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.
SUECO @ House of Blues - Chicago
October 18th, 2024: SUECO @ House of Blues - Chicago, IL
SUECO | Photos Courtesy of: Allie Loven
On October 18th, Sueco, the LA singer/songwriter and rapper, stopped at the iconic House of Blues—Chicago. The artist has been touring North America in honor of the summer release of Attempted Lover, his third full-length album.
The tour has been doing very well with many sold-out, or almost sold-out shows.
It’s fair to say Sueco’s traction from the start on social media to constantly doing tours is phenomenal. Not only did Sueco start independently online, but Attempted Lover is his first independent record. Comparing the artist’s past shows to now, his energy is up, and so are his fans’ [and his venue capacities].
Throughout the night he engaged with fans, even having the crowd “tipping” himself and his supporting band members to “strip” after reading a fan’s sign, bringing a crowd member on stage, and getting into the crowd as well. With all of that said, beyond all the craziness within the crowd, good and bad, Sueco remained authentic and enthusiastic throughout the whole night. Something about his performances has a way of capturing his audience not only with music but personal connection as well.
He played a good mixture of his catalog, but, for clear reasons, leaned heavy on the AttemptedLover tracks. Support from Sueco fans could be felt through the movements in the floorboards. By the end of the night shouts for an encore filled the room, and as always, Sueco delivered.
The Struts @ House of Blues - Houston
July 23rd, 2024: The Struts @ House of Blues - Houston, TX
Photos Courtesy of: Violeta Álvarez
Rock 'n' Roll Revival: The Struts Electrify Houston
After Hurricane Beryl's devastation that left over 2 million Houstonians without power for weeks during a record-breaking heat wave, the city was desperately in need of a pick-me-up, this concert was the perfect remedy for the city's weary spirits. On July 23, 2024, the British rockers, The Struts kicked off their Pretty Vicious Tour with a bang at Houston's House of Blues. Despite a looming flood watch, fans packed the venue, eager for a night of rock 'n' roll magic, bringing a much-needed dose of excitement to the Bayou City. And OH WOW, The Struts delivered!
From the moment the band hit the stage, the band's energy was magnetic. The band launched into "Bulletproof Baby," performed for the first time since 2019, the audience sang along to every word, creating a unified wave of voices that echoed through the venue. Frontman Luke Spiller, ever the showman, strutted across the stage with his signature moves, igniting the crowd with his charisma. The band draws influences from hints of Queen and David Bowie, which shone through in their performance, but The Struts have undeniably crafted their unique modern flair of sound and style.
The stage setup was nothing short of spectacular. A backdrop featuring iconic London historic buildings added a touch of the band's roots, while rows of illuminated amps lined the stage. Pillars of light and smoke effects created an atmosphere that was both intimate and larger-than-life. The dramatic stage lighting transformed the venue, giving it a stadium-like feel but without losing that cozy vibe.
Guitarist Adam Slack was on fire all night, his solos reaching new heights. The rhythm section of Jed Elliott on bass and Gethin Davies on drums provided a rock-solid foundation for the band's performances.
One of the most touching moments came when Spiller asked everyone to raise their phone lights, creating a sea of twinkling stars in the crowd. As he led the audience in a singalong, the connection between the band and fans was electric. Throughout the night, the House of Blues staff could be seen dancing along and I even spotted one of the security guards who couldn't resist playing air guitar. A particularly touching moment was when a father and son duo danced together, the young boy perched on his dad's shoulders, both lost in the music. It was a beautiful reminder of how music can unite people, transcending generations.
The setlist was a perfect mix of new tracks from their latest album "Pretty Vicious" and fan favorites. The crowd went wild for classics like "Could Have Been Me" and "Kiss This," while also embracing new gems like "Better Love," which made its live debut.
Thank you, The Struts, for bringing your shining light to Houston. This concert was exactly what the doctor ordered. After weeks of heat waves and power outages due to Hurricane Beryl, this was exactly the energy we needed. Your music and vibrant performance reminded us of the power of rock 'n' roll to heal and uplift. Houston can't wait to welcome you back!
Dylan Gossett @ House of Blues - Houston
April 16th, 2024: Dylan Gossett @ House of Blues - Houston, TX
Dylan Gossett - Photos Courtesy of: Brittaney Penney
It was a humid, Tuesday night when we headed over to the House of Blues in Houston for Dylan Gossett’s show. It seemed the entire city was out and ready to jam out with Dylan and his touring band.
