Review: Ivy’s Traces of You Tour Comes to Park West
After last year’s release of Traces of You, a brand-new record based around abandoned song fragments from their archives, the thought of Ivy playing live in 2026 seemed too fanciful […]
Interview: Ivy to Pay Tribute to Adam Schlesinger at Park West
In 1991, Andy Chase placed an ad in New York’s renowned Village Voice seeking musicians who shared his eclectic tastes. One response stood out from the rest: Adam Schlesinger, a […]
Review: “Chimes of Freedom”—Flashing Thoughts on Seeing Bruce Springsteen at the United Center
On Wednesday night at the United Center, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band came to town as part of their Land of Hope & Dreams/No Kings tour. I have […]
Interview: They Might Be Giants Is Definitely Coming to the Vic Theatre
It’s understandably rare for bands to have a career spanning over four decades, and the few that do even more understandably tend to slow down after all that time. But […]
Review: Gelli Haha Brings an Adorable Circus to Schubas Tavern
Dolphin balloons. Boxing matches. Bubble guns. Plastic pig masks. Hula hoops. That’s just a sample of the delightful craziness Gelli Haha brought to Schubas Tavern on Saturday night. It was […]
Review: Going Bacharach at the Apollo Theater—When the Cheese Overpowers the Craft
Burt Bacharach’s music is famously hard to play and all‑too‑easy to cheapen. The show’s excellent Chicago‑based band proves the former with dazzling precision, while the production ladles on the latter […]
Interview: Waxed is Ready to Melt Faces at Reggies
Four years after releasing their debut album Give Up, Nashville’s Waxed is back with The Continental Way, 44 minutes of face-melting, riff-driven rockers. The band, which opened for no less […]
Keeping C2E2 Local with Lizzie Baumgartner and Brian Rowe of Emo Social Club
With C2E2 happening last weekend I took my time to steer away from the drama surrounding its owners, ReedPop, and instead decided to focus on the people building communities locally. […]
Review: Mike Doughty Rocks Garcia’s with Wit and Warmth
In 2024, after a 25-year hiatus, Soul Coughing, one of the wildest and weirdest bands of the ’90s, reformed for the “We Said it Would Never Happen” tour. Much like […]
Interview: Fantasy Fuel Is a Dream Come True for Evann McIntosh
When Evann McIntosh moved to Chicago from Wichita in 2022, the singer-songwriter didn’t just change cities—they reinvented their artistry. “I moved out here initially in a group of other people […]
Review: Michael Shannon, Jason Narducy and Friends Tackle R.E.M. Classics at Metro
In the 21st century, it’s normally a matter of when, not if, a band that breaks up will reform. Some acts barely allow enough time to be missed when the […]
Preview: Ravinia Festival Returns With an Impressive Lineup for the Redesigned Hunter Pavilion
Over the past couple of months, Ravinia Festival has been building up anticipation for the 2026 season. Specifically they’ve been noting the changes going into the Hunter Pavilion, which has […]