Ibeyi @ Thalia Hall - Chicago
March 19th 2023: Ibeyi, Kara Jackson @ Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
Ibeyi - Photos Courtesy of Sidney Green
On March 19th, French Afro-Cuban duo Ibeyi made a stop at Thalia Hall in Chicago on their Spell 31 tour. This is the first time the twin sisters have toured the United States in several years.
The show was opened with an acoustic set by local rising talent Kara Jackson. The singer-songwriter played several original songs and a couple of covers. Kara’s debut album “Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love?” is set to be released on April 14th of this year.
Throughout their set, Ibeyi played a mix of tracks from their self-titled debut album “Ibeyi” (2015), sophomore album “Ashes” (2017), and their latest release “Spell 31” (2022). Lisa-Kaindé and Naomi Diaz are both multilingual, which is uniquely showcased within their songs sung in English, French, Spanish and Yoruba. The duo have a vibrant and lively stage presence as they sing and dance to the rhythm echoing across the room. It was clear from the excitement and energy radiating from the crowd that this was a highly-anticipated and memorable night for their fans. Overall, I think anyone who was in attendance regardless of being familiar with their music or not was bound to have a great time at their show.
Kara Jackson
Colony House @ House of Blues Chicago - Chicago
March 14th 2023: Colony House, little image @ House of Blues Chicago - Chicago, IL
Colony House - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Tuesday, March 14th, 2023, Tennessee-based indie rock band Colony House brought their "The Cannonballers" tour to House of Blues Chicago, with support from Little Image.
Little Image opened the night with lively interpretations of songs from their upcoming album "Self Titled" due in May 2023, including previously released singles such as "BALLET" and "OUT OF MY MIND".
Colony House brought out their rock and roll energy right away as they started their set with the first two songs on "The Cannonballers" — "Landlocked Surf Rock" and "Would Ya Could Ya". Colony House kept the enthusiastic crowd engagement going as frontman Caleb Chapman immersed himself in the crowd during the hit "Silhouettes".
Though the floor of House of Blues Chicago bounced throughout the night as Colony House played their new album almost entirely in full, while weaving in some old songs throughout their set, the band still held space for intimate moments to connect with the crowd. Between stories of the band's beginnings and inviting a young fan on stage to play a song on guitar with them, Colony House proved that their range as surf rockers know no limits, and they will be back in town before we know it.
little image
Kenia Os @ House of Blues Chicago - Chicago
March 15th 2023: Kenia Os @ House of Blues Chicago - Chicago, IL
Kenia Os - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Wednesday, March 15th, 2023, rising Mexican pop star Kenia Os brought her K23 tour to a sold-out crowd at House of Blues Chicago. After releasing two albums "Cambios de Luna" and "K23" in 2022, Kenia Os embarked on her first tour through the United States, following a viral moment with her hit song "Malas Decisiones" on TikTok. Throughout the night, Kenia Os performed beautifully choreographed songs to an enthusiastic crowd that knew all of the words. Her performance even included a cover of "Como La Flor" by the late Selena. Fans showed love throughout the night by throwing flowers and other gifts on stage and even held up signs and banners declaring their love for Kenia Os. With an audience so receptive to her music and message, it is no surprise that Kenia Os sold out her show in Chicago and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future at venues around the world.
Meet Me at The Altar @ Subterranean - Chicago
March 11th 2023: Meet Me at The Altar, Daisy Grenade, and Young Culture @ Subterranean - Chicago, IL
Meet Me @ The Altar - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Saturday, March 11th, 2023, music fans gathered at Subterranean to see rising pop-rock group Meet Me @ The Altar, fresh off the release of their debut album Past//Present//Future. Opening acts Daisy Grenade and Young Culture started off the night with energetic performances and engaged the crowd throughout their sets. Meet Me @ The Altar's infectious energy was undeniable and contagious. From start to finish, MM@TA delivered an electrifying performance that left the crowd wanting more. Their catchy hooks and relatable lyrics to songs such as "Say It (To My Face)" and "Garden" had the crowd jumping and dancing throughout their set. The energy in the room was palpable as the band delivered hit after hit from their new album and previous releases. MM@TA's show was their first headlining performance in Chicago, and due to the fact that it was completely sold out, I am sure that it will not be their last.
Daisy Grenade
Young Culture
little image @ Theater of Living Art - Philly
March 10th 2023: Colony House, Little Image - Philadelphia, PA
little image - Photos Courtesy of Carolyn Lederach
Been following Little Image since I first cause them opening for Jungle Giant several years ago. The Dallas boys offer up a different awe-encompassing sound, along with thoughtful lyrics that will catch the attention of anyone looking for something different. The three-piece continues to have a very solid performance that only gets better every time I see them live.
