Music notes: Vanilla Ice visits Viper Alley

Not as 'Vanilla'

Vanilla Ice was one of those pop-culture flash points that happen every once in a while, scoring a monster hit with the irresistible hip-hop track “Ice Ice Baby” from his debut 1990 record “To the Extreme,” then suffering an equally intense backlash and eventually settling into the role of obscure one-hit-wonder/reality television star. The difference is that Vanilla Ice (his real name is Robert Van Winkle) has continued to record new music and tour. He appears in the suburbs this weekend in support of his 2011 record, “WTF — Wisdom, Tenacity & Focus.” His sound is harder and rock-edged now, but it's hard to believe he'll finish a show without dusting off his biggest hit.

8:30 p.m. Friday, May 18, at Viper Alley, 275 Parkway Drive, Lincolnshire. Tickets start at $20. Go to viper-alley.com.

'Cult' returns

Classic rock powerhouse Blue Oyster Cult — whose hits include “Don't Fear the Reaper,” for those who've been living in a cave the past 40 years — makes a stop in the suburbs this weekend. The current lineup features longtime members Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma.

8 p.m. Friday, May 18, at the Arcada Theater, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $29 to $69. Go to oshows.com.

Folk rocker

Singer-songwriter (and former Chicago resident) Joe Pug turned quite a few heads with his debut full-length record, “Messenger,” a collection of stark, country-tinged folk songs with lyrics so elegant and witty that he was compared to such luminaries as John Prine and Bob Dylan. He recently released its follow-up, “The Great Despiser” (Lightning Rod Records), which picks up right where the previous record left off. Pug is a major talent who continues to generate positive buzz with each show. He's in town for two shows this weekend.

10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, May 18-19, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $15. Go to lincolnhallchicago.com.