars of the recent comedic biopic of the same name.
You remember when “alternative” was “college rock”
So what if the Oasis reunion draws bigger headlines? Diehard Britpop fans know Pulp (8 p.m. Sept. 8 at Aragon, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; bylinebankaragonballroom.com), visiting the States for the first time in a dozen years, remains every bit the Gallagher brothers’ equal. Another tandem of oft-warring siblings, Jim and William Reid, helm the latest edition of the Jesus & Mary Chain (7 p.m. Oct. 13 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com) out of the sun and into a fuzz-addled void. Old pros at burying the hatchet, Jane’s Addiction (7 p.m. Sept. 24 at Aragon; bylinebankaragonballroom.com) ready their latest victory lap, this time with their classic lineup in tow.
Sunny Day Real Estate (8 p.m. Sept. 25 at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn Ave.; houseofblues.com) has reunited too many times to count. Yet it’s impossible to ignore the tension at the core of its milestone “Diary,” which turns 30 this year. David Yow is only a year away from Medicare eligibility. But don’t rule out anything — sudden fires, violent stage dives, broken bones — when the wildman vocalist leads the return of Chicago’s beloved deviants Jesus Lizard as part of the Warm Love Cool Dreams festival (2:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com).
Unlike a majority of its contemporaries, King’s X (8 p.m. Oct. 12 at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles; arcadalive.com) never broke up or neatly fit into a tastemaker-approved category. Its wide-ranging material — particularly from the late ’80s and early ’90s — begs for wider recognition. That reality rings familiar to those who pine for the era when Wax Trax! helped establish a thriving national underground scene from its perch on Lincoln Avenue. KMFDM (8 p.m. Oct. 31-Nov. 1) and the farewell of Front 242 (8 p.m. Nov. 15-16, both at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; metrochicago.com) represent the legacy of the bygone record label. As do the Sisters of Mercy (8 p.m. Oct. 23 at Aragon; bylinebankaragonballroom.com), a band that could easily have been on its roster.
You know you got soul — and more
Cutting-edge R&B auteur Kelela (2:30 p.m. Sept. 29 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com) headlines the second day of Warm Love Cool Dreams. Grab your dancing shoes. Michael Kiwanuka and Brittany Howard (7:30 p.m. Oct. 5 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; msg.com) pair on an outstanding double bill that demonstrates the potential boundary-bursting intersections of soul, folk and roots music. Opting for a smoother approach, vocalist Maxwell (7 p.m. Oct. 10 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; unitedcenter.com) reminds us that old-school class and silky tones never go out of fashion. Speaking of style: The multi-hyphenate Usher (8 p.m. Oct. 28, 29, 31 at United Center; unitedcenter.com) ends the long wait that ensued after his electrifying halftime performance at the Super Bowl in February.
Time will tell if he can match the freak of the resurrected Tinashe (8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Aragon, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; bylinebankaragonballroom.com), Southern charisma of Georgia-born rapper Latto (7 p.m. Nov. 12 at Aragon; bylinebankaragonballroom.com) and matter-of-factness of emcee Vince Staples (7 p.m. Oct. 27 at Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave.; jamusa.com). The stop on Staples’ Black in America jaunt will doubtlessly be pointed. Ditto the circle-your-calendar date by six-time Grammy-nominated blues powerhouse Shemekia Copeland (7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St.; citywinery.com/chicago), who continues to produce some of the most fearlessly truthful music on the planet.
You respect folksy integrity and country ingenuity
Sturgill Simpson (7 p.m. Oct. 1-2 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com) credits his new project to the alter ego of Johnny Blue Skies. No matter. The Kentucky native’s adaptations of outlaw country and its variety of offshoots fascinate under any moniker.
Armed with a brand-new album (“Still + Bright”), versatile folk singer Amythyst Kiah (7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Space, 1245 N. Chicago Ave., Evanston; evanstonspacemusic.com) shares Simpson’s love for psychedelic colors and gritty textures. Her incisive read on identity, place and culture are certain to resonate with particularly deep conviction just 13 days after the presidential election. Though better recognized as a producer, T Bone Burnett (8 p.m. Oct. 19-20 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; oldtownschool.org) will showcase his roots skills on his first tour in nearly 20 years.
Responsible for penning evergreens like “Wichita Lineman” and “MacArthur Park,” master songwriter Jimmy Webb (8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Old Town School of Folk Music; oldtownschool.org) is another musician who spent much of his career helping other artists attain success. No trek posseses a more deserving name than his “Songs and Stories.”
Dave Alvin and Jimmie Dale Gilmore (8:30 p.m. and Sept. 13 at Fitzgerald’s, 6615 W. Roosevelt Road, Berwyn; fitzgeraldsnightclub.com or 7 p.m. Nov. 2 at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St. citywinery.com/chicago) also know their way around memorable phrases and vintage traditions. The former Blaster and sometimes Flatlander connect to the origins of honky tonk, rockabilly and Americana. Bluegrass wizard Marty Stuart (7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Nov. 22 at Old Town School of Folk Music; oldtownschool.org) understands the importance of preserving such history. He and His Fabulous Superlatives would probably take the “retro” label as a compliment even as their rollicking, twangy tunes kick with more purpose than practically anything on country radio.
Marty Stuart at Thalia Hall in Chicago on April 9, 2017. (Nuccio DiNuzzo/Chicago Tribune)
Having made a strong bid in the early aughts for the unofficial titles of hardest-working and most authentic rock band, Drive-By Truckers (6:30 p.m. Nov. 1-2 at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn Ave.; houseofblues.com) can relate to flying under the radar. Nostalgic trappings aside, they’ll try to demonstrate that their 2001 double album “Southern Rock Opera” feels more timely now than in its heyday.
