When Theophilus London and I meet before his show at Chicago's Lincoln Hall, the third night of his Tour de Roses, he has his laptop open. He's in the zone, thumbing through open tabs in his browser. His shows are much the same way -- he'll ask the DJ to cut a song before it's over to move on to something else and occasionally rap about thirty seconds of a track and then start over so he feels it more. It can be a bit jarring, but the crowd didn't seem too fazed by the transitions, and they're a marker of what makes London so fascinating to watch. He's thinking out loud, in front of everyone. He invites fans into the process. It's almost like he has a fear of monotony.

● Lincoln Hall (Lincoln Park) - Owners of Schubas Tavern go all out, and all in, for Chicago's newest live music club. ● Bar Novo (The Loop) - Luxe cocktails at luxe prices. Renaissance Hotel's typically plush bar with bites.