Empty Out Your Wallet

By Marcus Gilmer in Arts & Entertainment on Apr 4, 2008 3:50PM

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