Saint Motel @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago
May 10th 2025: Saint Motel, Brigitte Calls Me Baby @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
Saint Motel | Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Saturday May 10th 2025, Saint Motel brought their Symphony In The Sky tour to a sold out Riviera Theatre with opening act Brigitte Calls Me Baby. This tour follows the February release of their latest album Saint Motel & the Symphony in the Sky.
Chicago-based indie rock newcomers Brigitte Calls Me Baby opened the show with a set full of 80s rock-inspired vocals and shimmery guitars. Their energy was a great start to the evening and got fans pumped for the show.
Saint Motel started off their set with lead singer AJ Jackson conducting the "symphony" of Saint Motel, which consisted of a digitally projected strings section, in addition to their usual band of members Aaron Sharp (guitar), Dak Lerdamornpong (bass), Greg Erwin (drums), as well as a touring saxophonist and trumpeter. The set then began with "Puzzle Pieces," a high-energy, danceable hit from the band's 2012 album Voyeur, which got the crowd moving and excited for the rest of the night. Whether it was by clapping along to a beat, saying a word altogether on cue for "Move," or waving a wand/flashlight in different directions during "It's All Happening" etc., Saint Motel kept the audience engaged while playing songs from most of their previous releases. It seemed as though Saint Motel were enjoying the night as well. They recounted previous Chicago shows and mentioned that this was their "craziest" Chicago show yet before playing "Fine Wine." The momentum of the show kept building and was full of surprises — one of them being AJ emerging from the balcony for the encore to perform "A Bluer Blue" then returning to the stage, only to come back out into the crowd several songs later during an explosive performance of "My Type."
As a long-time listener of the band, I have to say, Saint Motel's incredible attention to detail when it comes to taking the theme of their album and translating it into a live production is truly something to admire. The band's outfits, grand piano on stage, sheet music stands, star-like LED lights, merch and so on matched the Symphony in the Sky theme perfectly. Their fun vibes were enjoyed by an audience of all ages, who I'm sure, will return to see them the next time they are in town. Saint Motel's first leg of this tour just ended but be sure to catch them on the other leg in the Fall!
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Denzel Curry @ Crystal Ballroom - Portland
May 4th 2025: Denzel Curry, Kenny Mason, 454, CLIP @ Crystal Ballroom - Portland, OR
Denzel Curry | Photos Courtesy of: Christina Hall
Denzel Curry stopped in Portland for his Mischievous South Tour. He brought along CLIP, 454, and Kenny Mason. The theme for the evening seemed to be opening the circle up.
CLIP had a chaotic start, bringing a fan onto the stage to open the pit. There was some confusion about where they should go, but Clip’s playful innocence made it all okay for the rest of her set. Her set had heavy beats that truly fired the crowd up. 454 came on not too long after with Ateleye Marc on the boards. A breeze could be felt from the subwoofers, and 454 rattled off his higher-pitched and polished riffs. Kenny Mason finished out the support with three rules: to pick someone up if they fall, keep your hands to yourself, and open the pit wide. His angsty sound was complemented with a light autotune. The crowd was jumping and had the highest energy yet for the night when Stick came on.
Denzel Curry came onto the stage as if he were shot out of a cannon. The energy was at a 10, and he somehow kept his cool with a winter jacket on for the first part of his set. His set had a cadence that felt like playing homage to Three Six Mafia. His sound had elements of old rap but with a refreshing and head-banging take. It made it easy to bob your head, and there were many tracks that you could chant along with. G’z up got a big crowd reaction. Security could be seen attempting to hold the barricades up as Denzel never let off the gas, and it was a cathartic release of whatever the crowd was holding on to that night.
Kenny Mason, 454, CLIP
Djo @ Franklin Music Hall - Philadelphia
May 3rd 2025: Djo, Post Animal @ Franklin Music Hall - Philadelphia, PA
Djo - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
Since 2019, Joe Keery has been releasing music under Djo. In 2025, three albums later, he’s travelling the world for the first time on a sold-out tour. Djo is joined by his former bandmates and friends, Post Animal. It’s heartwarming to see the friendship and support shared between both bands throughout sets. Joe joined Post Animal for their last three songs of their set. Meanwhile, several members of Post Animal can be found playing alongside Joe’s set. To continue the camaraderie, Post Animal recently announced their next album, Iron, which was written in collaboration with Joe.
