Weekly
Stage Buzz: Forbidden at Reggies ⢠Chicago
Forbidden Reggies Chicago, IL October 30, 2026 San Franciscoâs Forbidden helped pioneer the legendary Bay Area thrash metal movement that exploded in the â80s alongside peers such as Death Angel, Heathen, Testament, Vio-lence, Exodus, and more. Originally formed in 1985 as Forbidden Evil, Forbidden has endured two lengthy hiatusesâfrom 1997 to 2007 and 2012 to […]
Live Review: Kingâs X at House of Blues ⢠Chicago
Kingâs X House of Blues Chicago, IL October 16, 2026 Review and live photos by Jeff Elbel Originally from Houston, Texas, veteran hard rock trio Kingâs X has held longstanding esteem as musiciansâ musicians and celebrated songwriters without attaining the full measure of financial reward to match the acclaim expressed by arena-filling peers like Soundgarden, […]
Live Review: Unto Others at Concord Hall ⢠Chicago
Unto Others October 15, 2026 Concord Hall Chicago, IL Sometimes you donât want metal thatâs flashy, gimmicky, or a fusion of five different genres. Sometimes you just want music you can rock the fuck out to. Luckily, thatâs exactly what Portlandâs Unto Others delivered during their set opening for Castle Rat at Concord Music Hall […]
Stage Buzz: Digable Planets, Mike D., Castle Rat, Smashing Pumpkins
Itâs been 30 years since Smashing Pumpkins released their seminal album, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Theyâre celebrating the milestone with a new tour that features a full set dedicated to songs from the record. The second set will span their catalog, from early releases to new material. Join the celebration when âThe Rats […]
Stage Buzz: UB40, W.A.S.P., Afrojack
(WASP Photo: RKH images) Birmingham reggae giants UB40 kicked down the doors of commercially popular reggae in the States (along with Bob Marley) with âRed Red Wine, â in the â80s, selling millions of records and concert tickets. Their groundbreaking soulful singer, Ali Campbell, left the band acrimoniously in 2008, and these Brummie stalwarts spent […]
Stage Buzz: Ministry, 156/Silence, Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry
Riding on the wave of their collab single âHive Mind,â Knocked Loose and Denzel Curry have teamed up again, this time for a North American tour. Featuring support from Superhaven and Boundaries, the co-headlining outing stops by Chicagoâs Salt Shed on Wednesday, September 30th. Tickets available here. You may not know 156/Silence, but this metalcore […]
Photo Gallery + Bonus Coverage: Riot Fest 2026 ⢠Day Two ⢠Douglass Park ⢠Chicago
Riot Fest Douglass Park, Chicago, IL Day 2: Saturday, September 19, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Moderate temperatures and overcast skies were a boon for bands that played early on Saturdayâs bill at Riot Fest. Gaslight Anthem frontman Brian Fallon and his band, the Painkillers, played to a respectable crowd on […]
Photo Gallery + Bonus Coverage: Riot Fest 2026 ⢠Day Three ⢠Douglass Park ⢠Chicago
Riot Fest Douglass Park, Chicago, IL Day 3: Sunday, September 20, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Recap and Photos by Curt Baran. Rain that altered parts of Saturdayâs schedule persisted overnight. Doors shifted to 2 p.m., reshaping the timeline again. Puddles of mudâno pun intendedâformed on the Douglass Park grounds, echoing moist Riot Fests from […]
Stage Buzz: Cold Waves, Iron Maiden, Randy Stonehill, Sweet, Chelsea Wolfe
English heavy metal titans Iron Maiden are celebrating over 50 years of searing guitar riffs, Eddie the Monster, and Bruce Dickinsonâs insane vocals. The band behind metal staples âRun to the Hills,â âThe Trooper,â âAces High,â and â2 Minutes to Midnightâ continues to influence a new generation of fans. The band brings their âRun for […]
Stage Buzz and Spin: Blockchain Coalition ⢠Postmodern Distraction Album Release Show ⢠Tailgaters ⢠Bolingbrook
Blockchain Coalition Postmodern Distraction (Blockchain Coalition) Chicago heavy harmonic rockers Blockchain Coalition return with a gratifying and solid follow-up to their 2023 standout debut album, The New Normal, proving they have the chops to deliver another strong set of music after a three-year layoff. Born from the ashes of the beloved Veilside (along with […]
Stage Buzz: Riot Fest Preview
Riot Fest weekend is approaching. To kick off the highly anticipated festival, Barbarians of California will perform a chaotic set at Cobra Lounge. The brainchild of AWOLNATIONâs Aaron Bruno and producer/engineer Eric Stenman, the band makes hardcore thatâs chaotic, loud, intense, and most importantly, fun. Expect to hear cuts from their latest album, MEGATONS, […]
Live Review: Black Duck and Joan Shelley at Sound & Gravity Festival ⢠Judson & Moore Distillery ⢠Constellation ⢠Chicago
Sound and Gravity Festival Black Duck Joan Shelley Sunday, September 6, 2026 Review and live photos by Jeff Elbel Constellation Performing Artsâ second Sound & Gravity festival concluded on Sunday, offering a wide-ranging selection of adventurous music at several Bucktown/Avondale event spaces. Artists traveled from across the country and around the world to perform experimental […]
Stage Buzz: Skrillex, TLC and Salt-N-Peppa, Garth Brooks
Two â90s trailblazers are teaming up for an unforgettable tour that takes you back to the days of high fades, oversized pants, and MTV. TLC and Salt-N-Peppa are bringing their âItâs Iconicâ tour with special guest En Vogue to Huntington Bank Pavilion this week. Expect a night of dancing and great music when it goes […]
Spins: The Strokes ⢠Reality Awaits
The Strokes Reality Awaits (RCA Records) When The Strokes first came on the scene in 2001, the airwaves were saturated with teen pop, Butt-Rock, and Eminem, so five Italian New Yorkers dressed like the Ramones stood out from the crowd. Their debut album, Is This It, was so unlike the times that they instantly garnered […]
Stage Buzz: Sound & Gravity Festival, Rob Zombie, North Coast Music Fest, Danny Elfman, Babymetal
What do you get when metal, Japanese Idol culture, and J-pop collide? You get BABYMETAL, who are celebrating 16 years of âkawaii metal.â The group brings their vivid, highly choreographed, and kick-ass show to Chicago this weekend with special guests Halestorm and Violent Vira. It all goes down at Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island […]
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