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Live Review and Photo Gallery: Rush at United Center ⢠Chicago
Rush United Center Chicago, IL July 22, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. The unexpected reignition of Rush has emerged as the must-see concert tour of the year, as witnessed on Wednesday by an ecstatic audience at the United Center. In addition to touching 13 of the Canadian rockersâ 19 studio albums, […]
Stage Buzz: Lollapalooza 2026 Undercard Preview ⢠Chicago
The Braymores ⢠Thursday, July 30 ⢠BMI Stage ⢠1:00 p.m Chicagoâs Braymores deliver a familiar blend of folk and roots rock, recalling bands nurtured in the city, including The Insiders and Way Down Wanderers.  Add a dash of atmospheric shoegaze to their mix, and itâs a more than interesting result. Their surprisingly solid […]
Stage Buzz: L.A. Guns, Art Theatre Lakefront Series, Pavement, Hoyle Brothers
Pavement has evolved from a small indie band to cult heroes. But thanks to the power of songs like âCut Your Hair,â âGold Soundz,â and âStereo,â they are now one of the most seminal bands in indie rock. Pavement will perform their greatest hits along with fan favorites and deep cuts during their show at […]
Photo Gallery: Summer of â99 and Beyond at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre ⢠Tinley Park
Summer Of â99 And Beyond⌠Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL July 18-19, 2026 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Tinley Park hosted their annual Time Machine festival this past weekend, titled âThe Summer Of â99 And BeyondâŚâ. The festival took place at the outdoor venue in the southwest suburbs and featured a diverse […]
Photo Gallery: Summer School â26 at House of Blues ⢠Chicago
Summer School ’26 House of Blues Chicago, IL July 16th, 2026 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Since its inception in 2024, the Summer School tour has been a platform for emerging bands to showcase their talents and collaborate on the road. The tour thrives on musical diversity and unpredictable performances, much like a punk-pop […]
Photo Gallery: Noah Kahan at Wrigley Field ⢠Chicago
Noah Kahan Wrigley Field Chicago, IL July 14th, 2026 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Noah Kahan, Pearl Jam, Chappell Roan, and more than three decades of elapsed time share a commonality: they were all booked to perform at Lollapalooza. Between signing up and hitting the stage, their popularity skyrocketed, leading to massive crowds arriving […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets at Square Roots Festival ⢠Chicago
Nick Lowe and Los Straitjackets Square Roots Festival Chicago, IL Â July 13, 2026 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Nick Lowe started his week with some quality time in Lincoln Square. First, he and his luchador-masked bandmates in Los Straitjackets drew lucky fans and strangers alike to a free (and hot!) street performance on Sunday […]
Photo Gallery: Tyler Childers at Wrigley Field ⢠Chicago
Tyler Childers Wrigley Field Chicago, IL July 12th, 2026 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Tyler Childers has mastered the art of the crossover, and it seems heâs achieved it one fan at a time. In the past, the Kentucky native would perform in front of hundreds of people. However, with each subsequent visit, the […]
Photo Gallery: Jack Johnson at Huntington Bank Pavilion ⢠Chicago
Jack Johnson Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Chicago, IL July 11th, 2026 Recap and photos by Curt Baran They donât make âem much more laid-back than Jack Johnson. As a teenager, he was well on his way to becoming an elite surfer, having grown up near Hawaiiâs renowned North Shore. However, a horrific accident […]
Photo Gallery: Muse at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre ⢠Tinley Park
Muse Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL July 10th, 2026 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Bombast. Thatâs what Muse delivered when their âThe WOW! Signal Tourâ touched down in Tinley Park on a perfect summer evening to hear live music outdoors. Every available inch of the stage seemed to be stacked with fog […]
File: Remembering Bonnie Tyler
In February 2020, just as the pandemic was beginning to take hold, my IE Green Day interview could have been my last as we weathered the early days of the COVID-19 storm. By March, as Lockdown tightened its stranglehold on the world, I toyed with the idea of quitting, just walking away from writing to […]
Live Review: The Church at Park West ⢠Chicago
The Church, 2026 The Church Park West Chicago, IL July 7, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel Led by founding member Steve Kilbey, Australian rockers the Church filled Park West with dreamy psychedelia, inventive alternative pop, and searing rock on Tuesday. âWhen I was young and getting started, the man opened the big book of […]
Stage Buzz: Evanescence, Bob Dylan, Muse, Taste of Westmont
Over 20 years ago, we were swept away by Evanescence thanks to âBring Me to Life.â Amy Leeâs soaring vocals paired with heavy guitars were unlike anything at the time. Lee and the rest of the band continue to captivate audiences around the world. The band brings its world tour with Spiritbox and Nova Twins […]
Cover Story: The Church ⢠A Warm Cocoon
The Church âTrue humility does not know that it is humble. If it did, it would be proud of the contemplation of so fine a virtue,â once observed German theologian Martin Luther. At 71, songwriter/painter/poet/novelist Steve Kilbey can easily relate. As much fun as itâs always been for the bandleader of Australiaâs psychedelic-jangle combo, […]
Media: July 2026 ⢠Fred Winston – Hall of Famer
Fred Winston is part of the 2026 class of Radio Hall of Fame inductees, although it didnât happen without a bit of drama. âI found out I was nominated via phone call from one of the board members, Lon Helton, who is a former Chicago radio guy, who’s now in Nashville. We worked together briefly […]
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