Band

**1/2 (out of four) Ask a handful of your friends what they think of The Joy Formidable, and there's a good chance at least one of them will respond with a glisten in their eyes, recounting the time they just happened to come across the Welsh trio's debut album “The Big Roar” from 2011 and fell head over heels in love with the dramatics of it all. Or the time they stumbled upon their set at a festival--caught them as the opening act for...

**** (out of four) For a hypothetical, four-band concert comprised of the best music-related movies of the past 20 years (documentaries not included), “Almost Famous” would obviously headline. “Crazy Heart” performs second. Tom Hanks' “That Thing You Do” goes on first. What's slotted third? “Sopranos” creator David Chase's personal, deeply felt feature writing-directing debut “Not Fade Away,” which makes Hanks' immensely entertaining comedy look goofy and shallow.

Band leader of The Libertines Carl Barat will play something of a secret show in Chicago on Nov. 29. According to both the band and Barat's Facebook pages, the show is set to take place, but the location has yet to be determined. The posted status from the band read, "Carl will play a free show in Chicago somewhere on 29th November. He will be accompanied by Gary Powell, Anthony Rossomando and Callum Ryan. " Powell and Rossomando are current and ex-bandmates of Barat's, respectively.

 *** = Recommended shows On sale 9 a.m. Thursday ***Mike Doughty, Monday, Dec. 10 ($22-$30, all ages) at City Winery. On sale 10 a.m. Friday The Steepwater Band, Paige and the Reverent Few, Monday, Dec. 31 ($20-$25, 21+) at House of Blues Backporch stage. On sale 5 p.m. Friday The Flat Five, Monday, Dec. 31 ($15-$35, all ages) at Space. On sale 10 a.m. Saturday Dada, Saturday, Feb. 9 ($25, 18+) at Park West. On sale now The Fab Faux, Saturday, Jan. 12 ($46-$126, all ages)

 *** = Recommended shows On sale 9 a.m. Thursday Wyclef Jean, Sunday, Dec. 16 ($60-$125, all ages) at City Winery. Rhett Miller, Saturday, Dec. 29 ($22-$30, all ages) at City Winery. On sale 10 a.m. Friday ***Third Eye Blind, Mutemath, Monday, Dec. 31 ($110-$125, 21+) at House of Blues. On sale noon Friday Peter Bradley Adams, Saturday, Dec. 15 ($12, 21+) at Schubas. Graveyard, Tuesday, Feb. 5 ($15, 21+) at Lincoln Hall. Hot Water Music, LA Dispute, Thursday, Jan. 31 ($21, all ages)

The increasingly bland, widely accessible pop-rock of the Brits in Coldplay have made them international stars. Relatively close by in Wales, Future of the Left has delivered three fantastic records - including this year's “The Plot Against Common Sense” - of sharp, aggressive indie rock wrapped around lyrics both cutting and hilarious. Consequently: The more acclaimed but less popular band works day jobs, and, says singer Andy Falkous, don't make much of a living from their work.

 *** = Recommended shows On sale 10 a.m. Friday Brian Regan, Friday, Jan. 18 ($39.75-$49.75, all ages) at Chicago Theatre. Dave Matthews Band, Wednesday, Dec. 5 ($73-$83, all ages) at United Center. On sale noon Friday Alex Clare, Sunday, Dec. 2 ($20, all ages) at Metro. ***Company of Thieves, Friday, Dec. 28 ($16, all ages) at Metro. Everything is Terrible, Friday, Dec. 21 ($12-$15, 18+) at Lincoln Hall. ***Femi Kuti and the Positive Force, Monday, Jan. 21 ($25, 18+)

 *** = Recommended shows On sale noon Friday The Babies, Sunday, Nov. 18 ($8-$10, 21+) at Schubas. Blood Diamonds, Midnight Magic, Saturday, Nov. 24 ($15, 18+) at Lincoln Hall. Caravan of Thieves, Tuesday, Dec. 4 ($8-$10, 21+) at Schubas. ***Flosstradamus, Saturday, Dec. 22 ($16, 18+) at Metro. ***Underoath, Mewithoutyou, As Cities Burn, Letlive, Sunday, Jan. 20 ($26-$29, all ages) at Metro. On sale 10 a.m. Saturday Paul Banks, Wednesday, Nov. 7 ($15, 17+)

When you get an email with a subject line "A Letter from Dave Grohl," odds are it's not good news. Unless you hate Foo Fighters, I guess, and who hates Foo Fighters? Contained in the letter--released to all press, not just me--is the Foo singer/guitarist (and, obviously, drummer for Them Crooked Vultures and, once upon a time, Nirvana) indicating that, "I'm not sure when the Foo Fighters are going to play again. " To me that translates to "I think we're probably finished, but I don't want to say that definitively, and I don't like the phrase 'indefinite hiatus.'" Grohl notes that "I can't give up this band.

In highly unsurprising music news, Dave Matthews Band has announced a winter tour, the 2012 Winter Tour.  It will bring the band to Chicago on Dec. 5 at the United Center. DMB has been one of the most prolific and lucrative touring bands in the world since their inception, selling more than 18 million tickets and ranking as the highest ticket selling act of the last decade. Album sales have not been much different for the group, as their most recent LP, "Away from the World," topped the charts immediately, making the group the first ever to have six consecutive albums debut at number one. Presale tickets will be available beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 4 at www.warehouse.davematthewsband.com.