Live Reviews
Live Review: The Church at Summerfest • Milwaukee, WI
The Church Summerfest, Milwaukee, WI Saturday, June 29, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel After a damp and gloomy Friday in Chicago, Steve Kilbey recognized a good thing when The Church took the stage for the headlining slot at Summerfest’s Miller Lite Oasis on Saturday. He greeted the crowd and remarked upon the “perfect […]
Live Review: Robert Plant & Alison Krauss • Ravinia Festival • Highland Park
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss Ravinia Festival Highland Park, IL Wednesday, June 12, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Kyle Dunleavy/Ravinia Festival. Wednesday’s concert at Ravinia Festival celebrated the seemingly serendipitous pairing of rock legend Robert Plant and bluegrass torchbearer Alison Krauss. While emphasizing roots music and Americana, the bandleaders’ partnership testified to the […]
Photo Gallery: The Damned at Concord Hall • Chicago + Bonus Live Review from The Gothic Theatre • Denver
The Damned Concord Music Hall Chicago, IL June 2, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Although they’ve maintained a core of usual suspects, The Damned have certainly endured a revolving door of both personnel changes and musical directions. This is not entirely surprising, considering the UK band is now entering its FIFTH decade as […]
Live Review: Robyn Hitchcock at Old Town School of Folk Music • Chicago
Robyn Hitchcock Old Town School of Folk Music Chicago, IL Saturday, May 4, 2024 Reviewed by Jeff Elbel Pop surrealist Robyn Hitchcock performed the second of a two-night stand at the Old Town School of Folk Music on a rain-soaked Saturday night. The career-spanning setlist included many requests coordinated via Hitchcock’s social media accounts, ensuring […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Mitski at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
Mitski Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL Review of Friday, March 22, 2024, show by Jeff Elbel Photos of Sunday, March 24, 2024, show by Curt Baran On Friday, Mitski performed the second in a series of four sold-out concerts at Chicago’s storied Auditorium Theatre. The run of shows launched a new leg of touring in support […]
Photo Gallery: Alkaline Trio • Aragon Ballroom • Chicago
Alkaline Trio Aragon Ballroom Chicago, IL March 16, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran Chicago’s favorite coffin chasers (and February IE cover stars), Alkaline Trio, brought their Blood, Hair, and Eyeballs tour to Uptown’s Aragon Ballroom for a much-anticipated hometown show. Hours before even a single note was played, the line to enter the […]
Recap and Photo Gallery: Mammoth WVH with Nita Stauss at The Forge • Joliet
Mammoth WVH The Forge Joliet, IL Saturday March 2, 2023 Recap and Photo Gallery by Edward Spinelli Wolfgang Van Halen’s Mammoth WVH treated fans to an intimate sold-out show at The Forge in Joliet on Saturday. After a stunning show at The Vic Theatre last Fall – WVH’s return to the Chicago area shows the […]
Recap and Photo Gallery: Porno For Pyros • Salt Shed • Chicago
Porno For Pyros The Salt Shed Chicago, IL February 26, 2024 Recap and photos by Curt Baran The “Final” tour in the Rock milieu has become about as dependable as the boy who cried wolf. But considering that he’s now reached his mid-60s, it certainly makes it easier to believe that Perry Farrell is packing […]
Live Review: The Chicago Philharmonic • Blade Runner Live • Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
The Chicago Philharmonic Blade Runner Live Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL Saturday, February 17, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel Saturday night’s event at the Auditorium Theatre opened the Chicago Philharmonic’s 2024 “Auditorium Philms” series. The ensemble performed Vangelis’ retro-futuristic soundtrack for director Ridley Scott’s 1982 science fiction film Blade Runner, starring Harrison Ford as replicant hunter Rick Deckard. […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Black Pumas at Salt Shed • Chicago
Black Pumas The Salt Shed, Chicago, IL Saturday, January 27, 2024 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Philamonjaro. Austin, Texas-based psychedelic soul duo Black Pumas crowned a triumphant three-night run in Chicago with Saturday night’s sold-out performance at the Salt Shed. Singer Eric Burton and former Grupo Fantasma guitarist Adrian Quesada led a sharp six-piece backing […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Claudettes at Old Town School of Folk Music • Chicago
The Claudettes Old Town School of Folk Music December 9, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Live Photos by Timothy Hiatt. The Claudettes concluded a sprint of travel dates with a sold-out hometown gig at the Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square on Saturday. The band’s wide-ranging set list drew from the […]
Live Review: Geddy Lee at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
My Effin’ Life in Conversation Book Tour Auditorium Theatre, Chicago, IL Sunday, December 3, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Rush frontman Geddy Lee has performed in Chicago concert halls, including the Auditorium Theatre, many times during the last five decades, but never like he did on Sunday when appearing on his speaking tour for […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Rick Holmstrom Band at SPACE • Evanston
The Rick Holmstrom Band Thursday, November 30, 2023 SPACE, Evanston, IL Review and photos by Jeff Elbel. For music fans with boundary-bypassing tastes running through jazz, blues, roots, soul, folk, swamp-rock, R&B and gospel, Evanston’s SPACE was the place to be on a drizzly Thursday evening. California guitarist Rick Holmstrom brought his expert rhythm section […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Tubes at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles
The Tubes Arcada Theatre St. Charles, IL November 29, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Ed Spinelli. Veteran art rockers the Tubes made their third visit to the Arcada Theatre on Wednesday night, playing a set that touched on popular favorites and deep tracks alike. The show began with a run through […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Marvelous 3 at House of Blues • Chicago
Marvelous 3 House of Blues Chicago, IL Friday, November 3, 2023 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel The energy, musicianship, and production of Friday’s concert at House of Blues by the Marvelous 3 did not seem like the work of a band playing a mere five gigs after 22 years apart (aside from a […]
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