1
WANDA JACKSON
(City Winery)
Almost sixty years into her career, the original bad girl of rock ‘n’ roll still wails, growls, whoops and purrs.
May 17
2
CHRIS PUREKA
(SPACE)
The piercingly personal folk-rocker is settling into her second decade as a defining talent.
May 22
3
TY SEGALL
(Thalia Hall)
The garage-rock icon has kept it stripped-down lately—the better to reveal killer axe and vocal chops.
May 14
4
TATSU AOKI’S MIYUMI PROJECT
(Constellation)
Asian and African influences thrillingly intersect in Chicagoan Aoki’s ongoing venture.
May 27
5
JODY WATLEY
(Promontory)
Seems like only yesterday she was a teen dancer on “Soul Train”; now she’s an elder stateswoman of R&B.
May 25
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.” His jazz quintet recently completed a two-year residency at Uncommon Ground, and he regularly hosts a jazz singers’ jam at Lizard’s Liquid Lounge. 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