Upcoming concerts

The Bad Examples and Zoom, 9 p.m. Friday, April 4 at Durty Nellies, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $8. (847) 358-9150.

The Bad Examples used to be full-time job of pop singer-songwriter Ralph Covert until his second coming as a children's band leader under the mega-successful Ralph's World franchise. The Chicago band is best known for their regional hit, "Not Dead Yet." Opening this show is Zoom, a new band featuring sometime Smashing Pumpkins drummer Matt Walker.

Vampire Weekend with Yacht 9 p.m. Sunday at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $15. (773) 549-0203. Sold out.

The most hyped band since the dawn of The Strokes, Vampire Weekend is a collection of ultra-preppy Columbia University graduates who play light, non-threatening afro-pop and look good doing so. You've seen them on "Saturday Night Live" and on the cover of SPIN. On this inaugural club tour, the band is faced with having to live up to all that press.

Eels, 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago. $25. (312) 559-1212. Sold out.

Eels is Mark Oliver Everett, an L.A. pop songwriter with a body of work that spans folk, rock and country, all connected by deadly humor and personal wreckage that closely resembles Leonard Cohen or the post-Beatles work of John Lennon. He rarely tours, yet this current outing is to support "Meet the Eels," a retrospective, and "Useless Trinkets," a B-sides collection with DVD footage from his set at Chicago's Lollapalooza in 2006.

Following is a list of recently announced shows. Ticket prices do not reflect service or handling fees.

Tokio Hotel, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: The 6 p.m. April 18 show has been postponed to a date to be announced. Refunds available at point of purchase. (312) 559-1212.

Carrie Underwood, Convocation Center at Northern Illinois University, 1525 W. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb: country. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. April 21 show are on sale now. $59. (312) 559-1212.

Soulja Boy, Lil Mama, Tiffany Evans, V.I.C., House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: The 7 p.m. April 22 show has been canceled. Refunds available at point of purchase. (312) 559-1212.

Digital Mindy, Maggot (expletive), Antioch Secret Society, Khaos Theory, A Birdsong Valentine, Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago: industrial/death metal/hard rock. Tickets for the 6 p.m. April 26 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $8. (773) 549-4140.

Webb Wilder, Backporch Stage at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: roots/surf rock. Tickets for the 10 p.m. May 2 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $15. (312) 559-1212.

Lord Mike's Dirty Calypsonians, The Pinstripes, Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago: calypso/ska. Tickets for the 9:30 p.m. May 2 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $8. (866) 468-3401.

Alter Bridge, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: hard/pop rock; second show added. Tickets for the 7 p.m. May 3 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $24.50, $26. (312) 559-1212.

South, The Silver State, Ki:Theory, Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., Chicago: indie/pop rock. Tickets for the 9 p.m. May 5 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $13, $15. (866) 468-3401.

Partyshank, Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., Chicago: electronic/rock/punk. Tickets for the 9 p.m. May 6 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $8, $10. (866) 468-3401.

The Hanks, Junior Revolution, Adam McLaughlin, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago: indie/pop rock. Tickets for the 9 p.m. May 6 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $8, $10. (312) 559-1212.

M.I.A., Holy (expletive), Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago: hip-hop/dancehall/electronic rock. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. May 9 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $30. (312) 559-1212.

Bootsy Collins and TheHardestWorkingBand, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: tribute to James Brown. Tickets for the 9 p.m. May 12 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $45, $48. (312) 559-1212.

Bandemonium featuring Menudo, NLT, V-Factory, Glowb, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: pop/Latin/R&B. Tickets for the 6 p.m. May 13 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $23, $24.50. (312) 559-1212.

Tributosaurus, Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago: tribute to Queen. Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. May 16 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $25. (312) 559-1212.

Subnoize Souljaz, Potluck, DGAF, Big B, The Dirtball, Underrated, I Ton, Saint Dog, Chucky Chuck, Big Hoss, Gillies, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago: hip-hop. Tickets for the 10 p.m. May 16 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $10, $12. (866) 468-3401.

Bryan Cherry Band, Fraker and Sons, Alain de Courtenay, Dave Moran, Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace St., Chicago: roots/pop rock. Tickets for the 9 p.m. May 16 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $5, $7. (866) 468-3401.

Nightmare of You, The Graduate, Paper Rival, Edison Glass, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago: pop rock/post-punk/emo. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. May 21 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $10, $12. (866) 468-3401.

Kid Rock and the Twisted Brown Trucker Band, Rev Run, Peter Wolf, Sears Centre, 5333 Prairie Stone Parkway, Hoffman Estates: hip-hop/Southern/hard/pop rock. Tickets for the 8 p.m. May 23 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $38.50-$53.50. (888) 732-7784.

Dosh, Anathallo, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago: electronic/experimental/indie/pop rock. Tickets for the 9:30 p.m. May 29 show go on sale at 10 a.m. today. $12. (866) 468-3401.