If you are not familiar with Dylan Gossett, he is a country singer-songwriter, hailing from Austin, Texas. So although this wasn’t his hometown show, we are close enough that it felt that way! He had a lot of his family and friends in the crowd, which made it feel even more special that he sold out the Bronze Peacock room at HOB.
Not only is he on a massive upward trajectory, you’d think Dylan had been releasing music for his entire life, but his first official release was only in 2023. It just goes to show that if you really believe in something or know what you want to do with your life, just do it. You never know where it will take you!
We were incredibly impressed with Dylan and the way he was able to captivate the fans in the audience. Everyone was hanging onto his every word and it was beautiful to witness. Our favorite songs from his set were
: “Coal,” “Beneath Oak Trees,” and “To Be Free.”
We will be keeping an eye out for Dylan Gossett and his upcoming releases and tour. Next time he is in Texas, we’ll be front row cheering our fellow Texans on!
Maisie Peters @ House of Blues - Houston
October 5th, 2023: Maisie Peters, Grace Enger @ House of Blues - Houston, TX
Maisie Peters - Photos Courtesy of: Brittaney Penney
Maisie Peters brought The Good Witch Tour to Houston, Texas last week and it was a beautiful day filled with incredible energy.
Grace Enger opened up the show and she was so lovely. With just herself and her guitar, she took us on a journey with her beautiful vocals. She even deviated from her setlist, when a fan in the crowd asked for a demo she made while in college. In shock that someone knew the song, she played it and the entire crowd was mesmerized. We will be keeping an eye out for more releases from Grace in the future. We can see her going very far in her career as a singer/songwriter.
Maisie Peters was up next and boy, was the crowd ready! Maisie’s setlist started out with the tour’s namesake, The Good Witch, and immediately got the crowd on their feet. The energy that was exchanged from the crowd to Maisie up on stage throughout the entire show was an incredible thing to witness. Everyone in the crowd either came as a fan or they for sure left as one.
Standout tracks of the night: Her medley of older songs, BSC, and History of Man (with Grace Enger) coming out on stage to sing with Maisie.
Grace Enger
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
Joywave @ House of Blues - Dallas
September 18th 2022: Joywave @ House of Blues: Dallas, TX
Paul Brenner of Joywave - Photos and Review Courtesy of: Haidyn McKenzie
If you have never seen Joywave live, I highly recommend you go and see them next time they are in your town. With crisp, colorful visuals and a great setlist, the show was captivating and could make anyone a fan. The show takes you through the carwash based on their newest album, Cleanse. A few songs progressing into the setlist take you through different parts of the car wash by using colorful and highly pleasing visuals. Not only did they make great use of their set, lighting, and visual designs, but they also had a great stage presence that got the crowd asking for more. With each song, the crowd was more excited each time they heard the first few notes. The crowd was definitely overjoyed with the setlist as they played each fan favorite song and ended with an encore of their song, Destruction. Joywave was a great addition to the Welcome To Helvetica Tour also featuring IDK HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME and with Savannah Conley as the opener.
Mimi Webb @ House of Blues - Chicago
April 9th: Mimi Webb @ House of Blues - Chicago
Mimi Webb in Chicago - Photos Courtesy of Ann Storlie
English pop singer-songwriter Mimi Webb made her way across the pond as opening act for Tate McRae’s North American tour at the House of Blues in Chicago. Her fans showed up in droves, as it was clear from the moment she walked on stage that Mimi Webb’s fans made up a large amount of the audience.
Hailed the “Queen of breakups” due to her mass of heartbreak ballads, Mimi Webb opened her set with “Before I Go” and “Little Bit Louder.” Her mega-watt smile and magnetic personality were on full display as she performed more tracks from her first EP Seven Shades of Heartbreak, including “Halfway,” “24/5,” and “Dumb Love.”
A memorable part of Webb’s set was when she introduced a cover of Adele’s “Someone Like You,” telling fan’s that her father encouraged her to sing the song at every family event – and reminded fans to never give up on their dreams.
Webb closed her energetic performance with her newest release “House on Fire” before slowing things down for “Good Without” – lit by the glow of a venue full of flashlights.
