George Lewis, Jr. caught plenty of us off-guard last fall with the release of “Forget,” the debut record from his one-man act Twin Shadow. The Dominican Republic-born, Florida-raised Lewis found a way to blend borderline shoegaze eighties pop with soul, crafting a sweet collection of memories from his haunted past. (Run-ins with the KKK as a teen would give anyone demons.) Lewis seems to have been successful in severing those bad experiences from his psyche—on this record, he sounds like Morrissey, if Morrissey didn’t hate himself. He recorded “Forget” alone during lonely, late nights in New York, and it’s incredible he’s able to keep up the tempo considering that environment. “Forget” is a bold, charming and, at times, even fun debut, and Lewis has the makings of a transfixing frontman. Of course, now he lives in Brooklyn, and taking root in such a creative hotbed could change things for him. Going forward, he may not be so haunted. (Tom Lynch)
January 14 at Schubas, 3159 North Southport, (773)525-2508, 9pm, 18+. $15.
For “Want” of a Change: A Preview of Rufus Wainwright at Ravinia Park Rufus Wainwright isn’t the first singer-songwriter to reinterpret earlier work through an orchestral lens. And much of Wainwright’s third and fourth albums, “Want One” and “Want Two”—whose twentieth anniversaries are the prompt for this new tour—is fully scored. But when Wainwright hits the Pavilion stage at Ravinia tonight, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will be behind him.
Cooling It: A Preview of Colleen Green at Cole’s Bar When Green strums power chords or chiming notes on top of her backing track, you might think you’re at Ramones karaoke night and Madonna is taking her turn.
Brutal Finesse: A Preview of King Crimson at Ravinia There have been few new compositions from King Crimson these past two decades, but the live arrangements of songs from its catalog are often strikingly different than the recorded versions.
Can’t-Miss Music Events (Fall Arts Preview 2023) This fall we get new albums and tours from iconic acts like Wilco and Kurt Elling, plus a Corrine Bailey Rae project inspired by Theaster Gates' Stony Island Arts Bank.
RECOMMENDED
