Live Reviews
Live Review: The Church at Thalia Hall • Chicago
The Church Thalia Hall, Chicago, IL Sunday, March 26, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel Australian psychedelic rockers The Church returned to Chicago following a five-year absence, playing to a full house at the Pilsen neighborhood’s Thalia Hall on Sunday. A selection of captivating new songs honored the band’s beloved sound while carrying it […]
Live Review & Photo Gallery: Winery Dogs at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles`
The Winery Dogs The Arcada Theatre, St. Charles, IL Friday, March 10, 2023 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Ed Spinelli. On Friday night, the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles welcomed a full house of faithful hard rockers. Fans were on their feet from the moment that supergroup The Winery Dogs walked onstage. The celebratory […]
Live Review: Remain In Light : Jerry Harrison and Adrian Belew at The Vic Theatre • Chicago
The Vic Theatre, Chicago, IL Saturday, February 25, 2023 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and the band’s veteran sideman Adrian Belew brought a tour celebrating their work on 1980’s influential Remain in Light album to Chicago’s Vic Theatre on Saturday. The pair were accompanied by seven-piece funk/jam/rock band Cool Cool Cool, […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Fall Out Boy at Metro’s 40th Anniversary Show • Chicago
Fall Out Boy Metro, Chicago Wednesday, January 25th, 2023 By Jaime de’Medici; Photos Elliot Ingham Before Fall Out Boy performed a sold-out show at the Metro Wednesday night, the band’s crew set up their stage, including a backdrop with a half-smiley, half-frown face resembling a yin and yang symbol. It’s a design that’s been heavily […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Andrew Bird with My Brightest Diamond at Fourth Presbyterian Church • Chicago
Andrew Bird with special guest My Brightest Diamond Gezelligheid concert at Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago, IL Wednesday, December 14, 2022 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel Absent since 2019, Andrew Bird’s seasonal Gezelligheid concerts returned in grand style this year. The homecoming event sold out a series of seven nights at the stately setting of […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Suede and Manic Street Preachers at Auditorium Theatre • Chicago
Suede and Manic Street Preachers Wednesday, November 16, 2022 Auditorium Theatre Chicago, Il Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Despite careers spanning decades and ample respect among music fans in the know, British glam-rock innovators Suede and sociopolitical firebrands Manic Street Preachers are not household names in the United States. These facts were […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Carrie Underwood at Allstate Arena • Rosemont
Carrie Underwood Saturday, October 22 Allstate Arena Rosemont, IL Review and photos by Andy Argyrakis The title behind Carrie Underwood’s newest album and tour of the same name, Denim & Rhinestones, couldn’t be more fitting for the country and pop megastar, representing both a rougher side that’s never afraid to rock but also one evoking […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Celebrating David Bowie at Copernicus Center • Chicago
Celebrating David Bowie Copernicus Center Chicago, IL October 14, 2022 Review and photos by Jeff Elbel The Celebrating David Bowie tour brought its star-powered musicians and the late Bowie’s star-powered songs to Copernicus Center on Friday. The show delivered on its namesake promise with a generous 30-song set of adventurous selections for diehard Bowie fans […]
Live Recap: Muse at Riviera Theatre • Chicago
Muse Rivera Theatre Chicago, IL October 11, 2022 Live Review by Ashley Perez Hollingsworth Muse is accustomed to filling up arenas and stadiums whenever they tour. So, when they change gears and play the rare theater show, you know it’s going to be something special. Touring in support of their new album, Will […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: The Who at United Center • Chicago
The Who United Center Chicago, IL Wednesday, October 12, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photo gallery by Curt Baran. Pete Townshend combined the experience from his Classic Quadrophenia shows with Roger Daltrey’s run of symphonic solo shows performing Tommy when building The Who Hits Back! tour. The Who’s core six-piece band was augmented by longtime collaborator Billy Nicholls, three traveling […]
Live Review: Calexico at Metro • Chicago
Calexico Metro Chicago, IL Friday, October 7, 2022 Reviewed by Jeff Elbel On a fall night when Chicago temperatures plummeted into the thirties, Calexico brought a blast of arid desert sunshine to the Metro. The band from Tucson, Arizona, arrived with songs from its latest album El Mirador on ANTI-Records. “Chicago, Que Paso?” […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery : Iron Maiden at United Center • Chicago
Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast tour United Center, Chicago, IL Wednesday, October 5, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel; (Photo Gallery by Curt Baran) With Halloween fast approaching, what better time could there be to catch Iron Maiden’s literally incendiary heavy metal show and its creepy accouterments? The band’s Legacy of the Beast tour returned to Chicago […]
Live Review and Photo Gallery: Gorillaz at United Center • Chicago
Gorillaz United Center, Chicago, IL Monday, October 3, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photo Gallery by Curt Baran. Four years to the month after bringing The Now Now Tour to Chicago, Gorillaz ringleader Damon Albarn brought his live bandmates, guest performers, and cartoon avatars for a return visit to the United Center on Monday. […]
Photo Gallery: Smashing Pumpkins at Metro • Chicago
Smashing Pumpkins Tuesday, September 20 Metro Chicago Chicago, IL Review by Jaime de’Medici; Photos by Curt Baran There’s no concert hall more meaningful for The Smashing Pumpkins, and by extension, the band’s fanbase, than Metro Chicago. Any true fan, and even many casual fans, are almost certainly aware of the band’s extensive history with the northside […]
Live Review: Roxy Music at United Center • Chicago
Roxy Music United Center, Chicago Tuesday, September 19, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel. Photos by Curt Baran. Can it really be 50 years since the release of Roxy Music’s self-titled debut album? The English band’s music documented across seven albums spanning 1972 to 1982, still seems modern and forward-looking, even considering the longstanding acclaim that […]
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