Live Reviews
Live Review: Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats Aragon Ballroom Thursday, November 29, 2018 On Thursday, radio station WKQX closed the first of five nights of its “The Nights We Stole Christmas” series at the Aragon Ballroom with a sold-out headlining set by Denver’s Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats. The sweat-soaked performance began with the deep […]
Live Review: Echo and The Bunnymen at the Vic Theatre
Echo & the Bunnymen The Vic Theatre November 24, 2018 Liverpool may have been put on the map by the Beatles, but Echo and the Bunnymen continue to prove that the town in Northwest England has other musical gifts to offer the world. On Saturday, the Bunnymen returned to Chicago with a six-piece lineup […]
Recap and Photo Gallery: Nine Inch Nails with Jesus and Mary Chain at Aragon Ballroom
Since Nine Inch Nails embarked on the Cold and Black and Infinite tour back in September, they’ve kept fans on their toes by switching up the setlist every night and dropping in random covers and deep cuts where they see fit. It wasn’t any different on the last of three nights at Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom. […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Phil Collins at United Center
Phil Collins United Center, Chicago Monday, October 22, 2018 Too many superstars perform so often that they oversaturate the marketplace and play to diminishing returns, but that hasn’t been the case for Phil Collins thus far this century, who outside of his “First Final Farewell” Tour in 2004 and a brief Genesis reunion in 2007 […]
Photo Gallery and Recap: Gorillaz at United Center
“The last time we played here was 2010,” Damon Albarn told an enthusiastic crowd at the United Center during the second to last night of The Gorillaz’ Now Now tour. Albarn and his 13-member ensemble turned the arena into a nightclub, where everyone from longtime followers to fans barely in their teens danced the night […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Lindsey Buckingham at Athenaeum Theatre
Lindsey Buckingham Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago Wednesday, October 17, 2018 The first time Lindsey Buckingham left Fleetwood Mac, it was on his own accord, though by all indications including a very public lawsuit, the latest round was a result of being asked to leave. But one band’s loss is another man’s gain, at least as far […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Fleetwood Mac at United Center
Fleetwood Mac United Center, Chicago Saturday, October 6, 2018 Every instance when the current members of Fleetwood Mac chanted “chains keep us together” at the United Center on only the second night of a North American tour that stretches well into 2019, it seemed to be much more than a chance for the audience to […]
Live Review: Zebra at Arcada Theatre
Zebra The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL Friday, August 31, 2018 Review by Jeff Elbel Photos by Luciano J. Bilotti The Arcada Theatre in St. Charles continues to reinforce its reputation as an essential musical hub in the greater Chicago area. On Friday, the Arcada welcomed ‘80s hitmakers and New Orleans hard rockers Zebra for […]
Live Review: Ariana Grande at The Vic Theatre
Towards the end of Ariana Grande’s performance at the Vic Theater Wednesday, her manager, Scooter Braun, came onstage and interrupted the singer’s rendition of “God Is a Woman,” from Grande’s just released Sweetener (Republic Records) album. Bragging like a proud parent, Braun informed Grande that she had the number one song (“Woman”) from the number […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Jeff Lynne’s ELO at Allstate Arena
Jeff Lynne’s ELO Allstate Arena, Rosemont, IL Wednesday, August 15, 2018 The famous Electric Light Orchestra jukebox spaceship descended upon the Chicago area for the first time in 37 years on Wednesday, when Jeff Lynne brought his innovative fusion of rock, pop and classical elements to Rosemont. Generations of fans packed Allstate Arena to capacity, […]
Live Review: Jay-Z and Beyoncé at Soldier Field
Jay-Z and Beyoncé Soldier Field, Chicago Friday, August 10, 2018 “What’s better than one billionaire?” rapped Jay-Z during “Family Feud” at the first of two Soldier Field stops for the “On The Run II” Tour (that continues Saturday, August 11), before answering with an emphatic “two!” He was, of course, referring to “the most incredible […]
Photo Gallery and Recap: Radiohead at United Center
Earlier this year Radiohead fans became ecstatic when seemingly without warning, the Oxfordshire six-piece announced a North American tour in support of their 2016 release, A Moon Shaped Pool. As arguably one of the finest live acts currently performing, the band has mostly relegated themselves to festival appearances in the hopes of minimizing the number […]
Live Review: Ry Cooder at Thalia Hall
Ry Cooder’s lengthy resume includes a pile of highlights. Among them are six Grammy awards, evocative soundtrack albums for films including Paris, Texas, collaboration with previously-hidden musical treasures of Cuba with Buena Vista Social Club, and profoundly influencing the signature sound of the Rolling Stones. Cooder also has a stack of great albums to his […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Ray LaMontagne with Neko Case at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Ray LaMontagne with Neko Case Friday June 16th Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Ray LaMontagne Ray LaMontagne was in a decidedly rocking mood as he hit the stage at Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion. The day’s suffocating heat had finally been replaced with a dramatic drop in temperature and steady, cool breezes complements of Lake […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Monkees Present: The Mike & Micky Show at Copernicus Center
The Monkees Present: The Mike & Micky Show Copernicus Center, Chicago, IL Thursday, June 14, 2018 Several generations of Monkees fans arrived at the Copernicus Center on Thursday knowing they’d see only half of the beloved band. What they might not have expected was that The Mike & Micky Show would be twice the concert […]
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