Live Reviews
Live Review: Cage The Elephant at Salt Shed • Chicago
Cage the Elephant The Salt Shed Chicago, IL Friday, Aug 1, 2025 Review by Jeff Elbel It’s a good season to be a Cage the Elephant fan in Chicago. On Thursday, the band played a standout set during the golden hour of Lollapalooza’s first day. Next month, the band will return to open for Oasis at […]
Live Review: Brokeback at Epiphany for the Arts Center • Chicago
Brokeback Epiphany Center for the Arts, Chicago, IL Saturday, July 26, 2025 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Chicago-based instrumental quartet Brokeback appeared in the upper Sanctuary hall at Epiphany Center on Friday to perform new material, while also celebrating the release of Long Days, Pleasant Nights by their friends in Dark Canyon. When completed, […]
Live Review: Robin Trower at Copernicus Center • Chicago
Robin Trower Copernicus Center Chicago Friday, July 11, 2025 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photo by Stacey Katsis. Rock and roll survivor Robin Trower may look his age, but he certainly doesn’t behave or play like he’s past his prime. Fit and wiry at 80 years, the guitarist appeared on Friday with his trio at the […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: AC/DC with The Pretty Reckless at Soldier Field • Chicago
AC/DC with The Pretty Reckless Soldier Field Chicago, IL May 24, 2025 Live Review by Justice Petersen, Photo Gallery by Edward Spinelli Rock legends AC/DC made their return to Chicago’s Soldier Field Saturday, proving that they can still deliver their signature concoction of gritty yet anthemic rock ‘n’ roll with high energy after nearly 50 […]
Live Review: Paul Simon at Symphony Center • Chicago
Paul Simon Symphony Center Chicago Wednesday, May 22, 2025 Review by Jeff Elbel Paul Simon’s appearance in Chicago seven years ago at United Center wasn’t quite the farewell it was purported to be at the time. Those who arrived on Wednesday for the first of Simon’s three-night stand at the comparatively intimate Symphony Center, however, […]
Live Review: Benmont Tench at Garcia’s • Chicago
Benmont Tench Garcia’s Chicago Thursday, May 15, 2025 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Jim Snyder. To say Benmont Tench made a rare visit to Chicago on Thursday would be inaccurate. The keyboardist and songwriter has been here practically countless times in his pivotal role with American rock and roll band Tom Petty and […]
Live Review: Ministry at the Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Ministry Riviera Theatre Chicago, IL May 9, 2025 Live Review by Ashley Perez Hollingsworth “Are you guys ready to take a trip down memory lane? Get in a hot tub time machine and forget there’s all this turmoil?” asked Ministry’s Al Jourgensen decked out in an oversized fuzzy hat, heart-shaped glasses, and glittery blazer. […]
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 […]
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