Portugal, Earl Greyhound to play House Cafe

Founded in Wasilla, Alaska, indie/prog favorites Portugal. The Man may yet reclaim the city's dignity. With album number three, the colorful and passionate "Censored Colors," the quartet remains one of the few groups out there that manage to sound retro and experimental at the same time. Earl Greyhound and Wintersleep open.

Facts: 8 p.m. Friday, Nov. 7, at Subterranean, 2011 W. North Ave., Chicago. $12 advance, $14 day of show. (773) 278-6600. Also 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 8, at The House Cafe, 263 E. Lincoln Hwy., DeKalb. $12 advance, $14 day of show. (815) 787-9547.

Gov't Mule

Gov't Mule has done pretty well for an Allman Brothers Band offshoot without any Allman brothers in it. Thanks to the improvisational chops of guitarist Warren Haynes, the group has become its own institution among Southern rock aficionados. With red-hot blues rockers Back Door Slam opening, this one's gonna be packed.

Facts: 8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center Drive, Hammond, Indiana. $35. (312) 559-1212.

Usher

You'd think that with an album as huge as this year's "Here I Stand," R&B superstar Usher would be playing an arena in support. But you can catch the crooner in the intimate confines of Chicago's House of Blues. Or, for about $80 less, you could just rent his 2005 star vehicle, "In the Mix." We hear it's amazing.

9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 13, at House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn St., Chicago. $83 advance, $87 day of show. (312) 923-2000.