Music Top 5: January 2022

The Claudettes/Photo: Timothy Hiatt Photography

1
THE CLAUDETTES
(SPACE)
Johnny Iguana has been enjoying a hot streak, both as a solo act and as the founder of this driving, witty, piano-blues-meets-rockabilly-by-way-of-R&B ensemble.
January 7

2
GUSTER
(Riviera Theater)
The sheer niceness of the venerable alt-rock ensemble—along with their playfulness and inventiveness—make this a hopeful start to what promises to be a fractious, divisive year.
January 22

3
COURTNEY BARNETT
(The Chicago Theatre)
The chill, often wittily laconic, always paradoxically charming Australian singer-songwriter hits town to tour her new album, “Things Take Time, Take Time.”
January 23

4
IGOR LEVIT
(Symphony Center)
The rapturously acclaimed German pianist, whose press over the past few years has been of rock-star intensity, tackles a program of works by Liszt, Beethoven and Wagner.
January 16

5
THE JAYHAWKS
(Old Town School of Music)
The veteran alt-country band, who seemed to thrive below the radar for four decades, tour their recent album, “XOXO,” on which they prove they’ve still got something new to say.
January 22-23

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