Among the most accomplished and innovative guitarists to pick up the instrument, Richard Thompson (8 p.m. Oct. 24 at Cahn Auditorium, 600 Emerson St., Evanston; evanstonspacemusic.com) never sounds out of step. With “Ship to Shore,” he keeps adding to a seven-decade-spanning oeuvre that should grant him knighthood status in his native England while quietly going about his business as if he still has much to prove.
Your inner punk is raging
Idles (8 p.m. Sept. 18 at Aragon, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; bylinebankaragonballroom.com), the insurgent quartet some critics mention in the same breath as that holy grail of punk bands, the Clash, blow in on the redemptive sails of “Tangk.” Certain to stimulate a sweating mass of bodies treating joy as an act of resistance, the concert stands to evoke the days when Chicago halls lacked air-conditioning.
Ted Leo (9 p.m. Sept. 14 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; metrochicago.com) wrote about hot-button topics and damaging isolation long before America’s extreme polarization ensued. He and the Pharmacists celebrate the 20th anniversary of the still-relevant “Shake the Sheets.” Showing no signs of slowing, melodic indie-rock staples Superchunk (8 p.m. Oct. 15 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; lh-st.com) charge ahead without veteran drummer Jon Wurster. On the subject of percussion: Bring extra earplugs if you dare subject yourself to the relentless assault and berserker energy of Lightning Bolt (9 p.m. Oct. 1 at Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.; emptybottle.com).
Latto performs at Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash at Douglass Park on Aug. 20, 2021. (Vashon Jordan Jr. / Chicago Tribune)
Pissed Jeans (9 p.m. Sept. 28-29 at Empty Bottle; emptybottle.com) subscribe to a similarly rambunctious aesthetic and leave room for barked lyrics. Their post-hardcore venom sparks with a combination of acidic wit, biting humor and cutthroat frustration that reflects the lives of those caught in the undertow of the American dream. Trading guitars for samplers, Osees (8:30 p.m. Oct. 18-19 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; thaliahallchicago.com) channel a punk aura through psychedelic, garage and noise filters on the recent “Sorcs 80.” What iteration of John Dwyer’s ever-mutating band shows up is anyone’s guess.
You’re in the mood for classics
More than five decades removed from starting the Jam, Paul Weller (8 p.m. Sept. 15 at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave; jamusa.com) keeps on keepin’ on with solo fare. He titled his recent “66” LP to mirror his age. Fellow Englishman Nick Lowe (8 p.m. Oct. 29-30 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.; lh-st.com) ends a decade-plus-long studio-album drought in September with “Indoor Safari.” As an added enticement for his two-night run, masked surf-rock instrumentalists Los Straightjackets will serve as his backing band.
Touring in support of the respectable “Gravity Stairs,” Crowded House (7:30 p.m. Sept. 11 at Ravinia, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park; ravinia.org) is now a family affair with co-founder Neil Finn’s sons filling guitar and drum roles.
The only active version of Electric Light Orchestra that counts, Jeff Lynne’s ELO (8 p.m. Sept. 27-28 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; unitedcenter.com) says farewell with soaring anthems suited for the communal sing-a-longs and blinding lights of arena shows. Perhaps inspired to hit the road after his amusing guest turn on the premier season of “Only Murders in the Building,” the 72-year-old Sting (8 p.m. Oct. 28-29, Nov. 1-2 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; auditoriumtheatre.org) will divide time between solo and Police favorites.
You need it heavy
Focusing on its 1986 album “Somewhere in Time” and ambitious 2021 triple-LP “Senjutsu,” Iron Maiden (7:30 p.m. Oct. 24 at Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont; rosemont.com) delivers its idea of the “Future Past” at a show guaranteed to overflow with theatrics, epics and Eddie, the coolest metal mascot ever invented.
Anchored by the formidable chemistry of original guitarists Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick, Testament (6 p.m. Sept. 27 at Radius, 640 W. Cermak Road; radius-chicago.com) never attained the attention afforded its Big Four contemporaries. But what against-the-grain thrash band requires hype when it can whip up maelstroms of fury? Matt Pike lives and breathes riffs in High on Fire (7:30 p.m. Sept. 8-9 at Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont Ave.; sleeping-village.com), a group whose thunder seemingly threatens to summon the wrath of wronged gods. Whether you overlook his conspiracy theories is a separate matter. No stranger to controversy of another sort, King Diamond (7:30 p.m. Nov. 7 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; msg.com) arrives for his first concert here in five years. Expect the former Mercyful Fate vocalist’s “Saint Lucifer’s Hospital 1920” venture to involve elaborate props, horror motifs and costumes you wish you wore on Halloween.
You still want more
If you missed Jason Isbell (6:45 p.m. Sept. 8 at Ravinia, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park; ravinia.org), Bob Mould (7:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Prairie Center for the Arts, 201 Schaumburg Ct., Schaumburg.; prairiecenter.org); The National and War on Drugs (6:45 p.m. Sept. 24 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St.; unitedcenter.com); Hiss Golden Messenger (8 p.m. Oct. 13 at Space, 1245 N. Chicago Ave., Evanston; evanstonspacemusic.com); or Justin Timberlake (7:30 p.m. Oct. 27 at United Center; unitedcenter.com) on recent trips through town, you’re in luck. And if you like to root on Chicago-based musicians, promising up-and-comers Dehd (8 p.m. Nov. 12-14 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; thaliahallchicago.com) and Slow Pulp (8 p.m. Nov. 21-22 at Thalia Hall; thaliahallchicago.com) top a local slate that includes veterans Lupe Fiasco (8 p.m. Nov. 10 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; saltshedchicago.com) promoting his recent concept LP “Samurai” and Local H (8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St.; metrochicago.com) playing its 2004 effort “Whatever Happened to P.J. Soles?” in its entirety.
Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.
