Music Top 5 July 2017

1
MESHELL NDEGEOCELLO
(SPACE)
Despite nearly a quarter century in the public eye, the singer/rapper/bassist/activist remains an elusive presence—but never less than mesmerizing.
July 28

2
PJ HARVEY
(Pitchfork Music Festival)
Pitchfork is heavier than usual with elder-statesman acts this year, but British banshee Harvey is the clear standout.
July 15

3
THE CHURCH 
(City Winery)
The trippy, jangly psychedelia of the now venerable Aussie band seems more urgently relevant than ever.
July 3 and 4

4
ANGELA HEWITT
(Martin Theatre, Ravinia Park)
Arguably the world’s premier interpreter of Bach lights up the park with her dynamic take on “Goldberg Variations.”
July 17

5
PHISH
(Huntington Bank Pavilion)
Cult bands are rarer than they used to be; but the granddaddy of them all keeps sucking acolytes into its thriving sub-subculture.
July 14, 15 and 16

Robert Rodi

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