Review: Deafheaven Explores Lonely People With Power at Metro
For a decade and a half, California metal band Deafheaven have been one of the more divisive bands to come through the heavy music scene. Controversial would be too strong […]
Review: The Majestic Sounds of Japanese Breakfast Flourish at the Salt Shed
It’s pretty obvious that both Chicago and the Salt Shed adore the sensational indie-pop outfit Japanese Breakfast. I get the impression that the band has a rather devoted cult following in […]
Review: Thomas Wilkins Leads the Civic Orchestra of Chicago in Symphonies by Florence Price and Antonín Dvořák
With Thomas Wilkins taking the podium, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago gave a lovely performance at Symphony Center on Monday evening. Being the professional training ensemble for the Chicago Symphony […]
Review: A Stellar Evening at Radius with Empire of the Sun
There are a handful of staple bands that undoubtedly carried the alternative music scene in the 2010s and sure enough the eclectic electronic duo, Empire of the Sun, is one […]
Review: Sadness at the End of a World, Unstaged Grief: Musicals and Mourning in Midcentury America, by Jake Johnson
The title of Jake Johnson’s latest book—Unstaged Grief: Musicals and Mourning in Midcentury America—is more than a bit jarring. It’s that part about “Musicals and Mourning” that seems so odd. […]
Review: Daniil Trifonov, Klaus Mäkelä, and the CSO Perform Brahms, Boulez, and Dvořák With Drama and Dazzle
With the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s music director designate Klaus Mäkelä taking the helm, CSO Artist in Residence Daniil Trifonov and the CSO gave a wonderful performance of Johannes Brahms’ Piano […]
Review: Circuit des Yeux Ushers in a New Era with Halo on the Inside
It’s always a pleasure to see local acts take the Thalia Hall stage. Even better is when you get three amazing acts like Kinsella & Pulse LLC, FACS, and Circuit […]
Preview: Constellation Announces Sound & Gravity, a New Multi-Venue Music Festival
The summer festival lineups keep rolling in and it’s looking like September is going to be a very busy and undeniably enjoyable month for music lovers. Especially the week of […]
Review: Mount Eerie Beautifully Details the Absurdity of Existence
It feels like an eternity ago that I last saw Phil Elverum’s Mount Eerie perform live. It was back in 2019, only a few months before the pandemic would shut […]
Review: Kishi Bashi Brings Hope and Comfort to the Auditorium with the Chicago Philharmonic
Last Saturday was an evening filled with the music of one of the most fascinating artists of our time. Kaoro Dill Ishibashi goes by the melodic-sounding portmanteau Kishi Bashi. The […]
Preview: Riot Fest Celebrates 20 Years with a Monstrous Lineup
If there ever was something to celebrate, it’s 20 years of unrelenting rock and punk music in Chicago! Riot Fest just released their 2025 lineup and it’s looking like perfect […]
Preview: Evanston Folk Festival Returns for Their Second Outing at Dawes Park
While we sit in the spring showers waiting for sunnier days, let’s look ahead to more festive times as the best summer events are starting to announce their lineups. One […]