The setlist for the night consisted of a mix of songs from Djo’s catalogue. I shared in the excitement of the crowd with finally getting to see Djo’s live set after six long years. Needless to say, Joe Keery is keeping busy and can’t wait to see where the future takes him.
Setlist
Runner
Gloom
Link
Charlie's Garden
Basic Being Basic
Fool
Figure You Out
Egg
Fly
Delete Ya
Lonesome Is a State of Mind
Chateau (Feel Alright)
Roddy
End of Beginning
Gap Tooth Smile
Potion
Encore:
Back on You
Flash Mountain (with Post Animal)
Post Animal
Fontaines D.C. @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
May 2nd, 2025: Fontaines D.C., Jadu Heart @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Fontaines D.C. | Photos Courtes of: Emily May
Irish post-punk band Fontaines D.C. brought their current US Tour to Louisville, Ky to a sold out crowd on May the 2nd. Under the looming threat of rain, a long line of fans waited outside the venue for the doors to open, hoping to secure their spot either near to stage or on the balcony once the doors opened. Coming out onto the stage to a crowd of cheering and screaming fans, Fontaines D.C. launched straight into their set, starting out with the title track from their latest album Romance (released on August 23rd of last year). Singer Grian Chatten brought a good energy to the stage, often moving across the entirety of it and engaging with as much of the crowd as possible. On several occasions, he held his mic stand out into the crowd for them to sing along with him and would often raise his arms and hands up in a sweeping motion, as if he was conducting an orchestra. With each raise of his arms and hands, the crowd would scream and/or sing along.
The band performed a varied set list that included newer songs, such as “Death Kink”, “Bug”, and “Sundowner”, as well as some earlier tracks, such as “Jackie Down The Line”, “Televised Mind”, “A Hero’s Death”, “Big Shot”, and “Roman Holiday”. The crowd sang their hearts out, at full volume, to every song and you could feel their love and excitement shining through, making for a really fun and special evening. The band did very little talking throughout the set, letting their music be the focus. Ending their set with “Favourite”, the band left the stage and came back out moments later to a roaring crowd for a 4-song encore. Starting the encore off with “In The Modern World”, they rounded it out with “Desire”, “I Love You”, and “Starburster”. It was a great evening of music that left the crowd buzzing long after the music stopped. Opening the show this evening was English group Jadu Heart, performing music that was at times melodic and etheric, while also giving rock vibes. Aside from the traditional guitar, drums, and bass, the band also incorporated synth sounds that sampled different genres, as well as violin, making for a really beautiful sound. They really had the crowd enthralled and dancing and were a nice start to the evening.
JADU HEART
Katie Gavin @ Massey Hall - Toronto
April 26th 2025: Katie Gavin @ Massey Hall - Toronto, ON
Katie Gavin | Photos Courtesy of: Peyton Mott
Within the sanctuary-esque walls of Massey Hall in downtown Toronto, the audience waited, seated and in anticipation, not only for headliner Lucy Dacus, but also the MUNA veteran Katie Gavin. On the “Forever is a Feeling” tour, Gavin debuted her first solo album live to the masses. The record is a complete contrast to her previous electro-pop musings, playing through the set with an acoustic guitar, fiddle, and hypnotic vocals.
During the second track of the night, “As Good As It Gets,” Gavin welcomed the colourful jasmine.4.t. to the stage. The pair shared a giggle as jasmine bounded onstage. The recording features the legendary Mitski, but the featured singer’s rendition of the second verse created a whole new meaning in the sonic environment. Gavin even threw in a bonus for the awe-struck crowd, with an unreleased track entitled “She Gives Me Feelings,” following the devastation of loving someone who doesn’t belong to her.
The masterful vocalist flexed her storytelling ability with lyrics depicting the stages of relationships and humanity, both romantic and otherwise.
JoJo @ The Fillmore - Philadelphia
March 28th 2025: JoJo @ The Fillmore- Philadelphia, PA
JoJo - Photos Courtesy of: Carolyn Lederach
JoJo’s March 28th performance at the Fillmore in Philadelphia was nothing short of electrifying. After years of navigating the music industry’s complexities, JoJo has indeed found her voice and delivered a setlist that was as dynamic as it was emotional. JoJo’s vocals were pitch-perfect, and there was an undeniable connection between her and the audience that felt both intimate and grand at the same time.
