Armor For Sleep @ House of Blues - Chicago
March 13th, 2025: Armor For Sleep @ House of Blues - Chicago, IL
Armor For Sleep | Photos Courtesy of: Jetzi Calvin
Chicago was in good spirits last week—unseasonably warm and heading into a Full Moon weekend. The elder emos were out in full force, making their way to River North for Armor for Sleep’s anniversary tour stop. We gathered at the House of Blues, one of frontman Ben Jorgensen’s favorite venues, to celebrate 20 years of What to Do When You Are Dead—an album that became a rite of passage for any early 2000s kid who knew what it meant to drown in their sorrow.
A concept album that wrestles with the transition between life and death, What to Do When You Are Dead encapsulates the rawest depths of heartache and the sort of perpetual grief that lingers like a ghost, even after crossing over to the other side. Midway through the set, Ben pauses to reflect on what he was going through while writing the album, a time in life when he didn’t want to be here anymore. The crowd, a sea of nostalgia and lived experience responds by singing every lyric back to him, word for word.
Voices echo through the room, and the iconic House of Blues floor does what it’s famous for—bouncing beneath us, just enough to make your stomach drop for a split second. In that moment, time folds in on itself. The same fans who once clutched this album like a lifeline now stand together, older and wiser but just as connected to the songs that once saved them.
Sarah and The Sundays @ The Foundry - Philadelphia
March 18th 2025: Sarah and The Sundays @ The Foundry- Philadelphia, PA
Sarah and The Sunday - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Austin’s Sarah and The Sundays kicked off the first night of their US tour in Philadelphia at The Foundry on March 18th 2025. As the band took the stage, a room full of eager fans were waiting to hear the latest from the band. Despite the first night of tour jitters, the band went off without a hitch, delivering a solid set mixed with bops we grew to love over the years, along with tracks off their latest album, Like a Damn Dog.
Setlist
Casanova
Coward
Miss Mar
Looking Dead at the Function
Are You Really Gonna Show Up Tonight
Ruby Fields
You Must Be Tired
Policy
Veneer
Pipe Down
Sweet Tooth
I'm So Bored
Kids (MGMT cover)
Skin and Bone
Cease
Afterlife
The Cue
Pulling Teeth
Moving On
Vices
Role Model @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
March 14th 2025: Role Model, Debbi Dawson @ The Fillmore- Philadelphia, PA
Role Model - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Debbi Dawson
ian @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
March 2nd, 2025: ian @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
ian | Photos Courtesy of: Asia Austin
If there’s anything you can expect from an Ian concert, it’s an energy-packed, high-volume, unforgettable experience. The 19-year-old rapper from St. Louis, MO took the stage at Mercury Ballroom in Louisville, KY and from the moment the music began, the crowd was locked in - ready to go, and Ian didn’t let up whatsoever.
Performing some crowd favorites such as 3.5, AirBnb, Hate Me, and Magic Johnson, Ian’s commanding stage presence, paired with impeccable delivery, had the audience roaring with every lyric nonstop. The connection between Ian and his fans was undeniable, which created an electric atmosphere throughout the venue and served as one of the loudest crowds I’ve heard in a while.
A memorable moment during the show included his producer Lucas on the piano, followed by Ian doing a quick transition into his song ‘3.5’. Although there were no openers for this show, Ian easily proved that his performance alone was enough to carry the entire night. With tonight’s show being Ian’s very first time in Kentucky, he was more than impressed by the energy the crowd gave him and I’m sure it won’t be too long before he returns to Louisville.
Ian’s love for his fans did not go unnoticed as he held a meet and greet before the show started, and came outside to meet fans waiting over an hour in the cold temperatures. There was never a moment where he didn’t express gratitude for all of the support, which made the night feel more personal. Overall, Ian’s concert was an experience that shouldn’t be missed. With his passion, talent, and infectious energy, it’s clear that he’s not going anywhere for a long time and I’m excited to see where his journey takes him.
