JULY MUSIC
events | music | film

Of course, by the time July actually rolls around, there’ll be much, much more on the concert docket. It’s also, however, the month when serious heat hits, and if ComEd keeps up with its unrivalled track record, half these shows won’t happen for lack of electricity. Just drink lots of water, and hope you don’t have to see Morbid Angel—acoustic.

Previews by Dave Chamberlain, except where noted

[ * = recommended ]

1
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Andre Watts
Ravinia

11th Annual Chicago Country Music Festival
Grant Park

Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Born Into Kaos
House of Blues

Dave Koz, Michael McDonald, Brian Culbertson
Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Jonny Lang
Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

The Radiators
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

2
David Crosby, Barbarito Torres
House of Blues

Indigenous
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Jayhawks
Leinie Lodge at the Koss Pavilion, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Splendors of Vienna, Christoph Eschenbach
Ravinia

Three Dog Night
Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

3
Mary Chapin Carpenter, Lunasa
Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra
"Independence Eve at Grant Park."
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

Legends of Rock ’n’ Roll Impersonator Show
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Pantera, *Slayer, Static X, Skrape, Morbid Angel
Maybe it would have been better had Slayer broken up in, say, 1990. Then, the band that made thrash into evil incarnate wouldn’t be playing second bill to anyone, and performing in front of fans who were 10 when the band was reforging the depths of dark metal. For the record: There simply is no better evil metal record than Slayer’s "Reign in Blood," a half-hour-long blast of riffs so diabolical they sound as if they were penned by the hand of the Dark One himself. The nineties didn’t see Slayer match that unbridled energy, and instead saw them take some easier roads by way of an entirely live record ("Decade of Aggression") and an all-covers record ("Undisputed Attitude"). Both those records are money for Slayer fans, but haven’t really churned up a newer, younger fan base. So, as it was for metal bands trumped by Slayer, operatic metal like Dio, Celtic Frost and even Iron Maiden, perhaps it is time for Slayer to step down and clear a path.
Allstate Arena

Poison with Warrant, Quiet Riot, Enuff Znuff
Tweeter Center

Reel Big Fish
Leinie Lodge at the Koss Pavilion, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

4
Cubanismo! with Barbarito Torres from the Buena Vista Social Club
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Dark Star Orchestra
Leinie Lodge at the Koss Pavilion, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Steve Earle
Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Schumann Songbook
Ravinia

5
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Matthias Goerne
Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra in Pilsen
Through July 6.
St. Paul Catholic Church, 2127 W. 22nd Place

Semisonic
Leinie Lodge at the Koss Pavilion, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

6
An Evening of Guitars and Saxes
Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Emanuel Ax
Ravinia

*Dido, Travis
A standout in the female singer-songwriter genre. Dido has garnered media comparisons to Sarah McLachlan, but that’s unfair to both; McLachlan’s voice has the dynamic range that lends her the superior pitch and tone, but Dido is the better songwriter. Her debut record, "No Angel" (Arista), reveals incredible musical depth, using to great success elements like hip-hop beats, deep reggae bass and dub, trip-hop effects and subtle drum ’n’ bass breakbeats. When the music is at its creative zenith (specifically, "Here With Me"—the theme from the television show "Roswell," and "Honestly OK"), Dido’s crystalline voice emotes a delicate melancholy, at once demurely innocent and smugly mature.
Tweeter Center

Doves
Metro

Femi Kuti
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Dave Matthews Band, Macy Gray
Soldier Field

7
The Big Wu
Potawatomi Bingo Casino Stage, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Julia Fischer
Ravinia

Doobie Brothers
Harley-Davidson Roadhouse, Milwaukee Summerfest, (800)764-FEST

Grant Park Orchestra
Through July 8.
Symphony Center

Majarajah
HotHouse

8
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Miriam Fried
Ravinia

9
Barbara Cook, Kevin Cole
Ravinia

10
Mavis Staples
Ravinia

11
Cowboy Junkies, Jeb Loy Nichols
Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra
James Paul Conducts Sibelius. Also July 13.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

12
Glen Hansard, Songs: Ohia
Schubas

Garrick Ohlsson
Ravinia

13
Bon Jovi
Tweeter Center

Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sir Andrew Davis, Sarah Chang
Ravinia

Jim Beam Rock Band Search
Hard Rock Café

*Steel Pulse, Toots and the Maytalls
It’s unfortunate that when most people name-check British reggae bands, the one that almost always arises is UB40. It is beyond unfortunate—say, horrifying—considering that since before the Babylonian spies in UB40 ever sang about wine, Steel Pulse was at the forefront of pop-reggae groove. In mid-seventies London, when kids like Billy Idol weren’t going to see Sex Pistols shows, they were crowding into London’s reggae sound systems for the likes of Steel Pulse. Only three of the original members still call themselves Steel Pulse—David Hinds, Steve Nesbitt, Selwyn Brown—but, to their credit, the fifty or so other musicians they have played with never did them wrong.
House of Blues

Vive La World
House of Blues

14
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sir Andrew Davis
Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus, Chicago Children’s Choir
Britten’s Spring Symphony. Through July 15.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

Phil Lesh and Friends, String Cheese Incident
Alpine Valley

Del McCoury Band
Ramsey Auditorium, Fermilab, Kirk Road at Pine Street, Batavia, (630)840-ARTS