The blend of old hits and newer material was well-balanced, showcasing JoJo’s evolution as an artist. From the early 2000s hits like “Leave (Get Out)” and “Too Little, Too Late” to the more mature sounds of her latest tracks “Too Much to Say” and “Porcelin,” JoJo proved her versatility and ability to captivate listeners across a broad spectrum of her catalog. Not to mention the fact that she’s setting sail to a whole new crowd after the release of her best-selling memoir, Over the Influence.
Setlist
COff Again
Nobody
Baby It's You
Like That
Fresh New Sheets
Bad Habits
Gold
Think About You
Marvins Room (Drake cover)
Ready To Love
Start Over
Love Galore (SZA cover)
Weak (SWV cover)
Lose Control (Teddy Swims cover)
One Last Time
Too Much To Say
Leave (Get Out)
Too Little Too Late
Good Thing
Porcelain
Never Say Goodbye
ZZ Ward @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville
March 23rd, 2025: ZZ Ward, Liam St.John @ Mercury Ballroom - Louisville, KY
Singer-songwriter ZZ Ward brought her ‘The Dirty Sun Tour’ to Mercury Ballroom on March 23rd in support of her latest album Liberation (released March 14th), with the venue quickly filling up with fans of the bluesy, soulful singer. Whether seated in the balcony or standing on the main floor, Ward had her fans dancing and singing along throughout her set. She performed a nice mix of songs this evening for her fans and chatted quite a bit with the crowd during her set, saying early on, “I just put out a new album that I am really excited about called Liberation and have a great show planned for you this evening.” She went on to say how the album has a lot of original songs and covers of blues and soul songs that she wanted to pay homage to. Whether she was performing covers, such as “My Baby Left Me” by Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, “Dust My Broom” by Elmore James, “Grinning In Your Face” by Son House, or “Sinner’s Prayer” by Ray Charles and B.B. King, or originals such as “Let It Burn”, “Liberation”, “Bag of Bones”, or “Lioness”, the crowd was loving every moment of her set!
Between many of the songs, Ward told stories that touched on her life and the meaning behind her songs, really connecting with her fans. She also talked about how much fun she had making Liberation and how she had wanted to go deeper into blues and soul for a while, having always tried to incorporate those sounds into her music somehow. She later said how great it was to be back in Louisville and how much she loves touring around the country in her bus. She then asked the crowd who had seen her live before and who was seeing her for the first time, thanking both sets of fans for being there that evening! It was clear that everyone was having a great time, both older and newer fans alike! Opening the show this evening was Nashville bluesy rock and roll artist Liam St. John, who, with his band, really got the crowd moving with their fun and electric energy!
Liam St. John
GloRilla @ Andrew J. Brady Music Center - Cincinnati
March 22nd, 2025: GloRilla, Queen Key, and Real Boston Richey @ Andrew J. Brady Music Center - Cincinnati, OH
GloRilla | Photos Courtesy of: Asia Austin
On March 22nd, GloRilla took the stage at the Andrew J. Brady Music Center in Cincinnati, OH for an electrifying sold-out show on her Glorious Tour, and it was nothing short of a spectacle. The anticipation in the air was unmistakable as the crowd packed into the venue, buzzing with excitement to witness what the night had in store.
The show kicked off with impressive energy from the openers, Queen Key and Real Boston Richey - both performances successfully managed to bring the crowd to life. GloRilla stepped onto the stage dressed in a stylish gold outfit that exuded both confidence and charisma, alongside her talented dancers which added to the hype. Her stage presence was undeniable as she performed hits such as “TGIF”, “Yeah Glo!”, “Whatchu Kno About Me”, and “F.N.F (Let’s Go” and her love for her fans did not go unnoticed as she serenaded one lucky fan on stage. GloRilla also included set transitions that included behind-the-scenes footage of her on the road, as well as motivational sessions with her sitting and discussing her upbringing, life, and her future with a therapist.
By the time she closed the show, there was no doubt in anyone’s mind that GloRilla was a staple in the rap industry. She’s not just a rapper and MC, but a powerful artist with the ability to captivate an audience and leave them wanting more. Her sold-out show was an unforgettable experience—one that showed that she’s here to stay for the long run and left fans eagerly awaiting her next move. If you weren’t able to witness it, you definitely missed out on a night full of raw energy, amazing music, empowering speeches, and an artist fully owning her moment.
