Concert picks
Keith Urban with Gary Allan, 8 p.m. today at the Allstate Arena, 6920 N. Mannheim Road, Rosemont. $34.50/$59.50. (312) 559-1212.
New Zealand country music star Keith Urban headlines this show, on the heels of a greatest hits album, recently released. The title of this tour -- "Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy World Tour" -- sums things up succinctly if you've been following the headlines. This past year has been a rough one for Urban, who has led a public fight against alcoholism, suffered a bad motorbike accident in October, which, along with his marriage to Nicole Kidman, keeps him in the tabloids.
KT Tunstall, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $25. Sold out. (312) 559-1212.
One of the few bright entries on today's pop charts is this second album from Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall. "Drastic Fantastic" (Capitol), her recent follow-up to the million-selling "Eye to the Telescope," goes beyond the folk pop of her debut to deliver an impressive set of chamber pop, fuzzy rockers and rock anthems. Three years ago, Tunstall's brooding, tough vocals seemed like a strange match to her mellow songs; but on these songs they sound perfectly aligned.
Jeff Buckley Tribute Concert, 5 p.m. Sunday at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., Chicago. $10. (312) 559-1212.
For 10 years, Uncommon Ground, the Wrigleyville restaurant, music room and coffeehouse, has hosted a tribute night to angelic-voiced singer Jeff Buckley, who played the venue in 1994 before drowning in the Mississippi River in 1997. The shows have received national recognition and are regularly attended by Buckley's family. This year, the third night moves to Metro to accommodate demand and will feature Buckley interpreters Dorothy Scott, Old Dog Music, Ryan Groff, Spencer Michaud, April Smith and many others.
M.I.A. with The Cool Kids, 11:30 p.m. Wednesday at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn, Chicago. $20/$22.50. (312) 559-1212. Also 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23 at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $22. (312) 559-1212.
Over the past two years, Sri Lankan rapper and London resident M.I.A. has stirred up excitement in underground hip-hop circles for music that uses pseudo-militant lyrics, simple party beats, a world music accent and major irreverence. Her new album is "Kala" (XL), featuring production work by Timbaland and others. The Cool Kids, a duo from Chicago performing their version of 1980s hip-hop, open both shows.