Jim DeRogatis

Aptly named for a group including four solid vocalists, Chicago’s Singer, the new quartet featuring Rob Lowe (90 Day Men), Ben Vida (Town & Country) and Todd Rittman and Adam Vida (US Maple), has issued a strong debut called “Unhistories” for the local Drag City label, exploring an airy brand of psychedelic jazz. The band headlines over Detholz! and Cloudland Canyon at the Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western, at 10 p.m. Friday. The cover is $12; call (773) 276-3600 or visit www.emptybottle.com.

The legendary and once-again reactivated Detroit band Was (Not Was) is back on the road in support of the new album “Boo!,” playing two-hour sets of its unique mix of R&B, funk, rock and pop. It comes to the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, at 8 p.m. Saturday. Todd Snider opens, and tickets are $25. Call (773) 478-4408 or visit http://abbeypub.com/.

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Gearing up for the May 13 release of her debut solo album “Simone on Simone,” Simone, daughter of legendary R&B chanteuse Nina Simone, will take the stage at the Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln, at 8 p.m. Saturday with special guests Typhanie Monique and Neal Alger. Tickets are $18 or $22 via http://oldtownschool.tix.com; call (773) 728-6000 for more information.

Rooted in the immortal psychedelic and space rock sounds of Hawkwind, Amon Duul II, the Velvet Underground and the MC5, the Olympia, Wash. band Nudity promises a surreal and mind-blowing experience when it takes the stage at the Abbey Pub, 3420 W. Grace, at 9 p.m. Saturday. Also on the bill are the equally trippy Dead Meadow, Velcro Lewis & His 100 Proof Band and Plastic Crimewave Sound. The cover is $12 in advance or at the door; visit http://abbeypub.com/ or call (773) 478-4408.

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Wayward but still beloved singer and songwriter Chris Mills, a former Chicagoan now based in New York, returns on Saturday to his old stomping grounds at Schubas, 3159 N. Southport, in support of his new album “Living the Aftermath,” a more stripped-down and immediate effort than his last ork-pop offering. American Mars opens at 10:30 p.m., and the cover is $12; for more information, call (773) 525-2508 or visit www.schubas.com.

Hip-hop legend Jay-Z was on fire when he performed an underplay at the House of Blues last fall upon the release of “American Gangster,” and if “Growing Pains” isn’t the strongest disc Mary J. Blige has ever given us, the so-called “queen of hip-hop soul” never fails to deliver onstage, where she remains the strongest female voice in R&B today. The two pair up for the Heart of the City tour coming to the United Center, 1901 W. Madison, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $59.75 to $300 via www.LiveNation.com.

Though the U.S. won't get a chance to see the Led Zeppelin reunion this summer (if ever), Chicago fans can console themselves with the knowledge that, a.) That isn't really Zep anyway (it can't be, since John Bonham is dead), and B.) Bruce Lamont, Paul Kamp (of Yakuza and Busker Soundcheck fame, respectively) and the killer rhythm section of Ian Lee and Chris Klein bill themselves as Zep2, and they do as good a Zep as Zep ever did back in the day. They perform at Martry's 3855 N. Lincoln, at 10 p.m. Saturday, playing a similar set to their heroes' at Earls Court in 1975. Buy tickets in advance at http://www.martyrslive.com/ ('cause the show will sell out), or call (773) 404-9494.

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