Friday 24
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GRAHAM PARKER & THE FIGGS In the mid-90s former angry young man Graham Parker gave up on a decade-plus-long pursuit of adult contemporary success and returned to the mix of pub rock, soul, and pop rock that made him a musical godfather to Elvis Costello, Nick Lowe, and Joe Jackson. But on some of the records he’s made since then he’s tried too hard to capture a snarling punk energy that he never had even in his heyday, possibly overcompensating in order to make his righteous indignation at the state of the world crystal clear. On his cheekily titled new album, Songs of No Consequence (Bloodshot), he’s still pissed, but he’s figured out that his words do a better job expressing his frustration than any musical posturing. So New York power popsters the Figgs, who’ve been his touring band since the late 90s, are a perfect match–they play Parker’s hooky songs crisply, without any undue bluster. Parker sounds like an angry old man now, decrying the shallowness of the media, assailing others’ lack of integrity, and grappling with his own sense of dislocation. But his bitterness hasn’t hurt his ability to craft catchy, concise melodies, and the Figgs make sure that his punches land cleanly. They’ll play an opening set, then back Parker. This show is part of MOBfest; for a complete schedule see page 54. 9 PM, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee, 773-489-3160 or 312-559-1212, $20. –Peter Margasak
REDWALLS Go ahead, find me a flaw on the Redwalls’ new Capitol album, De Nova. Lord knows I’ve been looking for one. The overarching weakness, if that’s what you’d call it, is how effortlessly these young locals call to mind the classic albums they’ve clearly pored over: Between the Buttons, Ziggy Stardust, maybe even that one big Ringo solo record. After a while the assuredness, the serpentine ease can get a little wearying–I’d love to hear them seriously overreach, just like their influences did on occasion. But no, they just keep hitting their marks again and again. There’s something a bit unwholesome about that. This record-release show is part of MOBfest; for a complete schedule see page 54. Regina Spektor and American Minor open. 7 PM, Metro, 3730 N. Clark, 773-549-0203 or 312-559-1212, $11 in advance, $13 day of show. All ages. –Monica Kendrick
OVER THE RHINE This Ohio-based band started out alt-country 15 years ago, but for most of its career it’s occupied the Cowboy Junkies’ polished, bittersweet Americana territory. Its new album, Drunkard’s Prayer (Back Porch), is about the relationship between the band’s principals, husband and wife Linford Detweiler and Karin Bergquist. Gutsy and honest, right? There’s just one problem: they seem to be genuinely happy with one another. Shoot Out the Lights it ain’t, but this simple, literally down-home record–they recorded it in their living room–might be the finest one they’ve done. Despite all its embarrassing platitudes, it’s unrelentingly pretty; the best parts are the ones with just Bergquist and a piano, where she stops just short of falling into torch-singer mode. Kim Taylor opens. See also Sunday. 10 PM, Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, 773-525-2508, sold out. –Monica Kendrick
Monday 27
HACIENDA BROTHERS Chris Gaffney and Dave Gonzalez, the core duo of the Hacienda Brothers, are no scruffy young alt-country things–Gaffney’s spent a quarter century fronting the Cold Hard Facts and also plays in Dave Alvin’s Guilty Men, while Gonzalez has led the Paladins since the early 80s. On their self-titled debut for Koch, their fusion of country and R & B sounds as assured and smooth as anything on the jukebox of a dusty roadside bar. Snaky organ and Gonzalez’s languid guitar wrap around Gaffney’s sturdy and flexible voice, and their wry songs sound like Percy Sledge joining Los Lobos for a set at their favorite honky-tonk. This is the kind of stuff the Chicago Country Music Festival ought to have more of, and the gig’s indoors to boot–look ma, no sunburn! The Hacienda Brothers play as part of FitzGerald’s American Music Festival; see Fairs & Festivals for the complete lineup. 7:30 PM, FitzGerald’s, 6615 Roosevelt, Berwyn, 708-788-2118 or 312-559-1212, $20, $15 for those arriving before 6 PM, $5 for children under 13. –Monica Kendrick
