This article was written by Wendy Davis.
Celebrating the 40th anniversary of R.E.M.’s acclaimed 1985 album, Fables of Reconstruction, Michael Shannon & Jason Narducy and Friends hit the road again covering the iconic record! On March 14th, 2025, the band packed Metro wall to wall with dedicated fans. They achieved a similar feat back in July 2023, when they covered R.E.M.’s debut album, Murmur. That concert is what that actually initially inspired them to take these shows on the road, making their sold-out return this month all the more special. As an avid Chicago lover and frequent visitor, Shannon made sure to bring one of his favorite cities everything he had to offer.
This crowd was a melting pot of generations of R.E.M. fans - from younger millennials to day one die-hards. Dave Hill did the honor of warming up the energy with a musical comedy set, interlacing dad jokes and electric guitar shreds. The crowd showed their appreciation with a “Dave! Dave! Dave!” chant as he exited the stage. As soon as Shannon, Narducy, and the rest of the band made their way on, it was clear that the audience’s highly anticipated excitement was mutual. Shannon locked right in the zone as he started off the album, covering “Feeling Gravity’s Pull”, all the way through the end. He had a clear enthusiasm to connect with the crowd as he found himself all around the stage, interacting with Narducy and the other band mates, and pouring his whole soul into this performance without ever losing energy. While showing some extra love during the encore, Jeff Tweedy even made an appearance with them during their cover of “There She Goes Again” by The Velvet Underground.
The essence of this evening was everything one could expect with a classic small Chicago concert, with the added nostalgia of iconic 80’s rock. It’s only fitting that this took place at Chicago’s historic Metro- where their first ever show was a last minute R.E.M. performance with five dollar tickets in 1982. Michael Shannon and the band’s love for the city, the venue, and the fans shined through and through this night, continuing to hold R.E.M.’s legacy high.
All photos by Wendy Davis