Live Reviews
Photo Gallery: Lollapalooza 2026 – Day One (Part One)
Lollapalooza Grant Park Chicago, IL July 30-August 2nd Recap and photos by Curt Baran Day One Lollapalooza, the massive, annual four-day music festival, once again landed back at its home in Chicago’s Grant Park for its 2026 run. It featured dozens of bands, sprawled out over four days, all on the city’s front lawn. Day […]
Live Review: Wet Leg at The Vic Theatre • Chicago
Wet Leg The Vic Theatre Chicago, IL July 29, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Hailing from the Isle of Wight in the UK, indie rock quintet Wet Leg performed a bit of time traveling magic in addition to crossing the Atlantic Ocean for their first appearance in Chicago this year. The […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Rush at United Center • Chicago
Rush United Center Chicago, IL July 22, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. The unexpected reignition of Rush has emerged as the must-see concert tour of the year, as witnessed on Wednesday by an ecstatic audience at the United Center. In addition to touching 13 of the Canadian rockers’ 19 studio albums, […]
Live Review: The Church at Park West • Chicago
The Church, 2026 The Church Park West Chicago, IL July 7, 2026 Review by Jeff Elbel Led by founding member Steve Kilbey, Australian rockers the Church filled Park West with dreamy psychedelia, inventive alternative pop, and searing rock on Tuesday. “When I was young and getting started, the man opened the big book of […]
Live Review: Amy Grant at City Winery • Chicago
Amy Grant City Winery, Chicago, IL Monday, June 15, 2026 Review and live photo by Jeff Elbel “I just love songs that start conversations,” said singer-songwriter Amy Grant when introducing “The 6th of January (Yasgur’s Farm)” to an attentive, sold-out room at City Winery Chicago on Monday. Known for clean-cut and uplifting radio hits […]
Live Review: Robyn Hitchcock at Athenaeum Center • Chicago
Robyn Hitchcock Athenaeum Center Chicago, IL April 10, 2026 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Pop surrealist Robyn Hitchcock has been good to his devotees in Chicago, making regular visits to town with his engaging one-man shows. On Friday, fans got a special treat when the English musician and former Soft Boys frontman stopped […]
Live Review: Florence + The Machine at Allstate Arena • Rosemont
Florence + The Machine Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL April 10, 2026 Review By Curt Baran “Everybody scream!” Not only is it the name of her latest single, but it was also something that shares the name of Florence Welch’s current tour. But at the first of two sold-out shows at Rosemont’s Allstate Arena, it also […]
Live Review: Billy O’Neill • Liar’s Club • Chicago
Billy O’Neill (of oh my god) Liar’s Club Chicago, IL Friday, April 3, 2026 Live Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Good Friday saw the welcome return to Chicago of erstwhile local hero Billy O’Neill. The singer and bassist visited Liar’s Club to reacquaint his former hometown audience with songs by theatrical post-punk band […]
Live Review: Lamb of God at Aragon Ballroom • Chicago
Lamb Of God Aragon Ballroom Chicago March 25, 2026 It only took three songs for frontman Randy Blythe to express an overt and timely political message during Lamb Of God’s all-ages headlining show at the Aragon on March 25: “No more war for oil, motherfuckers,” Blythe spat out as an introduction to “Blood Junkie.” Otherwise, […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Paul McCartney at United Center • Chicago
Paul McCartney United Center Chicago, IL November 25, 2025 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Ed Spinelli. Can it really have been eight years since the last time Sir Paul McCartney performed in Chicago? The still-fab former Beatle was a relatively regular presence during the 2010s in the town he first visited with his old […]
Live Review: Pixel Grip at Metro • Chicago
Pixel Grip Metro Chicago, IL November 14, 2025 Review by Ashley Perez-Hollingsworth It’s been a big year for Chicago industrial-pop trio Pixel Grip. Releasing a successful new album. Fighting with Travis Scott over uncredited samples. Hanging out with Trent Reznor. Opening for Peaches on her highly anticipated 2026 tour. To cap off the year, their […]
Live Review: The Saints ‘73 -‘78 at Metro • Chicago
The Saints ‘73-‘78 Metro Chicago, IL November 11, 2025 Review and Live Photos by Jeff Elbel Fans of classic punk rock arrived at the Metro on Tuesday night for a rare opportunity to see originators of the form when founding guitarist Ed Kuepper and original drummer Ivor Hay brought The Saints ‘73-‘78 from Australia […]
Live Review & Gallery: David Byrne at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
David Byrne Auditorium Theatre October 28, 2025 Chicago, IL Live review by Jeff Elbel, Live photos by Curt Baran. Tuesday’s concert by David Byrne began with a recorded welcome from the artist, informing patrons that the Auditorium Theatre management had agreed to allow dancing if the aisles were kept clear. “In the event of a […]
Live Review: Tommy Emmanuel at Cahn Auditorium • Evanston
Tommy Emmanuel Cahn Auditorium Evanston, IL October 15, 2025 Review by Steven Kikoen On a gray, rain-spattered day in mid-October, the campus of Northwestern University still seemed to maintain its quiet collegiate grandeur. Inside the 85-year-old Cahn Auditorium—a favorite among Northwestern students and the Evanston community—there are more than a thousand seats which would soon […]
Live Review: Elbow at The Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Elbow The Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL October 6, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Elbow’s arrival on Monday night was beautifully timed. The general mood in Chicago is currently tense – a frame of mind that this band from Manchester, England, is uniquely gifted to counter. Elbow reliably spreads goodwill and encourages community through […]
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