Live Reviews
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 […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: David Byrne at Auditorium Theatre
In press statements, David Byrne promised that his current tour supporting new album American Utopia would present his most ambitious show since staging the 1983 concerts that became the Jonathan Demme-directed film Stop Making Sense with Talking Heads. On the first of three nights at Chicago’s elegant Auditorium Theatre, Byrne and his cohort of 11 […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: U2 at United Center
U2 United Center, Chicago Tuesday, May 22, 2018 A mere three years ago, U2 set up shop at the United Center for five nights to unveil its ambitious “iNNOCENCE + eXPERIENCE” concept, accompanied by a boundary-breaking, technologically-innovative visual assault. Bono and the boys then pressed “pause” on the project to celebrate the 30thanniversary of *The […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Darkness at Park West
The Darkness Park West, Chicago, IL Wednesday, April 11, 2018 He’ll take your coat. He’ll share his water bottle if you appear to be parched. He’ll pull you onstage if you’re wearing his favorite shirt (the one bearing his own first name in lightning-strike font). Is there anything Justin Hawkins or his bandmates in the […]
Photo Gallery & Live Review: The Zombies at City Winery
The Zombies City Winery Monday, March 19, 2018 Review by Jeff Elbel Photos by Philamonjaro On Monday, March 19, British Invasion icons the Zombies returned to City Winery for the first of two nights. The band displayed its impressive range from the jump, beginning with the full-tilt blues rock of Bo Diddley’s “Road Runner” followed […]
Live Review: The Eagles at United Center
Eagles/ JD & The Straight Shot United Center, Chicago Wednesday, March 14, 2018 Rather than making some grand entrance or busting out the big lights (those would come a bit later), core Eagles members Don Henley, Joe Walsh and Timothy B. Schmit, alongside Deacon Frey and Vince Gill, quietly got into position at the United […]
Live Review and Gallery: P!nk at United Center
In today’s world of instant gratification, Pink gave her fans precisely what they wanted. A light show worthy of a U.F.O. landing, music played at deafening decibels, a gaggle of backup dancers and a headlining artist who flies through the air. Oh, and all of this occurred during the evening’s first song, “Get The Party […]
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