To refer to the '60s and early '70s eras as the Stooges' "golden age" is, by all means, high-balling it. At the time, Iggy Pop and his cohorts' bombastic, angst-ridden tirades stuck out like a sore thumb alongside the era's ruling 'peace and love' ethos, with Pop's onstage antics confounding rather than enticing the masses.

Time, fortunately, has been kind to the Stooges. Acts ranging from the Sex Pistols to Sonic Youth to Nirvana to Blink 182, be it directly or indirectly, owe a debt of gratitude to the Detroit-bred band who, along with fellow hometown legends MC5, are arguably correctly deemed punk's founding fathers.

That the Stooges would reunite for at least a tour was, by the beginning of the decade, more a matter of when than if; Pop recruited surviving Stooges guitarist Ron Asheton and his brother, drummer Scott Asheton, for four noteworthy songs on his otherwise forgettable 2003 effort, "Skull Ring."

The final piece in the reunion puzzle, "The Weirdness," came out last month. Recorded in Chicago by legendary punk indie knob-turner Steve Albini and augmented by punk/alt bass great Mike Watt, one would, in all likelihood, have to have a gun pointed at their head to proclaim the album as worthy or groundbreaking as legendary albums such as 1970's "Fun House" or 1973's "Raw Power."

Yet the album does have a hearty share of noteworthy tracks and will make for a good time in the live setting whether you're on your second copy of the "Fun House" remaster or want to check out the guy who Sum 41 backed on "Skull." And with that in mind, here's hoping Pop brings the Ashetons and Watt back around these parts in the near future.

Lollapalooza, perhaps?

The Stooges, 7 p.m. Sunday, Congress Theatre, 2135 N. Milwaukee, Chicago. $38.

FYI: (312) 559-1212 or www.congresschicago.com

On sale now

For more information, contact the venues or Ticketmaster at (312) 559-1212 or www.ticketmaster.com. Unless otherwise indicated. All shows are all-ages unless indicated.

* Elvis Costello and the Imposters, May 9, House of Blues (21 and older)

* Velvet Revolver, May 10, Rivera Theatre

* The Iguanas, May 12, FitzGerald's (21 and older)

* John Mayer, Ben Folds, June 28-29, Charter One Pavilion at Northerly Island

* Sugarcult, May 7, Metro (early show); Front Line Assembly (late show, 18 and older)

* Average White Band, June 6, House of Blues (18 and older)

* Mercedes Sosa, June 7, UIC Pavilion

* Michael Schenker Group, July 9, House of Blues (21 and older)

FYI: Type O Negative's Monday show at Metro, the Police's July 6 show at Wrigley Field and the Crossroads Music Festival July 28 at Toyota Park are sold out.

The Shaw-Blades April 5 concert at Joe's has been rescheduled for May 31.

The opinions expressed solely are those of the writer. He can be reached at T.shellberg@comcast.net.