It's coming. The exponential rate at which technological progress keeps happening, according to respected futurist Ray Kurzweil and his kin, points toward an impending Singularity, when artificial intelligence will suddenly exceed the capabilities of its human creators in wildly unpredictable ways. In other words, remember pre-gubernatorial Schwarzenegger? Turns out the underlying plot of Terminator (aside [...]

Friday

An Evening w/ King Sunny Ade & his African Beats. 9:30 club. $25. All ages.
The Paulverizers, Idle Americans. Bangkok Blues. Call for price.
Oleta Adams. Birchmere. $39.50.
Novalima, Pistolera. Black Cat. $18/$22. All ages.
Lovvers, Small Doses, Cigarbox Planetarium. Comet Ping Pong. All ages.
John Legend, India.Arie. Merriweather Post Pavilion. $36–$109.
Hello Society, Marbin, Lucky Dub. The Red & [...]

Modest Mouse: "Satellite Skin"
The less sense that Modest Mouse frontman Isaac Brock makes, the more sincere he sounds. For example, the non-sequitur riddled "Heart Cooks Brain," far more affecting than linear drivel like "Fire It Up." "Satellite Skin," a long-delayed Record Store Day exclusive, falls into the first category, with Brock opening up the hick-psych [...]

Peter Margasak at our sister paper the Chicago Reader brings the news that the Black Cat will be hosting a pre-Inauguration Day concert on Jan. 19. The Big Shoulders Ball, as the name suggests, is a Chicago-oriented event. It was coordinated by Tim Tuten, co-owner of a great Chicago venue, the Hideout, and the lineup [...]