Greg Kot’s top 10 upcoming shows, from Raphael Saadiq to Billie Eilish.
Winter is in full swing, but so is the indoor concert season. Here are 10 of the more notable rock, pop and R&B shows in the next few months (listed chronologically):
Yola: Though the singer lives in England, her acclaimed Dan Auerbachproduced 2019 debut album, “Walk Through Fire,” brims with country-soul melodies and textures. (8 p.m. Jan. 14 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., $20-$30; thaliahallchicago.com)
John Cale: It’s only fitting that this legend of underground rock and avantgarde music helps close out the Art Institute’s Andy Warhol exhibit. The artist was a benefactor of the Velvet Underground, the ground-breaking band Cale co-founded with Lou Reed in New York City during the ’60s. (7 p.m. Jan. 26 at the Art Institute, 230 S. Columbus Drive, $25-$35; artic.edu)
Jill Scott: The singer celebrates the 20th anniversary of her debut album, “Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds Vol. 1,” and it’s earned the accolades as a landmark of the neo-soul movement. (8 p.m. Feb. 20 at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St., $145; chicago -theater.com)
Raphael Saadiq: The R&B singer, producer, multi-instrumentalist and hitmaker is coming off his most transcendent and personal album, “Jimmy Lee.” (7:30 p.m. Feb. 21 at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., $35-$174; jamusa.com)
The Sea & Cake: The trio has been a Chicago mainstay for more than two decades, though its album releases and hometown shows have become increasingly rare. The songs in all their subtlety, slyness and catchiness remain sublime. (8:30 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave., $18-$20; emptybottle.com)
Destroyer with Eleanor Friedberger: A terrific double bill with the ace songwriter Friedberger opening for a kindred spirit in Destroyer’s Dan Bejar, who has a new album teed up for release in a few weeks. (8 p.m. March 1 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St., $25-$35; thaliahall chicago.com)
Drive-By Truckers: “The Unraveling,” the follow-up to the Truckers’ excellent 2016 album, “American Band,” will be out Jan. 31, so expect plenty of new songs to be rolled out. (7:30 p.m. March 13 at Metro, 3730 N. Clark St., $35; metrochicago .com)
Blood Orange: Dev Hynes, a prolific performer and producer, has been on a roll with “Negro Swan” (2018) and last year’s sprawling “Angel’s Pulse.” (7:30 p.m. March 13 at the Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., $36; jamusa.com)
Billie Eilish: The teen singer sold out the United Center last year and she’s at it again as she continues to ride the massive wave of support that greeted her 2019 debut album, “When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?” (7:30 p.m. March 24 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., sold out; ticketmaster.com)
Sturgill Simpson: Guitar feedback and screaming synthesizers may not be staples of country music, neo-traditional or otherwise, but Simpson demonstrated on his recent “Sound & Fury” album that he plays by nobody’s rules except his own. (7:30 p.m. April 3 at United Center, 1901 W. Madison St., $50$100; ticketmaster.com)