The Cab @ House of Blues - Chicago, IL
June 12th 2026: The Cab, CARR, and Paradise Fears @ House of Blues Chicago - Chicago, IL
The Cab - Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Friday, June 12th 2026, The Cab brought their 'Back From The Dead' Tour to a packed House of Blues Chicago with Paradise Fears and CARR. This tour follows the April release of their latest full-length album in over 10 years—Chasing Crowns.
CARR opened the show with a fierce and energetic set that got the crowd moving. Paradise Fears kept the show's momentum going with a performance full of singalong moments for their fans. The band also mentioned this was their first tour in over 10 years.
The Cab walked on stage and began their set with "Locked and Loaded," the first track from their latest album, after absorbing the crowd's palpable energy and excitement to see a band that hasn't toured in over a decade. The night was full of nostalgic moments, ranging from lead singer Alex DeLeon sharing stories of his teenage self writing "Vegas Skies" from the first The Cab album, Whisper War, to the band covering a few early 2000s pop hits. Although the show was very high-energy and featured songs across the band's discography, The Cab still welcomed intimate moments. They played stripped-down snippets of songs from their first album, and even created a mash-up of their song "One of THOSE Nights" with a cover of Justin Bieber's "YUKON". While asking for a show of hands from those who had seen them live before, DeLeon mentioned that regardless of how attendees discovered them or how long they had listened to The Cab, the band was grateful they had come to the show. The Cab will continue their tour across the United States through the rest of the month.
CARR
Paradise Fears
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
The Marias @ The Salt Shed - Chicago
August 13th, 2024: The Marias, Automatic @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
The Marias | Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Tuesday, August 13th 2024, The MarÃas brought their Submarine Tour to a sold-out Salt Shed Chicago with the opening act Automatic. This tour follows the recent release of The MarÃas' second full-length album Submarine. The MarÃas is a project led by MarÃa Zardoya (vocals) with members Josh Conway (drums), Jesse Perlman (guitar) and Edward James (keys).
Los Angeles-based rock trio Automatic opened the show. Their music was a rock/synth pop mixture, which paired well with The MarÃas.
At approximately 8 pm, The MarÃas took the stage, with MarÃa appearing as a silhouette behind the band, then emerging forward while singing "Hamptons". At first listen, one may think that The MarÃas' airy, dreamy sound is more soft and the show may have a more mellow vibe. Still, with screams, jumping, and singing along to every song, the crowd appeared completely engaged, entranced, and energized with The MarÃas' performance. The band performed almost the entirety of Submarine, as well as songs from their previous releases CINEMA and Superclean Vol. I and II. Throughout the night, MarÃa expressed gratitude for fans and even mentioned how their song "Heavy" now lived permanently on the setlist due to popular demand, noting that a fan made a change.org petition for them to play it. The connection between The MarÃas and their fanbase was also demonstrated by how wild the crowd went when MarÃa stepped down and performed along the barricade during the band's collaboration song with Bad Bunny "Otro Atardecer".
The production of this tour overall was incredible to witness. The way silhouettes came into play throughout the show complemented the story and feel of Submarine so well. For the encore song, "If Only", MarÃa appeared on stage in a full bathtub, which was one of the most unique encores I have ever seen. I'm sure I'm not alone in this when I say, The MarÃas know how to put on a great and unforgettable performance. Do not miss the Submarine Tour!
Automatic
Del Water Gap @ Metro - Chicago
October 31st, 2023: Del Water Gap, Kristiane @ Metro - Chicago, IL
Del Water Gap - Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Tuesday, October 31st, 2023, Del Water Gap brought his I Miss You Already Tour to a sold-out Metro Chicago with opening act Kristiane. This tour follows the recent release of Del Water Gap's second album I Miss You Already + I Haven't Left Yet. Del Water Gap is the solo project of New York City-based songwriter S. Holden Jaffe.
Kristiane opened the show with a set full of soft folky pop songs and won over the crowd with a Lana Del Rey cover, followed by an unreleased song about getting older.
With an apron and chef hat on, as well as a pizza box in hand, Del Water Gap took the stage and drew the crowd in with energetic rock/pop songs and a presence to match. The audience sang along all night to songs like "All We Ever Do Is Talk" from the new album, as well as ones like "Sorry I Am" from self-titled and old favorites like "High Tops," from his first EP.
Although the night was bursting with energy and entertainment, Del Water Gap made space for more vulnerable moments. Towards the end of the set, DWG touched on his connection with fans over time and shared an anecdote about growing up with them. Throughout the night, DWG engaged with fans while on stage and even got into the crowd during his song "Perfume."
Del Water Gap's concert may have been sold out in Chicago and many other cities, but some tickets still remain at https://delwatergap.net/Tour
Kristiane
Local Natives @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago
September 8th, 2023: Local Natives, Chartreuse @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
Local Natives - Photos Courtesy of: Emily Nava
On Friday, September 8th, 2023, Local Natives brought their tour to The Riviera Theatre in Chicago, Illinois with UK opening act, Chartreuse. Local Natives is a Southern California-based band made up of Kelcey Ayer, Taylor Rice, Ryan Hahn, Matthew Frazier, and Nik Ewing. This tour follows the recent release of their fifth album, titled Time Will Wait For No One. It just so happens that this year also marks the 10-year anniversary of Local Natives' sophomore album, Hummingbird. To celebrate it, a small section of the setlist on this tour consisted of songs from that album.
