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
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
Hiatus Kaiyote @ Riviera Theater - Chicago
April 28th 2023: Hiatus Kaiyote @ Riviera Theater - Chicago, IL
Hiatus Kaiyote - Photos Courtesy of Timi Ikene
Australian Jazz Outfit Hiatus Kaiyote graced the Chicago stage on April 28th, 2023. The group’s genre is a bit ambiguous, but heavily influenced by "acid" jazz, R&B, with tasteful funk notes (provided by bassist Paul Bender). From the complex and funky bass line of “Chivalry is not Dead, to the melodic and lovely one in “Molasses.” Paired with Nai Palm's dynamic vocal range, the group glided the crowd through an eclectic sonic journey, causing a head bob to even the most stoic of listeners. It was an evening reminiscent of sweet summer nights, lively jives, and solemn stories. Hiatus Kaiyote, you're always welcome in Chicago.
Omar Apollo @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago
May 5th 2022: Omar Apollo with Deb Never @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago
Omar Apollo - Photos Courtesy of Emily Nava
On May 5th, 2022, Omar Apollo and his band brought the Desvelado Tour to Chicago at a sold-out Riviera Theatre. Opening acts Tora-i and Deb Never got the crowd ready with great performances.
Playing hits from his debut album "Ivory" and previous releases, Omar Apollo had the crowd's attention when he stepped on stage. Certain warm energy was in the room that night, with newer fans and those who have watched his career bloom since he first started playing at smaller venues in and around Chicago years ago. The show had its high-energy moments when Omar Apollo played more upbeat songs such as "Kickback" and "Tamagotchi" but showed vulnerability with more slowed down songs such as "En El Olvido". No matter the song tempo or language Omar Apollo sang in, the crowd sang along to every word and that alone is a testament to how successful he has become.
Deb Never
The Flaming Lips @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago
The Flaming Lips @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago
The Flaming Lips in Chicago - Photos Courtesy of Amanda Huerta
The Flaming Lips have always held a special place in my heart. I remember seeing them for the first time at Riot Fest in 2014, I was alone and standing in the back of the crowd, and yet watching their set still felt so intimate. The lights, the balloons, the crowd interaction, and the emotion that came through when they finished their set with Race For The Prize (something I still feel to this day) were unforgettable.
Last week The Flaming Lips made their way to Chicago’s Riviera Theatre on their ‘American Head’ tour with a special set. The Heartless Bastards were unable to perform this show due to illness, so The Flaming Lips planned an extended set for the night. Their performance consisted of hits off of American Head, Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, Embryonic, Soft Bulletin, and more. This concert was an explosion of excitement, they go above and beyond for their fans and it’s easy to see that. From being a die-hard fan or someone who only knows a few songs (or even someone who doesn’t know The Flaming Lips already), it would be impossible to not have the time of your life at one of their shows.
Be sure to catch The Flaming Lips on the rest of their American Head tour!
04-25 Denver, CO - Mission Ballroom
04-28 Boise, ID - Knitting Factory
04-29 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom
04-30 Spokane, WA - Knitting Factory
05-02 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
05-03 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom
05-04 Seattle, WA - Showbox SoDo
05-06 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
05-07 San Francisco, CA - Warfield Theatre
05-09 Los Angeles, CA - The Wiltern
05-25 Leeds, England - Stylus
05-26 Liverpool, England - Invisible Wind Factory
05-30 Aylesbury, England - Waterside Theatre
06-01 Bexhill, England - De la Warr Pavilion
06-02 London, England - O2 Forum Kentish Town
07-22 Galway, Ireland - Galway Int’l Arts Fest
Wallice & Still Woozy @ The Riviera Theatre - Chicago
Still Woozy in Chicago (2022/02/19). Photography and words by Victoria Sanders (@veesanders).
Still Woozy (Interscope) came to Chicago with a massively full crowd ready to dance and sing along for his If This Isn't Nice Tour. The room was already full by the time Wallice took the stage, one of Dirty Hit Records’s newest artists. Follow along our gallery for some of our favorite moments from The Riviera Theatre, located in the Uptown Neighborhood of the city.
IDLES @ Riviera Theatre - Chicago, IL
Photos and words courtesy of Alyssa Leicht | October 8th 2021
British-Irish punkers IDLES’ October 8th show at Riviera Theatre in Chicago was the second night of their COVID-delayed Ultra Mono tour, and the house was packed. In addition to 2020’s Ultra Mono, the band’s lengthy set spanned earlier albums and to the joy of many in the crowd, included a generous preview of their upcoming album Crawler, out in November.
A tightly packed and intensely energetic crowd moshed and nodded along to IDLES’ performance, mesmerized by the band’s beautiful ability to conjure catharsis and camaraderie in a room full of strangers. That quality was on full display as the audience shouted out lyrics in perfect unison with lead singer Joe Talbot, song after song.
Gustaf, a Brooklyn-based art-punk four-piece, brought their dancy rhythms, arch humor, and impeccable lyrics during their opening set at the beginning of the night. Lead singer Lydia Gammill has a must-see stage presence and a refreshingly original sound that feels like a combative, grimier Talking Heads but with more earnest romance. Gammill got some extra love from the crowd for her melodic flute performance in the truly beautiful number, “Happy,” a track from their debut release “Audio Drag for Ego Slobs.”
At the end of the night, the sweat-drenched crowd lost their minds to a full-ensemble iteration of IDLES’ “Rottweiler,” with Gustaf joining in and consuming the stage with a raucous tandem performance of the final number.
