Live Reviews
Live Review: Trivium with Bullet For My Valentine • Aragon Ballroom • Chicago
Trivium/Bullet For My Valentine Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL April 26, 2025 Live Review by Ashley Perez Hollingsworth Metal titans Trivium and Bullet For My Valentine delivered a night of chaos, nostalgia, and good fucking music to a sold-out Aragon Ballroom on Saturday night (April 26). Their co-headlining “The Poisoned Ascendancy Tour” celebrates two landmark albums, […]
Live Review: Daniel Lanois • Epiphany Center for the Arts • Chicago
Daniel Lanois Epiphany Center for the Arts Chicago Friday, April 4, 2025 Review and live photos by Jeff Elbel Friday’s performance in the ornate Sanctuary at Chicago’s Epiphany Center for the Arts was the latest entry in the venue’s second season of Reflections concerts. The series offers local fans of ambient music an immersive experience […]
Live Review: Stereophonics at The Vic Theatre • Chicago
Stereophonics The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL Sunday, March 30, 2025 Live review and photos by Jeff Elbel Welsh rock heroes, Stereophonics reunited with a sold-out roomful of Chicago-based fans to close the weekend at the Vic Theatre. Sunday’s setlist was loaded with European hit singles and favorites of the band’s devoted local cult. In addition […]
Live Review: Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve • Park West • Chicago
Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve Park West, Chicago, IL Saturday, March 15, 2025 Review and live photo by Jeff Elbel, profile photo by Mark Seliger While the streets of Chicago teemed with revelers getting an early start on St. Patrick’s Day, a full house celebrated the holiday with Elvis Costello and Steve Nieve on […]
Live Review and Gallery: Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid • Fourth Presbyterian Church • Chicago
Andrew Bird’s Gezelligheid Fourth Presbyterian Church Chicago, IL December 13, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Thanks to Andrew Bird, Chicagoans have known since 2009 that “gezelligheid” is a Dutch term that loosely translates to “coziness.” On Friday, Bird concluded a seven-night string of his Gezelligheid concerts celebrating the season in the beautiful […]
Live Review: David Gilmour at Madison Square Garden • New York, NY
David Gilmour Madison Square Garden New York, NY Sunday, November 10, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Gavin Elder and Elena Bello. The September release of David Gilmour’s adventurous solo album Luck and Strange was a welcome surprise for fans. At 78 and known to be happy surrounded by family and tinkering in […]
Live Review: BEAT at Copernicus Center • Chicago
BEAT Copernicus Center Chicago, IL November 1, 2024 Review by Steven Kikoen. Photos from San Diego by Marc Glassman. Flashback to the Fall of 1981 when I was asked by friends to join them in attending a concert at the Park West Theatre in Chicago to catch the newest incarnation of one of the […]
Live Review: Richard Lloyd Trio with Ganser at The Hideout • Chicago
Richard Lloyd Trio with special guest Ganser The Hideout, Chicago, IL Sunday, October 27, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Richard Lloyd brought a taste of the formative punk and art rock movements centered at the New York City club CBGB to the Hideout of Sunday Night. The founding television guitarist brought his Richard […]
Live Review: Sixpence None Sixpence None the Richer at City Winery • Chicago
Sixpence None the Richer City Winery Chicago, IL Friday, October 25, 2024 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Sixpence None the Richer’s We Are Love tour is the band’s first extended road trip in over 20 years. The ambitious 50-date run stopped on Friday at Chicago’s City Winery for a sold-out show. The band’s […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Iron Maiden at Allstate Arena • Rosemont
Iron Maiden Allstate Arena October 24, 2024 Rosemont, IL Live Review by Justice Petersen, photos by Edward Spinelli On Thursday, British heavy metal legends Iron Maiden brought The Future Past World Tour to Rosemont’s Allstate Arena. This tour is a thrilling and satisfying spectacle for well-experienced Iron Maiden fans. Like the band’s Eddie Rips Up […]
Live Review: The Claudettes at Mary’s Place • Rockford
The Claudettes Mary’s Place October 18, 2024 Rockford, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. Enjoying a busy fall season on the road, Chicago’s inimitable wonders, The Claudettes, swung to nearby Rockford for a return visit to Mary’s Place. The watering hole rests along the Rock River and is the oldest bar in town. “This […]
Live Review: Saga at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles, IL
Saga Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL Thursday, October 17, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos courtesy of Onesti Entertainment/Jim Summaria Fans of Canadian progressive rock heroes Saga can thank Onesti Entertainment and the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles for hosting a rare US headlining stop on the band’s It Never Ends Tour. On Thursday night, the […]
Photo Gallery and Reap: Jelly Roll • United Center • Chicago
Jelly Roll with Warren Zeiders and Alexandra Kay Thursday, October 10 United Center Chicago, IL Photo Gallery and Reap: Edward Spinelli Some call him country; others say his style is southern rock with a hint of hip-hop, although perhaps most accurately, it’s a hybrid of them all; no matter how Jelly Roll is categorized, the […]
Live Review: The Red Pears with Ultra Q at Park West • Chicago
The Red Pears with Ultra Q Wednesday, October 9 Park West Chicago, IL Review by Ashley Perez-Hollingsworth The Red Pears are proof that rock isn’t dead. It’s just underground. The El Monte band brought their garage-rock/Latin-infused sound to Chicago’s historic Park West in support of their latest album, Better Late Than Never. With The […]
Recap and Gallery: Jeff Lynne’s ELO at The United Center • Chicago
Jeff Lynne’s ELO United Center, Chicago, IL September 28, 2024 Photos and recap by Jeff Elbel; Additional Photos from Palm Springs, CA, from Jeff Stoltzfus Jeff Lynne’s ELO played the second of two nights at the United Center in Chicago on Saturday. The band’s Over and Out Tour has been promoted as Jeff Lynne’s farewell […]
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