After warming up the crowd on Kanye’s spectacular Glow in the Dark Tour, Garfield Park’s valedictorian Lupe Fiasco takes the spotlight for his own headlining gig. It’s been a busy, successful two years for the rapper, despite some personal tragedy. Early this week, I spent some time with the artist formerly known as Wasalu Muhammad Jaco. LP3 is a way off, as Lupe looks to focus on developing several debuts for the rest of ‘08 (like the cool-as-hell He Say, She Say) for his Chicago-centric 1st & 15th label. He excitedly hinted at some more work from his "supergroup" with Kanye and Pharrell, who offered the brilliant, Thom Yorke–sampling video "Us Placers" last year. He’s living in Kankakee these days (no, really) and hopes to write a book about journey from Madison & Albany to downstate Illinois.

Lupe’s coming to the Congress Theatre. Better yet, it’s on Halloween. That way, if you wear your played-out Kanye shutter shades you can just nervously laugh, and act like you’re only in a douchebag costume. Tickets are on sale right this instant.

Like Lupe, Santogold spent her spring and summer opening up for a platinum act—Coldplay. Those Converse and Bud Light Lime commercials (you know, the one that sounds like M.I.A. fucking a dolphin?) have her stock rising high. This fall she’ll headline the "Goldrush" tour with the not-Low-or-Lavender-Diamond-related Low vs. Diamond and the tweemo Mates of State. Give her credit: her touring bills are always unpredictable, if not wacky. Tickets are on sale now.

One final juicy concert tip. A prior Nice Tix, Shudder To Think, is currently giving away free tickets for tonight’s gig. Guess that comeback isn’t inspiring the legions of supposed cult fans. But, seriously, Shudder was an incredible band. Snatch these up!