Sound check: John Mayer ditches the Company for solo Chicago shows
John Mayer and more at the United Center
When John Mayer first hit commercial acclaim in the early 2000s with "Room for Squares," the acoustic singer-songwriter offered a breath of fresh air to radio waves growing stale with boy bands and nu metal acts that had been riding the top as we crossed into the new millennium. His folksy delivery and light touch on topics from memories to journeys to awkward moments were at once endearingly earnest and refreshingly nostalgic. As he's matured, Mayer has given more focus to the blues, which have always informed his music, and he now tours regularly with Dead & Company - an ensemble of Grateful Dead survivors - but he's stepping back to his singer-songwriter act when he comes to Chicago for two nights. Rumor has it he and his backing musicians play a retrospective of sorts, sometimes diving deep into Mayer's older cuts as well as covers of influential favorites.
7:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 14-15, at the United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., Chicago; tickets start at $59.50 for Wednesday and $39.50 for Thursday at (312) 455-4500 or unitedcenter.com.
Also at the United Center:
• Queen + Adam Lambert's "The Rhapsody Tour": 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9; sold out at unitedcenter.com, but tickets are available through third-party resellers.
• Backstreet Boys' "DNA World Tour" with Baylee Littrell: 8 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10; tickets start at $90 at unitedcenter.com.
Chicago leads Ravinia's lineup
Chicago has been gracing stages and airwaves with its classic rock and pop-rock hits for more than five decades, and the iconic rock band is not slowing down. When band members hit the Ravinia Festival stage for two nights this weekend, fans can expect to hear a mix of old favorites and more modern hits. Bela Nanni, who has joined the band for many Chicago-area shows, returns to open and perform with them.
7:30 p.m. (gates at 5) Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 10-11, at Ravinia Festival, 418 Sheridan Road, Highland Park. $43-$125. (847) 266-5100 or ravinia.org.
Also at Ravinia:
• An Evening with Sarah McLachlan and the Ravinia Festival Orchestra: 7:30 p.m. (gates at 5) Monday, Aug. 12; $43-$105 at ravinia.org.
• Nickelback's "Feed The Machine Tour" with Buckcherry: 6:30 p.m. (gates at 4) Tuesday, Aug. 13; $54-$160 at ravinia.org.
• Pentatonix "The World Tour" with special guest Rachel Platten: 7 p.m. (gates at 5) Thursday, Aug. 15; $43-$120 at ravinia.org.
Million Reasons
When The Million Reasons recently dropped the new single "Secrets," it was a promise that there's more bubbling beneath the surface of both the song and the band. A string of shows, including a gig at House of Blues earlier this year, and two new singles on the way out in a few months are foreshadowing what promises to be a big year for the alt-rock fivesome. Catch the band, in all its dark and twisty glory, when Reasons headlines the Cubby Bear this weekend, along with guests Bent Dimes, Honey & the 45s and Neon Creek.
7:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.
Trickshooter's night of art
Coming hot off its recent release, "American Experiment," Chicago's Trickshooter Social Club is taking on a new experiment: a night celebrating the arts with Steppenwolf Theatre's LookOut Series. The offbeat performance will feature Trickshooter playing selections from the new album along with spoken word interludes and short films, dance and visual artistry integrated into the set. See it all on the big stage at Steppenwolf Theatre.
8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 15, at Steppenwolf Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted St., Chicago. $15; (312) 335-1650 or steppenwolf.org.
• Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter at @thatshamieguy. Brian also keeps tabs on the Chicago-area music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.