"Making the Band" Tour featuring Danity Kane, Day26, Donnie Klang, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: The 7 p.m. May 30 show has been canceled. Refunds available at point of purchase. (312) 559-1212.

Erykah Badu, The Roots, Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., Chicago: R&B/hip-hop; second show added. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. May 31 show go on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday. $49.50-$69.50/May 30 sold out. (312) 559-1212.

Old 97's, Hayes Carll, Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago: roots rock/folk/country. Tickets for the 8:30 p.m. June 5 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $22. (773) 549-4140.

R.E.M., Modest Mouse, The National, United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago: pop/roots/indie rock. Tickets for the 7 p.m. June 6 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $37.50-$85. (312) 559-1212.

Dave Matthews Band, Toyota Park, 7100 S. Harlem Ave., Bridgeview: pop/jam rock. Tickets for the 7 p.m. June 6 show are on sale now. $65-$75. (312) 559-1212.

Slinky Styles, Cold Water Mystic, Nornee's Bulb, Imperial dLx, Double Door, 1572 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago: funk/pop/hard rock. Tickets for the 9 p.m. June 6 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $8. (312) 559-1212.

Retribution Gospel Choir, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago: indie/pop/hard rock. Tickets for the 9:30 p.m. June 7 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $10. (866) 468-3401.

Phil Lesh and Friends, The Levon Helm Band, Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island, 1300 S. Linn White Drive, Chicago: jam/roots rock. Tickets for the 5 p.m. June 13 show go on sale at 10 a.m. today. $35-$65. (312) 559-1212.

Swervedriver, Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago: indie/psychedelic/pop rock. Tickets for the 9 p.m. June 14 show go on sale at noon Saturday. $20. (773) 549-4140.

Peter Murphy, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: gothic/pop rock/post-punk. Tickets for the 9 p.m. June 17 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $31.50, $33. (312) 559-1212.

Hatebreed, Type O Negative, 3 Inches of Blood, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: punk/thrash/gothic/doom/power metal. Tickets for the 5:45 p.m. June 24 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $23.50, $25. (312) 559-1212.

Cursive, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago: indie/pop/progressive rock. Tickets for the 10 p.m. June 27 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $15. (866) 468-3401.

Steve Miller Band, Joe Cocker, Marcus Amphitheater, 200 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee, Wis.: rock/pop/blues. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. June 29 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $40-$55; includes Summerfest admission. (312) 559-1212.

311, Snoop Dogg, Fiction Plane, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park: pop/hard rock/reggae/hip-hop. Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. July 8 show go on sale at 5 p.m. today. $26.50-$49.50. (312) 559-1212.

George Michael, United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago: pop/dance/soul. Tickets for the 8 p.m. July 9 show go on sale at 11 a.m. Saturday. $65-$250. (312) 559-1212.

Polvo, Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago: indie/experimental/psychedelic rock. Tickets for the 9:30 p.m. July 25 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $15. (866) 468-3401.

King Crimson, Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago: progressive rock; third show added. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Aug. 8 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $67.50. (312) 559-1212.

Counting Crows, Maroon 5, Sara Bareilles, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park: roots/pop rock. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Aug. 22 show go on sale at 5 p.m. today. $29.50-$150. (312) 559-1212.

George Thorogood and the Destroyers, House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago: blues rock. Tickets for the 9 p.m. Aug. 23 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $45.50, $47. (312) 559-1212.

Journey, Heart, Cheap Trick, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park: pop rock. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Sept. 12 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $25-$125. (312) 559-1212.

Brooks & Dunn, ZZ Top, Rodney Atkins, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, 19100 S. Ridgeland Ave., Tinley Park: country/Southern/hard rock. Tickets for the 7 p.m. Sept. 13 show go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. $25-$49.75. (312) 559-1212.

Vince Gill, Rialto Square Theatre, 102 N. Chicago St., Joliet: country. Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Sept. 18 show are on sale now. $45-$95. (815) 726-6600.

"Dirty Dancing -- The Classic Story on Stage," Cadillac Palace Theatre, 151 W. Randolph St., Chicago: Stage musical based on the 1987 movie follows the summer romance of a doctor's daughter and a smooth dancer from the wrong side of the tracks. Tickets for the Sept. 28 through Dec. 7 performances go on sale at 9 a.m. today. $35-$150. (312) 902-1400.

Celtic Thunder, Rosemont Theatre, 5400 N. River Road, Rosemont: Celtic folk/pop/classical. Tickets for the 8 p.m. Oct. 15 show are on sale now. $37.50-$57.50. (312) 559-1212.

Jackopierce, Park West, 322 W. Armitage Ave., Chicago: pop/folk rock. Tickets for the 8 p.m. Nov. 14 show are on sale now. $27.50. (312) 559-1212.

-- Jeff Pizek