Live Reviews
Live Review: Madonna at The Chicago Theatre
Madame X Tour Chicago Theatre October 16, 2019 “Artists are here to disturb the peace.” One has to wonder if Madonna Louise Ciccone has accepted this James Baldwin quote as her life’s mantra. Let’s face it; the native Michigander has always had a reputation as a rabble-rouser. So, when it was announced that she would […]
Live Review: Adrian Belew at Arcada Theatre
Adrian Belew Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL Wednesday, October 2, 2019 Avant-rock trailblazer Adrian Belew brought his quartet to the Arcada Theatre with new material from 2019’s Pop-Sided. Featuring songs like “Everybody’s Sitting” and its tuneful critique of modern inertia, the album is Belew’s first solo outing in a decade and follows 2009’s adventurous instrumental […]
Live Review: Slayer At Riot Fest
Slayer at Riot Fest Douglas Park, Chicago, Sept. 14, 2019 Slayer killed during a 90-minute headlining set that seemed to be cut short on a perfect late-summer evening in Douglas Park. At 9:56 p.m., minutes before the 10 p.m. curfew for music, singer-bassist Tom Araya told the crowd: “They are making us cut it short. […]
Live Review: King Crimson at The Auditorium Theatre
King Crimson Chicago Theatre Tuesday, September 10, 2019 When progressive rock titans King Crimson last visited Chicago in 2017, the proceedings at Chicago Theatre went so well that the band released an officially sanctioned live album of the concert. On Tuesday night, the English septet stopped at the venerable Auditorium Theatre for its 2019 […]
Live Review and Gallery: Squeeze at The Chicago Theatre
Squeeze Chicago Theatre August 31, 2019 When alt-pop superheroes Squeeze last visited Chicago, the group performed at the Vic Theatre in support of 2017’s LP The Knowledge. On Saturday night at the venerable Chicago Theatre, the band led by singer Chris Difford and guitarist Glenn Tilbrook hosted a considerably larger crowd for its “The Squeeze […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Iron Maiden at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Iron Maiden Thursday August 22, 2019 Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre, Tinley Park Full disclosure… August 5, 1982 I was forever ruined by Iron Maiden. That was the day of the band’s legendary appearance on the shores of Lake Michigan at ChicagoFest. I had already seen the band several times at that point, but that night was […]
Photo Gallery: Knotfest at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
Metal from around the world converged last weekend in Tinley Park. The occasion was the 2019 Knotfest Roadshow, a sort of mini-festival curated by Iowa shock rockers Slipknot. The band has also invited Poland’s Behemoth, Gojira from France and Denmark’s Volbeat to join their current sojourn. Well, the masked metal collective from the Hawkeye State […]
Live Review/Photo Gallery: John Paul White at Lincoln Hall
John Paul White Lincoln Hall, Chicago, IL Thursday, July 25, 2019 After a rough patch on the road due to illness that caused cancellation of shows in Kentucky and Tennessee, lucky fans saw John Paul White return to Chicago on Thursday night in good health and good spirits at Lincoln Hall. “How are you […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Jeff Lynne’s ELO with Dhani Harrison at United Center
Jeff Lynne’s ELO United Center, Chicago, IL Saturday, July 27, 2019 After a 37-year gap as of 2018, many Chicago-based fans of the Electric Light Orchestra had resigned themselves to enjoying their favorite ELO music through their record collections – or perhaps by catching “Mr. Blue Sky” on repeated views of Guardians of the Galaxy […]
Live Review: Garth Brooks at Joe’s on Weed Street
Garth Brooks Joe’s Bar, Chicago Monday, July 15, 2019 As the best-selling solo artist of all-time in America, it was far from expected that Garth Brooks would step down from filling stadiums to play for less than 500 people in a spot as intimate as Joe’s Bar on Weed Street. But considering the man […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Paul McCartney at The TaxSlayer Center Moline, IL
Paul McCartney TaxSlayer Center Moline Tuesday, June 11, 2019 If there’s anyone on earth who could kick up their feet and collect royalty checks until kingdom come, it’s Paul McCartney, who besides flying high with Wings and steadily cranking out solo material or duets with everyone from his late frenemy Michael Jackson to current conquerors […]
Live Review: David Crosby at Arcada Theatre
An Evening with David Crosby and Friends Monday, May 13, 2019 The Arcada Theatre There is something about being in the presence of David Crosby that is oddly reassuring. It’s a bit ineffable to explain this irrefutable comfort the audience seems to be feeling as a result of the undeniably ‘hip’ vibe emanating […]
Photo Gallery: Billy Eilish at United Center
Billie Eilish is an old soul. There can be no other explanation as to how the 17 year-old phenomenon has so completely tapped into the human and emotional condition of her generation. Originally scheduled for the considerably smaller Aragon Ballroom (capacity 5000), tickets disappeared as quickly as they were made available, so a second show […]
Photo Gallery: Florence + The Machine at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Even by Chicago standards, this Spring has been a series of whiplash inducing temperature swings. So it seemed almost compassionate that Ma Nature would save some of her finest work for the opening of the outdoor concert season. How appropriate then that this weather was the backdrop for Florence + The Machine. Considering she’s always […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Who at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre
The Who Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL Tuesday, May 21, 2019 When the Who booked an outdoor show at Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre in Tinley Park as part of their Moving On! Tour, fans and band alike anticipated a great night of classic rock in fine spring weather. Ticketholders on the lawn encountered soggy seats, […]
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