Ryley Walker might laugh if you called him a guitar virtuoso, but that’s probably because he seems to laugh about most things. It’s hard to talk about the Chicagoan singer-songwriter-shredder without getting into Twitter — he’s one of the most entertaining follows out there, thanks to his acerbic, often painfully real observations about working-musician life. “Going on tour to ‘discover yourself’ and ‘discover America’ are for young bands who still love their lives,” reads a recent tweet. “At this point I just want to be overpaid for underachieving and be able to take a shit without having to hold the door closed with my foot.” (Not sure that’s in the cards for this Springwater gig, but c’est la vie.) As funny as Walker is, his folky, jazzy tunes are seriously good. Having made a strong impression with 2013’s lively, Van Morrison-esque Primrose Green and dusky Chicago post-rock-meets-The Dead 2016 follow-up Golden Sings That Have Been Sung — which featured the instant classic “The Roundabout,” the 28-year-old’s best song yet — his next offering, due in June and rumored to be a synthier, krautrock-ier affair, is definitely one to look out for. And Walker’s live shows with his band elevate and build on the material, taking it to often-thrilling places. CHARLIE ZAILLIAN
Ryley Walker w/Bong Wish & Crave On