Faye Webster @ Paristown Hall - Louisville
February 23rd, 2025 : Faye Webster, Mei Ehara @ Paristown Hall - Louisville, KY
Faye Webster | Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
Singer-Songwriter Faye Webster performed to a sold-out (or nearly sold-out) show at Paristown Hall on February 23rd. The line to get in was the longest line I have ever seen at this venue. Luckily there are three security lines to get in, making the wait much quicker than one would imagine! Performing a mix of genres that include indie-folk, alternative, modern R&B, and country, she has garnered an ever-growing and loyal fan base of adoring fans over the years. Webster released her latest album, Underdressed At The Symphony, in March of last year. She started out her set with two songs from the album, “But Not Kiss” and “Wanna Quit All the Time”, performing other new tracks that included “Lifetime”, “Tttttime”, and “Lego Ring”. She also performed older tracks such as “Right SIde of My Neck”, “Jonny”, and “Kingston”. With a stage production that mesmerized through beautiful, soft lighting, as well as an incredible band, she gave an amazing performance that did not disappoint! Japanese artist Mei Ehara opened the show with a captivating solo set!
MEI EHARA
Foster the People @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
February 21st 2025: Foster the People, Good Neighbours @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia, PA
Foster the People - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Good Neighbours
Jordana @ Drake Underground - Toronto
February 20th, 2025: Jordana @ Drake Underground- Toronto, ON
Jordana | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
Underneath Toronto’s Drake Hotel, a thrumming bass travelled up the stairwell. The audience gathered affront the stage enjoying opener, Rachel Bobbit, counting down the minutes to Jordana’s debut.
The porcelain indie-pop artist, Jordana greeted the crowd with a coy smile before hopping right into the opening track, “We Get By” from her 2024 release. Fittingly to her cheeky lyricism, the set was full of connecting to the crowd with simple jokes to comparing what was in the water versus Canada and the United States. As well as the age-old question of the proper pronunciation of Toronto.
Jordana not only exemplified diverse pop perfection with layered vocoders but was also complete with tambourine dances and violin solos by the singer-songwriter. As she ran through the entirety of the recent record in order, Jordana tossed in a Steely Dan cover “Any Major Dude Will Tell You.” The room defied typical head-bobbing “too-cool” Toronto audiences, fans lined the room; one of which stood out, dancing and singing amongst the entire set pressed against the stage.
While TV Girl wasn't present throughout the Lively Premonition tour, that didn't stop Jordana from performing the breakout tracks from their collaborative album, “Summer’s Over” as an almost jitterbug-dancey encore.
Jordana’s (hopefully) impending return to Toronto is welcomed with open arms, clear by the smiling faces flushed red from joy rather than the polar vortex that awaited the fans outside the venue.
Rachel Bobbit
Bryant Barnes
Ian Fisher @ Zanzabar - Louisville
February 12th, 2025 : Ian Fisher & Band, Anna Smyrk, and Ian Abel @ Zanzabar - Louisville, KY
Singer-songwriter Ian Fisher and his band brought his Go Gentle Album Release Tour to Louisville, KY on February 12th, performing many of the songs from his recently released album Go Gentle. The album is both heartbreaking and beautiful, a tribute to his mother who died of cancer in 2023, as well as a moving commentary on death and grief. Although the crowd was modest on this rainy and cold Wednesday evening, it made the experience that much more intimate for those in attendance. Singing many songs from the new album this evening, such as “In Her Hand”, “Mother Please Forgive Me”, and “Tigress”, Fisher’s voice was both gentle and powerful, with him visibly embodying a range of emotions as he sang these songs. Although the songs at times had a somber tone, they were powerful in the emotions and messages they conveyed and Fisher and his band had fun together on stage and with the crowd. They even played an encore song at the insistence of the crowd, with Fisher asking with a laugh if we wanted something upbeat or if we felt like crying. Opening the show this evening was Ian Abel, a Louisville native who now lives in Nashville, who wowed the crowd with his rock/country vibe and, with his band mate Jesse, performed a short but lively set of songs that included killer covers of Heart’s "Alone” and The Cranberries’s “Zombie”. Australian artist Anna Smyrk performed, as well, with this being her first time in Kentucky and the U.S.. She really impressed with her beautiful voice and songs and will hopefully tour here again soon! It was a fun evening of music!
Anna Smyrk
Ian Abel
