Manasseh teases a new collection of psychedelic soul with a full-band MCA show

South-side native and Chicago soul artist Manasseh has all the skills to become a superstar. His sumptuous voice and incisive lyrics, as well as his stellar craftsmanship as a vocal and instrumental arranger, have made all his recordings knockouts. His most recent release is the March 2022 full-length Monochromatic Dream, whose delicious earworms of psychedelic soul traverse a glorious kaleidoscope of tones and moods. Needless to say, this wolf is breathless with anticipation for his forthcoming EP Variations V1: I’ll Be, set to drop early in 2023. Manassseh will likely give you some idea what to expect and when during his Museum of Contemporary Art concert at 6 PM on Tuesday, December 13. It’s part of the museum’s Soundtrack series, which invites local musicians to respond to the themes of a current exhibit—in this case, the multimedia piece She Mad Season One by Los Angeles artist Martine Syms. Manasseh will be joined by his stellar backing band, the Fam: drummer Brandon Cameron, bassist Lamonté Norwood, keyboardist Remon Sanders, and vocalists Blake Davis and Lisha Denise.

Manasseh’s most recent album, the March 2022 release Monochromatic Dream

On Thursday, December 8, local hip-hop blog FromChicagoToTheWorld and podcast Real Ones host a showcase at Cole’s Bar called the Igloo. The concert features four emerging vocalists who bring an R&B sensibility to hip-hop and pop: S-O-S, Sherren Olivia, Sydny August, and Ine’a J. Tickets are $20 ($15 in advance), and doors open at 9 PM.