Live Review & Photo Gallery: Brigette Calls Me Baby
Wes Leavins
Brigitte Calls Baby
Thalia Hall
Chicago, IL
April 18, 2026
Live Review by Ashley Perez-Hollingsworth; Photos by Curt Baran
There was something special about Brigitte Calls Baby’s second sold-out show at Thalia Hall (April 18). Maybe it was the anticipation of the crowd enthusing about past shows and their favorite songs. Maybe it was notices of a professional film crew on site to capture the show for (hopefully) a later release. Maybe it was seeing this band go from Chicago’s best-kept secret to the scene’s most buzzworthy act. Whatever the case, it proved to be an unforgettable night that not only celebrated their new album, Irreversible, but also how far they’ve come in such a short amount of time.
After a rousing set from Skorts, Brigitte Calls Me Baby strutted out on stage to the hungry crowd. Frontman Wes Leavins greeted fans by raising a glass and taking a sip before launching into their new single “I Danced With Another Love in My Dream.” On stage, the band played it cool. They’re not flashy performers; there are no gimmicks or tricks. Their demeanor is understated and gives an air of “too cool for you,” but in a way that’s charming. They’re incredibly tight performers who sounded so good you started to question if it was live (it definitely was).
Watching the band live proves how Wes Leavins was born to perform. Decked out in a strapping leather coat, he turned the audience into putty with his mysterious air and crooning vocals. Hearing him sustain those high notes on “Truth is Stranger Than Fiction” and “Impressively Average” gives you chills. Though there was little banter between songs, he reluctantly took a shot of Malort at the request of someone in the crowd. “Wouldn’t do that anywhere else,” he said after downing the drink.
The band’s 16-song set covered both of their albums, featuring favorites like “I Wanna Die in the Suburbs,” “Pink Palace,” “There Always,” “Too Easy,” “The Pit,” “We Were Never Alive,” and “Slumber Party.” They delivered chilling renditions of “These Acts of Which We’re Designed” and “Impressively Average,” while “I Can Take the Sun Out of the Sky” and “Palm of Your Hand” got the crowd dancing. As a bonus, the band treated the crowd to a cover of The Strokes’ “Is This It.” After closing with the haunting “The Future is Our Way Out,” Wes raised his glass one last time to a deafening crowd.
Brigitte Calls Me Baby is on the verge of achieving a higher tier of mainstream success. Their post-punk/crooner-inspired sound is refreshing in the current rock music landscape. Their live shows also double down on their charisma and talent. And Leavins proves to be the enigmatic frontman with a voice as sweet as honey. With the band’s steady rise, they’ll be playing arenas in no time.
Category: Featured
