Ezra Furman + J Fernandez
August 11, Lincoln Hall
Shifting from garage rock to folk to glam, Evanston-native Ezra Furman has covered a lot of musical ground within the last four years of his career, reinventing himself with each successive solo record. The latest iteration of his evolving sound can be heard on Perpetual Motion Machine, a relentless stream of organs, saxophones and buoyant percussion that underscore some soul-searching lyrics. Chicago-based DIY instrumentalist J Fernandez opens the evening with selections from his latest LP, Many Levels of Laughter. ($14, 21+)
Miguel + Dorothy
August 14, The Vic Theatre
There's unlikely to be an album released this year that is as undeniably sexy as Miguel's Wildheart. On the record, the R&B singer delivers lines like "confess your sins to me while you masturbate" without a hint of irony, overtly celebrating his sexuality instead of hiding it in a veil of metaphors and allusions (though there are plenty of those as well). If you were disappointed when Prince cleaned up his act, Miguel's dirty, affecting pop should cheer you up. Bluesy LA rock outfit Dorothy opens the show. ($39.50, 18+)
Chicago Triangle + VCSR + Moss Folk + Carbonleak
August 15, The Hideout
The second night of Chicago Summer Psych Fest brings two storied Chicago bands to the stage, beginning with a set from VCSR, a hobbyist synthesizer collective formed in 1978. On the heels of the release of an LP collecting its vintage recordings via Permanent Records, the group is dusting off its Moogs and ARPs to reunite for an evening of droning, analog symphonies. Headlining act Chicago Triangle is a Latino progressive rock band that released a private press record in 1977, which was recently rediscovered and reissued. Milwaukee krautrockers Moss Folk and shoegazing quartet Carbonleak are also on the bill. ($10, 21+)