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Photo Gallery: Garbage at Salt Shed • Chicago
Garbage Salt Shed Chicago, IL September 29, 2025 Photos and recap by Curt Baran Is this really the end? Rock and Roll has a notorious tendency to announce “Farewell” tours (like The Who’s hard stare with uncomfortable eye contact) only to embark on repeated road trips. While it’s always a buyer beware, it certainly seems […]
Live Review: Sam Fender at Aragon Ballroom • Chicago
Sam Fender Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL September 25, 2025 Review by Riley Vernon Good things come to those who wait — and Chicago has long awaited the electrifying return of “master storyteller” Sam Fender. In his first return to Chicago since a pre-pandemic set at Lollapalooza in 2019 (and the better-left-unsaid technical calamity of his […]
Stage Buzz: AFI, Judas Priest, Queens of the Stone Age
Queens of the Stone Age are known for stoner rock anthems, blazing riffs, and frontman Josh Homme’s smooth vocals. On their latest “Catacombs Tour” they’re stripping back to deliver a show you haven’t seen before. Catch an intimate, acoustic set from the desert rockers at The Chicago Theatre on Thursday, October 2nd. Find tickets […]
Photo Gallery: Twenty One Pilots at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre • Tinley Park
Twenty One Pilots Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre Tinley Park, IL September 24, 2025 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Twenty One Pilots’ audience has grown exponentially with each album they’ve dropped. However, witnessing an absolutely packed audience assembled at Tinley Park’s outdoor venue was still a jarring experience. The faithful, dressed in clothing representing all […]
Recap and Photo Gallery Day One (Part One): Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest 2025 Douglass Park Chicago, IL September 19, 2025 Recap by Jeff Elbel, Gallery by Curt Baran Chicago’s best music festival for fans of rock and punk roared to life on Friday for the first of three days in Douglass Park. The day belonged to “Weird Al” Yankovic, with a quirky lineup on one […]
Recap and Photo Gallery Day One (Part Two): Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest 2025 Douglass Park Chicago, IL September 19, 2025 Recap by Jeff Elbel, Gallery by Curt Baran Chicago’s best music festival for fans of rock and punk roared to life on Friday for the first of three days in Douglass Park. The day belonged to “Weird Al” Yankovic, with a quirky lineup on one […]
Recap and Photo Gallery Day Two (Part One): Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest 2025 Douglass Park Chicago, IL September 20, 2025 Recap by Jeff Elbel, Gallery by Curt Baran (Buzzcocks and The Damned by Jeff Elbel) Saturday at Riot Fest was another day filled with highlights and memorable performances, although many were a bit soggier than Friday’s fare. Agent Orange offered the first full-album performance of […]
Recap and Photo Gallery Day Two (Part Two): Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest 2025 Douglass Park Chicago, IL September 20, 2025 Recap by Jeff Elbel, Gallery by Curt Baran Saturday at Riot Fest was another day filled with highlights and memorable performances, although many were a bit soggier than Friday’s fare. Agent Orange offered the first full-album performance of the day, playing all of 1981’s Living […]
Recap and Photo Gallery Day Three (Part One): Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest 2025 Douglass Park Chicago, IL September 21, 2025 Recap by Jeff Elbel, Gallery by Curt Baran Riot Fest 2025 careened to an explosive and communal finish on Sunday with its third day in Douglass Park. The schedule offered more full-album sets (eight in total) than the prior two days, beginning with The Effigies’ […]
Recap and Photo Gallery Day Three (Part Two): Riot Fest 2025 at Douglass Park • Chicago
Riot Fest 2025 Douglass Park Chicago, IL September 21, 2025 Recap by Jeff Elbel, Gallery by Curt Baran Riot Fest 2025 careened to an explosive and communal finish on Sunday with its third day in Douglass Park. The schedule offered more full-album sets (eight in total) than the prior two days, beginning with The […]
Stage Buzz: Cold Waves Festival, Deltron 3030, Sam Fender, Turnstile, Deacon Blues
Fans have been patiently waiting for Deltron 3030’s follow-up to 2013’s Event 2. While fans keep waiting for the album, the hip-hop trio is back to celebrate the 25th anniversary of their self-titled debut album. Dan the Automater, DJ Kid Koala, and Del the Funky Homosapien will perform the entire album during their two-night stint […]
Stage Buzz: Viagra Boys with Die Spitz • September 18, 2025
Viagra Boys with Die Spitz Salt Shed Chicago September 18, 2025 Recap and Photo Gallery by Curt Baran Stockholm, Sweden’s Viagra Boys, seemingly picked the right day to return to Chicago, as our First Amendment was under attack. This left-leaning six-piece truly resides in life’s darker spaces, and sadly, is one of the few bands […]
Photo Gallery: The Pixies and Spoon at Salt Shed • Chicago
The Pixies and Spoon Salt Shed Chicago, IL September 15, 2025 Recap and Gallery by Curt Baran Even by ’90s alt-rock standards, Pixies were weird. They sang songs about Surrealism, existential dread, drug dealers, art films, and fringe artists. For their trouble, they were met with critical acclaim and some minor commercial success. By 1993, […]
Photo Galley: Rilo Kelly at Frederik Meijer Gardens • Grand Rapids, MI
Rilo Kelly Frederik Meijer Gardens Grand Rapids, MI September 14, 2025 Recap and photo by Curt Baran “I think it’s going to be a special night. We’re playing in the Garden of Eden!” It turns out that Jenny Lewis is a pretty good prognosticator. The Frederik Meijer Garden Amphitheater is a 2000-capacity music shell dropped […]
Stage Buzz: Riot Fest, Tacos and Tequila Festival, Tomorrow X Together, Rhapsody of Fire with Witherfall
Cancel your dinner plans for Thursday night, the Forge in Joliet will be serving a smorgasbord of Heavy Metal. Headliners are Italian symphonic power metal stalwarts Rhapsody of Fire, who are touring in support of 2024’s Challenge the Wind, as well as celebrating the 25th anniversary of their classic Dawn of Victory album. LA’s Witherfall also […]
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