Photo by Matt Sav
Tame Impala @ Riverside Theater, May 14
Thursday, May 14
Tame Impala w/ Mini Mansions @ The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m.
It’s funny how often psychedelic bands use wonky, experimental sounds to disguise thin songwriting. That’s not the case, however, for the Australian band Tame Impala, which pairs unusual, ’60s-inspired rock sounds with engaging, triumphantly catchy tunes. For the last few years the group has been riding in the glow of their 2012 breakthrough album Lonerism, which was crowned album of the year by Rolling Stone and a number of other music publications, but they’ve got a new album on the horizon. Band leader Kevin Parker has described the group’s upcoming Currents, due July 17, as an album that “follows the progression of someone feeling like they are becoming someone else.”
Friday, May 15
Kids in the Hall @ The Riverside Theater, 8 p.m.
Since their absurdist sketch comedy show ended in 1995, all five members of the Kids in the Hall have stayed visible, albeit TV personality-visible, not major-star visible. Mark McKinney spent a few years on “Saturday Night Live”; Scott Thompson became the host of “My Fabulous Gay Wedding” and landed a supporting role on NBC’s “Hannibal”; Kevin McDonald guest-starred in more than a dozen sitcoms; Bruce McCulloch turned toward writing and directing; and Dave Foley anchored the great NBC sitcom “NewsRadio” and continues to pop up in new shows. Despite those outside commitments, the comedy troupe has regularly regrouped for tours, which gave way to a miniseries in 2010, “The Kids in the Hall: Death Comes to Town.” For each tour they generate new sketches and characters, but they always promise plenty of fan favorites and, of course, lots of their usual cross-dressing.
Jonny Lang @ Potawatomi Hotel & Casino, 8 p.m.
No longer a child prodigy (he’s just a plain old prodigy now), Jonny Lang continues to be one of the most popular contemporary blues guitarists. His 2006 studio album Turn Around won a Grammy Award for Best Rock or Rap Gospel Album, and his most recent album 2013’s Fight for My Soul topped the Billboard Blues Album chart, and nearly topped the Christian Album chart as well. Like its predecessor, the record reflects Lang’s conversion to Christianity, which he credits for saving his life after a period of substance abuse. Lang headlines two nights at the Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s Northern Lights Theater this weekend. (Also Saturday, May 16, 9 p.m.)
|
|
Saturday, May 16
Late Late Breakfast @ Bremen Café, 2 p.m.
For two years Chicago comedians Tyler Jackson and Danny Maupin have hosted one of the area’s most unique variety comedy shows at the city’s concert venue The Hideout. Late Late Breakfast features a mix of standup sets, open mic performances and game-show challenges, as comedians are dared on the spot to deliver their sets while, for instance, flying a kite or performing a puppet show. Best of all, the program lives up to its name: There really will be breakfast, in the form of free pancakes. This performance is free, but donations are encouraged (pancakes don’t pay for themselves, after all).
Nick Vatterott @ The Underground Collaborative, 8 p.m.
Nick Vatterott has logged years in both the Chicago and New York comedy scene, and he’s amassed some impressive credits along the way, with appearances on “Conan” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” as well as Comedy Central’s “Mash Up.” His standup usually begins with routine observational humor, but often gives way to sudden, excitable tangents and improvisations. At this show at the Underground Collaborative’s Arcade Theatre (161 W. Wisconsin Ave.) he’ll be selling copies of his latest comedy album, For Amusement Only.
Danceworks Mad Hot Ballroom and Tap Ninth Annual Competition @ BMO Harris Bradley Center, 9:30 a.m.
More than 2,000 students from 45 schools citywide will dance in this year’s daylong competition. Free and open to the public, the show starts with funk, Latin and swing styles of tap danced by fourth through sixth graders. Tap rules until 1:30 p.m. when the ballroom competition opens with fifth and sixth grade pairs dancing salsa, rumba and tango. The final round should start about 4:30 p.m. Competing dancers received 24 hours of lessons over a 12-week period from Danceworks professionals at mostly MPS schools in mostly low-income neighborhoods. Between competitions, enjoy showcase performances by Danceworks Youth Performance Company, advanced students aged 11-17, many of them MHBT alums.
Sunday, May 17
The Daily Show Writers Standup Tour @ Turner Hall Ballroom, 7 p.m.
Jon Stewart shocked viewers of “The Daily Show” this winter when he announced that he would step down from Comedy Central’s long-running political comedy institution. Those fans weren’t comforted much, either, by the announcement of new host Trevor Noah, whose past has included some unfortunately tasteless (and just plain unfunny) cracks about Jews, Asians and fat women. But if there’s hope for the show, it lies in the writers’ room, which has long stocked some of the most talented joke crafters on television. Some of those writers will get a chance to take the stage at this “The Daily Show Writers Standup” tour, which will feature standup and Q&A sessions with show contributors Adam Lowitt, Matt Koff, Travon Free and Zhubin Parang.
Tuesday, May 19
Jenny Lewis w/ Nikki Lane @ Turner Hall Ballroom, 8 p.m.
It's been a good chunk of time since Jenny Lewis last played a solo show in Milwaukee. That show was in 2006, when she was touring behind her country gospel album Rabbit Fur Coat, the record that proved she could hold her own outside of her charming Los Angeles indie-rock band Rilo Kiley. In the years since, Lewis has bounced from project to project, including a brief stint with boyfriend Jonathan Rice as Jenny and Johnny. Last year’s The Voyager found her riding solo again, albeit with the help of some strong support from producer Ryan Adams, along with Beck and Rice. Modeled after the pop-minded ’70s and ’80s songwriter records she grew up listening to, it’s her finest effort since Rabbit Fur Coat.
