The winter brings its share of big shows, with the likes of Jay-Z, Slayer, John Mayer and the Black Eyed Peas hitting the arenas.
But there’s an unusual number of major acts playing it smaller than expected, including Lady Gaga, Mariah Carey and John Prine.
Here’s a sampling of some of notable concerts in the next few months (listed chronologically):
Buddy Guy: The blues patriarch kicks off another January residency at his 20-year-old namesake club. The South Loop institution will be moving to a new location on South Wabash later this year, and Guy is not likely to let the occasion pass without a few flame-throwing guitar solos, Jan. 7-10, Jan. 14-17, Jan. 21-24 and Jan. 27-30 at Buddy Guy’s Legends, 754 S. Wabash, $40; etix.com.
Lady Gaga: There is no more anticipated tour than these headlining dates by pop music’s latest “It” girl. Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta promises a tour loaded with spectacle to complement the string of hit singles from her 2008 debut album,
“The Fame,” Jan. 8-10 at Rosemont Theatre, Rosemont, Ill., sold out; ticketmaster.com.
Rosanne Cash: Back in the ‘80s, Cash epitomized mainstream country. Now she works the fringes, celebrating the music’s rich legacy on her latest album,
“The List,” in which she covers some of her late father Johnny Cash’s favorite songs, Jan. 29 at the Harris Theatre, 205 E. Randolph, $42, $45; tickets.harristheater.org.
Slayer, Megadeth and Testament: Three ‘80s giants converge, their power virtually undiminished as recent albums demonstrate. Short of a quintuple bill also including Metallica and Anthrax, this is about as close as we’re going to get to a first-generation thrash-metal summit, Feb. 5 at the UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine, $38 and $58; ticketmaster.com.
Mariah Carey: The diva’s fans (or “lambs” as she refers to them) will be thrilled to see their heroine in relatively close quarters. The singer has revived her career in recent years with a series of best-selling albums, including her 2008 release,
“Memoirs of an Imperfect Angel,” Feb. 13 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., ticketmaster.com.
St. Vincent: Annie Clark took a major leap in 2009 with her second album,
“Actor,” demonstrating her skills as a vocalist, songwriter, producer and multi-instrumentalist who can shred on guitar, Feb. 18 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., $16 and $18; etix.com.
Tiniriwen: This band of nomadic West Africans plays a trance-inducing brand of guitar music, underpinned by loping beats and elevated by call-and-response vocals. Call it desert pyschedelia, Feb. 27 at Old School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Av., $24 and $28; oldtownschool.tix.com.
John Prine: A pricey benefit show returns Prine to his old stomping grounds. Back when the Old Town School of Folk Music really was located in Old Town, Prine was writing songs that placed him in the first-tier of post-Dylan folk poets, and he’s stayed the course for four decades, March 6 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Av., $200; 773-728-6000.
Jay-Z: The hip-hop kingpin remains a great live performer, with 15 years worth of hits documenting a style that encompasses everything from hard-edged wordplay to pop anthems, March 18 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison, $39.50, $69.50, $99.50, $129.50; ticketmaster.com.
The xx: The British quartet became one the most talked-about bands of 2009 with its sparse instrumentation, insinuating songs and the conversational interplay between vocalists Romy Madley Croft and Oliver Sim, April 8 at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Av., $18; lincolnhallchicago.org.
greg@gregkot.com