In addition to performing songs from TWWFNO and Hummingbird, throughout the night, Local Natives played songs from all of their previous releases. They even played "Empty Mansions", a song from TWWFNO that they had never played live before. Unfortunately, shortly into their set, Local Natives ran into some technical difficulties but made the most of it by performing a beautiful acoustic interpretation of their song "Who Knows Who Cares" with the crowd while the issue was resolved.
One of the standout aspects of the concert was the Local Natives' constant crowd engagement. They didn't just perform; they connected with the audience on a personal level. Whether it was through stories in between songs, honoring a fan's song request, or simply making eye contact with fans in the crowd, Local Natives made everyone in the room feel like they were part of something special. Taylor Rice (vocals, guitar) even walked through the crowd while performing a newer song, "Featherweight" and crowd-surfed during "Sun Hands," from their debut album Gorilla Manor. It's a rare gift to be able to maintain such a deep connection with fans in a large venue like the Riviera Theatre, but Local Natives pulled it off effortlessly.
Despite the high energy and excitement, the concert also had its share of intimate moments. One of which occurred at the very beginning of the show when Taylor Rice, Kelcey Ayer, and Ryan Hahn gathered around one microphone and performed the title track on their newest album, showcasing their three-part harmonies, which have always been a standout feature of their music. The band showed their versatility by slowing things down at times, allowing for a more personal and emotional connection with the audience. These quieter moments were a beautiful contrast to the explosive energy of the rest of the show and demonstrated the depth of Local Natives' artistry.
The visuals and lighting added another layer to the performance, enhancing the overall atmosphere and taking us on a visual journey that perfectly complemented the music. The stage design and lighting effects were captivating and immersive, adding to the overall magic of the evening. One moment in particular was during their song "Paper Lanterns" when the lights mimicked actual paper lanterns.
Local Natives closed the night with an encore that left the crowd wanting more and it was clear that this was a night no one in the room would forget anytime soon. This concert was a high-energy, emotionally charged, and intimate experience that exceeded all expectations. The band's ability to engage with the crowd and deliver a memorable performance reaffirmed why they are one of my favorite bands. Time will wait for no one, but Chicago will always wait for a Local Natives performance.
Chartreuse
Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago
June 1st 2023: Yeah Yeah Yeahs, SASAMI @ Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island - Chicago, IL
Karen O of Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Thursday, June 2023, Yeah Yeah Yeahs brought their tour to Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago, Illinois. The NYC indie rock trio's last Chicago performance was at Riot Fest in 2022, and it was clear from the start that fans were very excited about their return that night. Starting off the night was the bold and intense SASAMI, who brought a rock and roll energy while expressing her excitement about opening the show. Yeah Yeah Yeahs took the stage and played songs from all of their previous releases, including songs from Cool It Down—their first new album in 9 years. Lead singer, Karen O, captivated the audience with her fierce energy and throughout the night, made references to the band's history and dedicated their song "Maps" to a number of people, with a special nod to the LGBTQIA+ community in honor of June 1st being the first day of Pride Month. Yeah Yeah Yeahs will continue their tour in the United States through mid-June before touring around the world in places such as Australia, Europe, and Asia for festival dates all summer long.
SASAMI
Valley @ House of Blues Chicago - Chicago
May 31st 2023: Valley, Aiden Bissett @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
MUNA - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Wednesday, May 31st, 2023, Valley brought their Lost In Translation tour to an eager crowd at House of Blues Chicago all the way from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. TikTok sensation Aidan Bissett opened the show with catchy guitar-based indie pop songs and plenty of crowd interaction. Valley kicked off their set strong with arguably their most popular hit, "There's Still A Light In The House" from their 2019 album "MAYBE". The crowd jumped up and down so much throughout the night that the floors of the venue were shaking! Valley played songs from all of their previous releases and a few new songs from their soon-to-be-released album Lost In Translation. Towards the end of the set, vocalist Rob Laska came into the audience and walked through the crowd for one of their more intimate songs "Paper Cup (sorry for myself)" before heading back onstage to close out the set with fan-favorite "hiccup", a song with a mention of Chicago in its lyrics. Valley's bright and nostalgic pop sound, as well as their interactions with each other on stage and with the crowd, made for a very fun and entertaining show that will be remembered by fans for a long time. Don't forget to check out Valley's "Lost In Translation" when it comes out on June 23rd, 2023 and see Valley on tour in a city near you!
Aidan Bissett
MUNA @ The Salt Shed - Chicago
May 16th 2023: Muna, Nova Twins @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
MUNA - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On Tuesday, May 16th, 2023, MUNA brought their Life's So Fun tour to a sold out Salt Shed in Chicago, IL. Fans eagerly awaited MUNA to take the stage and were engaged from the beginning of the show, starting with UK-based opening act Nova Twins—who brought a lively rock and roll edge to their set. Unfortunately, once MUNA took the stage, the show was stopped by a medical emergency in the crowd, but MUNA restarted their performance after ensuring everyone's safety. In between songs, the band expressed gratitude towards their crew and fans, and even dedicated their song "Kind of Girl" to the transgender community. Throughout the night, MUNA performed songs from all three of their albums, as well as their newest song "One That Got Away". From beginning to end, the crowd was incredibly receptive to MUNA's music and message. This was made most apparent by the crowd's nonstop singing along and dancing but what was most moving was the way everyone in the room jumped up and down to the chorus of "I Know A Place" —one of MUNA's most popular songs and an anthem for the safety of the LGBTQIA+ community. Their headlining tour in the U.S. has ended but MUNA will continue to play shows across the country in June and July, opening for Taylor Swift, before heading to Europe/UK in August.
Nova Twins
