1 BARBRA STREISAND (United Center) I expect this will be less a concert than a pagan rite of worship. Expect six decades’ worth of melodies and memories, and a voice that still has the power and the purr of a Learjet engine. August 9
2 DOLLY PARTON (Ravinia) By now it’s axiomatic that Parton’s flamboyant iconography masks her phenomenal songwriting gifts. But she’s the real deal, and has a new album’s worth of material to prove it. August 7
3 NEKO CASE, K.D. LANG & LAURA VEIRS (Chicago Theatre) Basically a Yalta summit of indie-folk, alt-country legends, joining forces—and voices—for the first time. You may as well lay down your arms and abandon all resistance right now. August 7
4 MARCUS MILLER (SPACE) The jazz composer and multi-instrumentalist has backed everyone from Miles Davis to Luther Vandross. But it’s in his own band, on bass guitar, that he really slaughters. August 9
5 LANDLADY (Constellation) The “adventure pop” quintet owes a lyrical debt to Randy Newman; but the way they devour genres—spirituals, music-hall jazz, glam rock, you name it—is gloriously unique. August 10
Robert Rodi is an author, spoken-word performer and musician who has served as Newcity’s Music Editor since 2014. He’s written more than a dozen books, including the travel memoir “Seven Seasons In Siena,” and his literary and music criticism has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Chicago Tribune, Salon, The Huffington Post and many other national and regional publications. Contact: robert@newcity.com
