On the 1996 benefit album Sweet Relief II: The Gravity of the Situation, the songs of Vic Chesnutt were covered by everybody from Madonna to R.E.M. to the Smashing Pumpkins to the Indigo Girls. Early in his career, the singer/songwriter was championed by Michael Stipe, who produced Chesnutt's first two records, released in 1990 and 1991. Early in his career, PBS aired a documentary titled Speed Racer about his life. He had a small part in Sling Blade.

He has collaborated with a diverse slate of artists from Widespread Panic to jazz guitarist Bill Frisell to the Cowboy Junkies to members of Fugazi and Godspeed You! Black Emperor. Chesnutt's latest partnership is with the psychedelic-pop group Elf Power, part of the Georgia collective that spawned The Apples in Stereo and Neutral Milk Hotel. Chesnutt and Elf Power will be among the performers at a March 18 R.E.M. tribute concert at Carnegie Hall, at which they'll perform "Everybody Hurts."

I start with the résumé because even if you've heard Chesnutt's name, he's not exactly famous. He has an immense reputation but a relatively small audience.

You've probably never heard of Local Natives, but Daytrotter.com wants to change that. Daytrotter is bringing in the unsigned California quintet to headline a show at Huckleberry's in downtown Rock Island on Sunday, January 18. The show starts at 7 p.m., admission is $7, and the bill also includes The Union Line and Voxhaul Broadcast.

The three bands our touring together in a pair of vans, and spending the night at the homes of whoever will have them. In an interview this week, keyboardist, percussionist, and singer Kelcey Ayer talked about Local Natives' debut record, and the band's efforts to get noticed and get signed.

The group is earning favorable comparisons to Arcade Fire and Fleet Foxes. Here's an opportunity to judge for yourself, with two Local Natives tracks and a Talking Heads cover, and a recording of the Reader interview with Ayer.

The California-based Donkeys spent three years on their second album, Living on the Other Side, from start to release, and that combined with the quartet's warm, fluffy, unhurried music might create the impression that the band moves slowly. Some songs sound downright lazy.

"We're laid-back dudes," said keyboardist Anthony Lukens in a phone interview last week. "We try to make it sound like nothing's contrived or rushed. So I would probably take that as a compliment if something sounded, maybe, effortless would be a nicer way to say it. ... We're hardly lazy. ... We're definitely relaxed dudes. It takes us long time to get from Point A to Point B, because we're going to hang out and talk about it for a long time."