Sawt el Atlas
HotHouse

15
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Sir Andrew Davis, Leon Fleisher, Larry Combs
Ravinia

Pinetop Seven, Town and Country
Schubas

Vans Warped Tour
Though the specific Chicago line-up for this all-things-skater annual event has yet to be solidified, you can be sure of some: The Rollins Band, Pennywise, Rancid, Less Than Jake and the Bouncing Souls should all make appearances, revving up the fifth generation of punk rock kids with over-used power chords and 25-year-old anthems. (Actually, that’s not fair to Rollins; first of all, he’s metal if he’s anything, and secondly, Henry has made an effort to not sound like his old band, Black Flag.) The one interesting act on the bill—and only hip hopper—is king of all bizarre raps Kool Keith, aka Black Elvis, aka Dr. Octagon. Is he worth braving the blistering July sun, skateboard-toting masses and testosterone venders to see? Tough to say, but you can bet a show all to his own isn’t far off.
Tweeter Center

16
Chanticleer
Ravinia

Kevin O’Donnell’s Quality Six, Sinister Luck Ensemble, Fetal Position
Schubas

17
The Neville Brothers, Angelique Kidjo
Ravinia

18
Yefim Bronfman
Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra
Rodrigo Centennial Celebration.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

19
Grant Park Orchestra
Music from Spain.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

Ladybug Transistor, Locksmiths, Quasar Wut Wut
Schubas

Najee, Regina Bell
Skyline Stage, Navy Pier

Philharmonia Quartett Berlin
Ravinia

Umphrey’s McGee
Skyline Stage, Navy Pier

Uz Jsme Doma
Schubas

20
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Ravinia

21
Backstreet Boys, Shaggy, Krystal
Tweeter Center

Jerry Bonham
Rednofive

Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Noche Latina!
8pm. Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra
The Best of Lerner and Loewe. Through July 22.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

Kristin Hersh
Schubas

Jethro Tull
Chicago Theatre

Southside Neigborhood Gospel Fest
Ogden Park, 6500 S. Racine


22
Karl Densen’s Tiny Universe
House of Blues

Howie Gelb, Catherine Irwin
Schubas

Erich Kunzel, Best of Broadway
Ravinia

Rebecca St. James, Among Thorns
Skyline Stage, Navy Pier

23
Eroica Trio
Ravinia

24
*Buena Vista Social Club, Ibrahim Ferrer, Ruben Gonzlaez, Boubacar Traore
Here’s where you need a seat in the pavilion. As anyone familiar with the great film version of the "Buena Vista Social Club" can attest, though they have a wondrous flair for the rhythmic stylings of Cuban and Afro-Cuban, the soundtrack was somewhat disappointing. At least part of that is due to their great improvisational style. Depending on the vocal machinations of the fabulous Ibrahim Ferrer, who performs here with wonderful pianist Ruben Gonzalez, or the manipulations of any of the other numerous members, everything’s going to sound different every time. In addition, they’re so energetic and such a joy to watch, that any chance to see them in action only makes the music that much better. So no sitting on the lawn or you’ll miss out. (Elaine Richardson)
Ravinia

Eric Clapton, Doyle Bramhall II and Smokestack
Also June 25.
United Center

25
Emerson String Quartet
Ravinia

26
Janet Jackson
United Center

Ballake Sissoko
HotHouse

Dawn Upshaw, Margo Garrett
Ravinia

27
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Peter Serkin
Ravinia

Grant Park Orchestra
Brahms Second Piano Concerto. Also July 29.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

Janet Jackson
United Center

Woodstock Mozart Festival
Weekends through Aug 11.
121 Van Buren, Woodstock, (815)338-5300

28
Rick Braun
Skyline Stage, Navy Pier

Grant Park Orchestra
Venetian Night—Italian Style.
Petrillo Music Shell, Grant Park

29
Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Tzimon Barto
Ravinia

30
Andrea Marcovicci
Ravinia

*Roxy Music
I can’t lie here: your friendly neighborhood music critic who has developed a reputation for loving everything that punches you in the mouth is an unabashed Roxy Music fan, and I have been since before the first time I ever heard Slayer. As purveyors of ultra-lush, extremely posh new (romantic) wave, Roxy Music stand as one of the all-time great image bands, as lead singer Bryan Ferry’s suit-wearing, martini-drinking lounge-lizard look combined with his yearning, breathy voice turned him into the vanguard of suave. But Roxy Music wasn’t always image; its first few records were made with "Music for Airports" weirdo Brian Eno, who pushed the band as a cutting-edge member of the pre-punk artmusic scene. Of course, there wasn’t any money in that, and Eno bailed anyway. The next decade saw Roxy Music become the scourge of the punk scene, but a commercially successful band whose career peaked with its final record, 1982’s "Avalon." And while I’m over old bands making comebacks, Roxy Music always sounded like it was made by a mature group of people, so I don’t really expect them to miss a beat. And on a different tip: Word to Wagon Christ (aka Luke Vibert) for closing out his Noise Pop 2001 set with Roxy’s "Angel Eyes."
Allstate Arena

31
Lyle Lovett and His Large Band
Ravinia

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