Live Reviews
Live Review: Emmylou Harris and the Red Dirt Boys • Old Town School of Folk Music • Chicago
Emmylou Harris and the Red Dirt Boys Old Town School of Folk Music January 31, 2022 Review by Jeff Elbel The snow forecast for a Monday evening held off long enough to allow Emmylou Harris fans clear passage to and from the Old Town School of Folk Music in Lincoln Square. Inside Maurer Hall, the […]
Live Review: Musical Box at Arcada Theatre • St. Charles
The Musical Box Saturday, November 20, 2021 Arcada Theatre, St. Charles by Steven Kikoen There’s an understanding among Genesis fans that when the time came where arguably the most prolific progressive rock ensemble that ever existed crossed the line into the pop microcosm, they would all secretly fain forgiveness and pretend to ignore this […]
Live Review: Genesis at United Center • Chicago
Genesis United Center November 15, 2021 Review by Andy Argyrakis Photo by Patrick Balls When Phil Collins proved he was Not Dead Yet with a tell-all book and tour of the same name in 2018, speculation began swirling that another final hurrah with Genesis could be coming right around the corner. Though it […]
Stage Buzz Live Review: Thievery Corporation at Park West
Thievery Corporation Thursday, September 30, Park West, Chicago On Thursday night, a fully packed Park West had the vibe of a trance-dance party, with the love and unity of an Afrobeat ensemble. If strictly immersed on the dance floor, one would think it was DJ night. But it was so much more with five boundless […]
Stage Buzz: Live Review and Photo Gallery • Colin Hay at Park West
Colin Hay Park West, Chicago, IL Sunday, August 29, 2021 Review by Jeff Elbel, photos by Philamonjaro Colin Hay has spent decades building his brand as one of popular music’s premier solo acoustic entertainers and all-around raconteurs. His performance benefits from a miraculously ageless voice, fluid and dexterous guitar playing, and stories that overflow […]
Stage Buzz: Live Review and Photo Gallery – James Taylor and His All-Star Band and Jackson Browne • United Center
James Taylor and His All-Star Band, Jackson Browne Thursday, July 29, 2021 United Center, Chicago, IL The third time’s the charm. Originally scheduled for the summer of 2020, the long-anticipated tour by James Taylor and His All-Star Band featuring Jackson Browne’s opening set was bumped to June of this year by the pandemic. Opening […]
Stage Buzz Review and Photo Gallery: Todd Rundgren Clearly Human Livestream from Chicago
Todd Rundgren Clearly Human Virtual Tour Private Venue, Chicago, IL Friday, February 26, 2021 Review by Jeff Elbel Photos by Jim Snyder Celebrated innovator and musical polymath Todd Rundgren is conducting his 25-date “Clearly Human” tour entirely from an unnamed theater in Chicago. Each show has featured all of the songs from 1989’s Nearly […]
Photo Gallery: deadmau5 with Bentley Dean and Kiesza at SeatGeek Stadium
deadmau5 / Bentley Dean / KieszaSeatGeek Stadium – At The Drive-InBridgeview, IL October 30, 2020 Ed Spinelli captured EDM pioneer and producer deadmau5 with Bentley Dean and Kiesza on a chilly evening in Bridgeview’s SeatGeek Stadium. All three came together for “Bridge By A Lightwave,” making it the highlight for the night. Drive-In concerts have […]
Stage Buzz: Live Review – The Claudettes at City Winery
City Winery, Chicago, IL Saturday, October 10, 2020 Chicago’s own The Claudettes are an uncategorizable but captivating blend of cheeky cabaret, gut-level blues, raucous rockabilly, cartoonish whimsy, and pop songcraft. 2020 was initially primed to be the band’s year, with the release of its most highly-praised set of songs. High Times in the Dark arrived in April […]
Photo Gallery: Local H at “Live From The Lot” at Schaumburg Boomers Stadium
Like almost every other industry, the COVID pandemic has forced the music profession to find its way around how to put the music out there, specifically live music. The recent trend has used the old model of Drive-In theaters as a stand-in for concert venues. Zion’s Local H recently used this approach to great success […]
Recap and Gallery: Local H Live at Harvest Moon Drive-In
“Is this weird for you guys? It’s weird for us, too.” This was Scott Lucas of Local H at the Harvest Moon Drive-In in Gibson City, Illinois, just a few songs into an epic 30-song set Thursday in east central Illinois. IE attended the first of two sold out shows that Local H played on […]










Recent Comments