JENNIE DeVOE

As much as he enjoys singing about the double lives of computer geeks (”Online”) and amorous country boys (”Ticks”), Brad Paisley says there’s too much going on in the world to be too lighthearted on his new album, “American Saturday Night.”

COMIC CAPERS

Out of the Badfinger school of oddball rock-band monikers, please welcome … Chickenfoot.

Times appear tough for “The King of Fighters,” SNK’s 15-year-old, arcade-style fighting franchise. The 12th entry in the series is so bare-bones, it’s as if this king is on the dole.

ROGER DALTREY

Fox nearly slammed the door on Paula Abdul’s return to “American Idol” — but not quite.

A variety of works created since 1940 are featured in Constellations: Paintings from the MCA Collection, an exhibition now open at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Some of the most important artists of the last 70 years are part of the show, including Chuck Close, Andy Warhol, Jasper Johns, Jean Dubuffet and Chicago’s own Kerry James Marshall.

Where’s the best place to catch an intimate set from your favorite artist at Lollapalooza? The answer just might surprise you: Kidzapalooza. Now in its fifth year, the kid-friendly festival located within the
confines of the gargantuan weekend-long music festival is the best place to see your favorite musicians up close.

Since James Conlon took over as music director at Ravinia, he has shown his skill with opera and has brought us infrequently heard works by composers murdered or otherwise sidelined during the Holocaust.