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R.E.M. with Modest Mouse & The National
R.E.M. is coming back to Chicago and they’re bringing indie stars Modest Mouse and The National with them. They have a new record (out now) that kicks ass. Like Stephen Colbert, we don’t think it’s a comeback; they never went away in the first place. R.E.M. has been, and still remains, one of our most favorite bands (in spite of the timid Around The Sun) even when it became fashionable to drink the Haterade about the boys from Athens. While the last record did lack something, their live show has become stronger than ever over their last 3 tours. And based on recent live shows in support of the new record, R.E.M. has fully embraced their guitars again. Ticket prices seem a little steep, but they’re still cheaper than Jay-Z's shows.
June 6, United Center, 7 p.m., $37.50-85.00, On Sale Saturday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster
Erykah Badu with The Roots
The first show sold out lickity split, so they’ve graciously added a second chance for you to see Ms. Badu along with ?uestlove and the gang.
May 31, Chicago Theatre, 7:30 p.m., $45.50-65.50, Tickets on sale Saturday at 11 a.m. via Ticketmaster
M.I.A. & Holy Fuck
“Paper Planes” has been everywhere lately thanks to the recent Homeland Securities Remixes EP. This is a good chance to see why Kala was named Album of the Year by a few publications. Toronto electro rockers Holy Fuck join her.
May 9, Aragon Ballroom, 7:30 p.m., $27.50, Tickets on sale Saturday at 10 a.m. via Ticketmaster
311 & Snoop Dogg with Fiction Plane
You already know what we think of Snoop. As for 311…eh, whatever.
July 8, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, $26.50-49.50, Tickets on sale today at 5 p.m. via Ticketmaster
Journey, Heart, and Cheap Trick
We'd love to see Journey stop playing halfway through “Don’t Stop Believin’” just for the hell of it. Half the audience will get pissed while the other half calls it art. But probably we’ll just stay home and watch this over and over.
September 12, First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre, Tinley Park, $25-125, Tickets on sale Saturday via Ticketmaster
Image of R.E.M. from their MySpace page
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Definitely just shelled out money for the REM show. The thing is, I'm really interested in The National, so basically I just spent $96 [minus a gift card -- thank god!] for thirty minutes of guaranteed enjoyment.
Oh well. I'll be there, Section 1...
kaylee - I know the feeling re:prices. I shelled out big bucks through an REM presale and got sec 2, row 7. But it's completely worth it. I've seen R.E.M. on the last 3 tours they've done ('99, '03, and '04) and they just get better and better. The new record is really good and sounds great performed live. Plus with the OUTSTANDING line-up, think of it as a mini-Lolla or something.
R.E.M. always has great taste in opening acts. I saw them with Wilco and Olviia Tremor Control back in '99. Then there was the Monster tour in '94-95 where they had Blur and another British band, Radiohead, open for them.
Marcus -- No kidding. It's going to be practice for Lolla, which I also forked over my hard-earned money for [English teachers everywhere are cringing at that sentence. Sorry.]. I'm not too excited about Modest Mouse again, though -- I've seen them four times and I thought twice was enough.
But I am actually rather excited about R.E.M., even if I didn't sound like it in that first comment. I mean, it's going to be awesome to see a band I've vaguely followed for years.
kaylee - Totally with you on Modest Mouse. Never been a huge fan and saw a piece of their show at Austin City Limits Fest in '04. Then 20 minutes later My Morning Jacket blew them away. The idea of The National (one of my favorite new bands) playing with R.E.M. (my favorite band overall) is pretty awesome. Check out the clips of the new R.E.M. record, especially if you liked their older, IRS stuff, more of holla-back to that era then the mellow era, and in a more successful way than Monster (which was still a damn good record). Anyway, you won't be disappointed. If you are, I'll refund you the charge of this post. :)
damn, michael stipe looks like an alien