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
Cate Le Bon with Mega Bog @ Thaila Hall - Chicago, IL
Photos & words courtesy of Alyssa Leicht | February 14th 2022
“Hello, Chicago.”
That’s how the wryly grinning, soft-spoken Cate Le Bon greeted the crowd at Thalia Hall on Valentine’s Day. Le Bon, the Welsh songwriter signed to the independent label Mexican Summer, played a set skewed mostly toward her superb new album “Pompeii,” but also included many favorites from 2019’s LP, “Reward.”
The crowd was intensely focused and energetic for hits “Miami” and “Daylight Matters” from “Reward,” which had Le Bon stepping out from behind her fluorescent orange guitar to command the stage. Singles “Moderation” and “Remembering Me” from the 10-days-old “Pompeii” also matched that energy, culminating with Le Bon side-winding while playing a reverby psych-noise guitar solo.
The night was dotted with signs of romance for the holiday, beginning with Erin Birgy, singer of the opening act Mega Bog, placing a pink rose in a vase at the front of the stage. Mega Bog, offering up a spectacular stripped down two-piece set reminiscent of Laurie Anderson and Kate Bush, felt right at home opening for Le Bon.
Le Bon also gestured toward the air of love in the room several times. “Some sage advice for you all…” she said softly, as she and the band, sans bass player, returned to the stage for the encore the crowd demanded. She then began a sweetly sincere rendition of Paul McCarntney’s love song Waterfalls, which goes:
Don't go jumping waterfalls
Please keep to the lake
People who jump waterfalls
Sometimes can make mistakes
And I need love, yeah I need love
Like a second needs an hour
Like a raindrop needs a shower
Yeah I need love every minute of the day
And it wouldn't be the same
If you ever should decide to go away
Samia @ Thalia Hall - Chicago, IL
Photos and words courtesy of Emily Nava | January 30 2022
On January 30th 2022, Samia and her band brought Loving U Thanking U The Tour to Chicago at a sold out Thalia Hall. Opening act Annie DiRusso charmed the crowd with banter in between songs of hers such as "Don't Swerve" and "Dead Dogs".
Between hits from her debut album The Baby such as "Limbo Bitch" "Big Wheel" and "Triptych", Samia captivated the crowd with a radiant energy expressed through dance moves and candid conversations with audience members. Throughout the set, Samia showed gratitude for those in attendance and even played a new song called "Pour Some Sugar" which was received well from the audience. As the night came to a close, Samia ended her set with a cover of "Maps" by Yeah Yeah Yeahs and an encore of "Show Up" from the Scout EP.
SOHN // Chicago, IL
SOHN -- Thalia Hall | Chicago, IL | 3 April 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Kris Fuentes Cortes
