Too late for My Bloody Valentine; still time for Nick Cave, Pain
Tickets sold out fast for this, one of only eight North American shows by the reunited shoegaze legends. Those lucky enough to get in should have earplugs ready, as European reports say the Irish/British quartet's psychedelic squalls are as thunderously loud as ever. They're readying a new LP, but the set list will only go up to 1991's epochal "Loveless."
Facts: 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, at the Aragon Entertainment Center, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave., Chicago. $40/sold out. (312) 559-1212.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
The new "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!" is Cave's 14th album with his Bad Seeds. It's also the most consistently rocking one in a while. The gaunt Australian singer indulged his romantic side in recent years, until 2007's side project Grinderman rekindled his love affair with edgy post-punk nastiness. Live, this is the rare act that can create a physical presence via sound alone.
Facts: 8 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Sept. 28 and 29, at the Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine Ave., Chicago. $35-$38/Monday sold out. (312) 559-1212.
Jon Oliva's Pain and Circle II Circle
Hark, fans of piano-laced headbanging singalongs: this tour unites both voices of the classic prog/pomp metal band Savatage, which has been on hold for most of the '00s. Oliva's inimitable shriek adorns his eponymous Pain, while Zak Stevens leads Circle II Circle with deeper, soulful tones.
Facts: 8 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 30, at Chicago City Limits, 1712 Wise Road, Schaumburg. $20. (847) 524-9910.