Stage Buzz: Sparks, Savage Master, Traveler, Less Than Jake

Brassneck | July 7, 2023

Less Than Jake

When Drake made the bold move from acting to rapping, no one could’ve guessed he’d be one of the most prolific rappers of the 21^st century. Not only is he among the world’s best-selling artists, but he’s also one of the most influential rappers, old and new, taking after him. Before he drops his next album, For All the Dogs, Drake will bring the “It’s All a Blur Tour” with 21 Savage for a doubleheader at the United Center on Wednesday, July 5, and Thursday, July 6, at 7 PM. You can still get tickets here.

Sparks is one of the most influential bands you don’t know about. Known for their arthouse pop, anything goes nature, and scowling deadpan vocals, they’ve remained fiercely independent. They don’t chase trends, they make them. Expect to hear classics like “This Town Ain’t Big Enough for the Both of Us” and “The Number One Song in Heaven,” along with cuts from their new album, The Girl Is Crying in Her Latte, when they perform at The Copernicus Center Wednesday, July 5 at 7:30. Tickets are available now.

With a career spanning 25 years, Dave Matthews Band is one of the most successful and beloved bands in rock music. Armed with hits like “Crash Into Me,” “Too Much,” and “American Baby” and a diehard fanbase, the band shows no signs of slowing down anytime soon, having released their 10^th album, Walk Around the Moon, back in May. See the band doing what they do best at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on Friday, July 7, at 7:30 PM. Tickets are still on sale.

Celebrating the ten-year anniversary (and reissue) of their debut album Mask of The Devil, Louisville’s Savage Master is rolling into Reggies in Chicago Saturday, July 8, on the opening night of their “Terra Hunters” tour, mixing a unique blend of early ’80s metal infused with their love of bondage masks and horror movies. Co-headliner on this tour, hailing from the Great White North, is Calgary’s Traveler featuring an all-out blitz of Canadian speed metal that sounds like a mix of Metallica, Megadeth, and Queensryche thrown into a Cuisinart. They are a fresh new metal band that should not be missed. (- Pat Michaels)

Longtime pop punk rockers Less Than Jake will celebrate the 30^th anniversary of their third album Hello Rockville with a full album performance on the “Welcome to Rockview 2023” tour with Voodoo Glow Skulls. Bust out the checkered vans and break out your best skank moves for their performance at Concord Music Hall this Saturday, July 8 at 7 PM. If you want a bit more ska in your life, make sure to get tickets here.

– Ashley Perez Hollingsworth

Tags: Ashley Perez Hollingsworth, Concord Music Hall, Less Than Jake, Reggies Chicago, Savage Master, Traveler, United Center