Colony House
Unwound @ Irving Plaza - NYC
March 10th 2023: Unwound, Horsegirl @ Irving Plaza - New York, NY
fans at Unwound - Photos Courtesy of Edwina Hay
Olympia, Washington’s Unwound disbanded in 2002. This was around the time I first discovered their music and quickly became one of those bands who I really enjoyed but liked other acts such as Pixies, Bikini Kill, or Murder City Devils where I was either born too late to see them when they were active, or connected with their catalog right as they were disbanding and figured I would never see them live. Twenty years after their final shows, Unwound revealed they were performing again in July 2022. They announced a concert at New York’s Irving Plaza on Friday, March 10, 2023, which quickly sold out, and then two more shows at the same venue were added.
Friday night’s show began promptly at 8 PM with a performance by Horsegirl, the trio from Chicago that relocated to New York City. The group didn’t say much while on stage during their 45-minute set, but Penelope Lowenstein disclosed that they were excited when this show was first announced and long before they were invited to play, that they would have been in the audience with us too. Before performing “Forecast,” Penelope announced it was the first song they ever wrote in her basement at the age of 15. In addition to playing songs from their record Versions of Modern Performance, they also included a Guided By Voices cover in their set (“As We Go Up, We Go Down”).
For their first New York show in two decades, Unwound performed two sets. The first one began at 9:15 PM, followed by a 15-minute intermission, and resumed again at 10:20 PM. Their drummer, Sara Lund, asked before their fourth song how many people were supposed to see them at Bowery Ballroom in 2001 (they were scheduled to play on September 12, 2001), and not many people responded. She quickly modified the question by then asking who was born after 9/11/01 and dedicated their next song to the numerous young fans in attendance who qualified.
Unwound’s vocalist/guitarist Justin Trosper mentioned after intermission it was an honor to be here and when someone yelled out a song that they wanted to hear, he laughed and said they don’t take requests and that everything was pre-planned. He then dedicated the next two songs to their departed bassist Vern Rumsey, who sadly passed away in August 2020. Their current bassist is a longtime friend, Jared Warren of Karp, Big Business, and Melvins, plus Unwound now features Scott Seckington on guitar. With the show coming to an end at 11 PM, we all departed Irving Plaza in the cold rain, and I felt extremely grateful that I finally got to experience Unwound live after all these years.
Horsegirl
Stephen Sanchez @ Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
February 25th 2023: Stephen Sanchez, Kings Elliot @ Lincoln Hall - Chicago, IL
Stephen Sanchez - Photos Courtesy of Taylor Nettnin
Overnight TikTok sensation Stephen Sanchez brought his sold-out tour to Chicago’s Lincoln Hall on February 25th, with support from Kings Elliot.
Kings Elliot opened the night with her sweet and soothing harmonious tracks, chock-full of uplifting melodies, and beautiful vocals. While most of her lyrics are inspired by mental health and have darker themes, she performed them with a smile on her face as the crowd happily received every word she sang.
Stephen Sanchez storms the stage to a screaming crowd, ready to dance the night away. The Southern Charmer may be young in age, but he sings and performs like a seasoned veteran, often embodying the heart and soul of a crooner from the 1950s.
Enthusiastically addressing the crowd, jumping around the stage, and smiling ear to ear during his entire set, Sanchez proved he is a force to be reckoned with. Ending the night with his hit song featured in the Netflix series Ginny and Georgia, the crowd sang every word of “Until I Found You” back to Sanchez, giving back every ounce of love that he shared with the crowd the entire night.
Stephen Sanchez continues his tour of North America through the middle of March and will embark on another headlining tour of North America in the fall.
Kings Elliot
Tove Lo @ Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA
February 23rd 2023: Tove Lo, Slayyyter @ Paramount Theatre - Seattle, WA
Tove Lo - Photos Courtesy of Stephanie Dore
For a crowd rocking spectacular fashion (think fishnet bodysuits, tutus, and light up everything), Swedish musician Tove Lo stopped by Seattle’s historic Paramount Theatre for an epic dance party during her latest Dirt Femme Tour. Opener Slayyyter’s sex-positive set got the crowd pumped, hitting a tone somewhere between raunchy Lady Gaga and straight Kim Petras. Then Tove Lo took to the cloud-decked stage for a set that covered all the hits, while highlighting her latest work. There were multiple costume changes, fake boobs on a bodysuit, the requisite flashing of the crowd during “Talking Body”, and her new trademark scorpion tail. It was a set that kept the crowd dancing the whole time, somewhere between dark pop and dream sequence and joyful every minute.
Slayyyter
