1 ROBBIE FULKS (SPACE) The famously collaborative singer-songwriter takes a left turn, and mounts a solo show focusing on his rich back catalog—a kind of mid-career retrospective—that includes tunes from his last, critically lauded album, 2016’s “Upland Stories.” April 30
2 THE FLAMING LIPS (Riviera Theater) The venerable, genre-defying band, tacking somewhere between post-punk and psychedelic pop, hits town on the final leg of a world tour celebrating its acclaimed 2020 release, “American Head.” April 6
3 ALTIN GÜN (Thalia Hall) The Turkish-influenced Dutch band went full synthpop for their critically acclaimed third album, “Yol,” and the results are as ridiculously infectious as everything else they’ve done. April 7
4 DAR WILLIAMS (SPACE) The singer-songwriter, touring with her thirteenth album, “I’ll Meet You Here,” has accrued wisdom and gravitas over the years, with no loss of the freshness and inventiveness that made her one of the folk scene’s treasures. April 29
5 JOHN MAYER (United Center) On his latest release, “Sob Rock,” Mayer preempts his critics by amping up his penchant for self-deprecation; the album is conceived as a bargain-bin LP from the eighties. But in fact, it’s smart, smooth, stylish pop-rock. April 28-29
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
