Get your credit cards ready. Here are the best upcoming concerts to go on sale this week. more ›

Justin Vernon, a.k.a. Bon Iver, is a man you'd expect to take things pretty seriously. His debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, was recorded one secluded winter after a breakup with his previous band and his girlfriend, all while fighting mononucleosis. That album, though at times brimming with light, was altogether a dense, sad collection of songs, an apparent reflection of the events that had preceded their recording. Then Vernon expanded on his palette melancholia and released his self-titled second LP to critical acclaim, including an impressive 9.5 review score from Pitchfork. If Vernon had healed from the events that inspired For Emma, Forever Ago, a whole new set of problems seemed to have entered his life with the second album, as most songs are tinged with an air of longing and desperation. But, despite everything, Vernon and his eight-piece band put on an uplifting, inspiring show that captured the human spirit. more ›

A fantastic show earlier this spring and a memorable opening slot at Pitchfork this summer has left us with some pretty immodest praise for Sweden's The Tallest Man On Earth (known informally as Kristian Matsson). If last week's sold out show at The Park West was any indication, the rest of Chicago hasn't tired of The Tallest Man On Earth either, even with a set list and stage banter that has remained mostly unchanged. more ›

When we got a tip from a friend that Pitchfork was live streaming their annual festival this year, the first set we caught from our desks was Dalarna, Sweden's Tallest Man on Earth. It was early on the Friday of the fest and the crowd looked a bit thin, but TMOE - known to his parents as Kristian Matsson - left nothing on the stage except the guts of his powerful performance. Those of us who never saw Dylan or Cobain in their primes were left with the impression that this guy understood what it meant to play a show. more ›

Well, Lou was already gonna be at The Pitchfork Music Festival (July 18-20) anyway since Dinosaur Jr is playing that Sunday, but now he'll be there opening night as well, leading Sebadoh through Bubble and Scrape! Other new additions are: The Hold Steady (squee!), Elf Power, Caribou, Icy Demons, Boban Markovic Orkestar, Titus Andronicus, Bon Iver, Times New Viking, HEALTH, High Places, and Mahjongg. more ›

The addition of soul crushing songwriter Bon Iver makes tomorrow's TNK show a must see for Chicagoist. more ›