John Mellencamp

(McCaw Hall) In the mainstream rock universe covered by Rolling Stone, there are two types of superstars. The first type: popular acts with a modicum to surfeit of artistic ambition and/or undeniable cultural import (U2, Jay-Z, the Rolling Stones). The second type: lucky friends of Jann Wenner whose popular and artistic accomplishments fall far short of the lifelong honors afforded them by Rolling Stone. Exemplars of this second type: former J. Geils Band singer Peter Wolf and former John Cougar Mellencamp, both of whom Rolling Stone has forever tried to present as megastars on the level of Springsteen and Dylan, with each new Wolf/Mellencamp release earning breathless bluster from RS writers while record buyers (remember them?) yawn. This is particularly unfortunate in the case of Mellencamp, who has made some great records (Scarecrow, The Lonesome Jubilee) and deserves a good reputation unstained by corporate overstatement. DAVID SCHMADER

Rise Against, Bad Religion, Four Year Strong

(WaMu Theater) It makes sense that Rise Against would tour with Bad Religion. In fact, Rise Against should be so fucking lucky—if it weren't for Bad Religion's angst-ridden SoCal punk (they've been at it since 1979), Rise Against never would've come into existence 20 years later. It's not like Rise Against haven't put in the work—10 years and six records compose a career of consistently blistering melodic hardcore that's as aggressive as it is politically correct (some members of the band are straight-edge, they all support PETA, and they often sing about human rights). But do they really get to headline over Bad Religion? I mean... it's Bad Religion! (Related: Get off my lawn!) MEGAN SELING

ICP Orchestra

(Seattle Art Museum) If you think Insane Clown Posse are finally going all high art on us with orchestral renditions of such classics as "Miracles" and "Halls of Illusions," you're sadly mistaken, Juggalos. The ICP Orchestra—aka the Instant Composers Pool Orchestra—are an Amsterdam-based improvisational jazz ensemble founded almost 45 years ago by drummer Han Bennink and pianist Misha Mengelberg, who have played with such luminaries as Eric Dolphy and Sonny Rollins. Bennink is one of the world's finest jazz drummers to ever syncopate time, rhythm, and space. The 10-piece group, filled out by seasoned string and brass sections, will inundate the air of Seattle Art Museum with chaotic spats and loose, swinging up-tempo arrangements that can violently shift at a moment's notice. TRAVIS RITTER

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