1 ELTON JOHN (United Center) This is billed as the pop-rock icon’s final tour, although with stars of this magnitude you can never tell; they tend to rack up serial “farewell” tours to the ka-ching of global cash registers. But on the chance that this is legit—worth seeing. February 4-5
2 TYLER, THE CREATOR (United Center) The rapper had a stellar 2021 with the critical and commercial success of “CALL ME IF YOU GET LOST”—the follow-up to 2019’s equally successful “IGOR.” At this point, the guy doesn’t need the all-caps titles to command our attention. February 22
3 GREGORY PORTER (Chicago Theatre) The endlessly lauded jazz baritone brings a new sound and possibly a new persona to town, as he tours his new gospel-tinged and politically pointed album, “All Rise.” February 18
4 CORY AND THE WONGNOTES (The Vic) Irrepressible guitarist and composer Cory Wong is as much a showman as a musician—check out the fizzy YouTube variety show he dropped last year—and the band he’s put together is a jazz-funk powerhouse. February 18
5 PETER MULVEY & SISTASTRINGS (SPACE) The veteran folk singer-songwriter forged a late-career alliance with fellow Milwaukee vocalists Monique and Chauntee Ross, and the resulting magic sufficiently reenergized his career that he’s now touring with them. February 18
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
