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 Marías brought their Submarine Tour to a sold-out Salt Shed Chicago with the opening act Automatic. This tour follows the recent release of The Marías' second full-length album Submarine. The Marías is a project led by María 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 Marías.
At approximately 8 pm, The Marías took the stage, with María appearing as a silhouette behind the band, then emerging forward while singing "Hamptons". At first listen, one may think that The Marías' 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 Marías' 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, María 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 Marías and their fanbase was also demonstrated by how wild the crowd went when María 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", María 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 Marías know how to put on a great and unforgettable performance. Do not miss the Submarine Tour!
Automatic
A Day To Remember @ Huntington Bank Pavilion - Chicago
July 25th, 2024: A Day to Remember, Four Year Strong, The Story So Far @ Huntington Bank Pavilion - Chicago, IL
Photos Courtesy of: Amanda Huerta
There were tons of people who could NOT wait for A Day to Remembers’ The Least Anticipated Album Tour show to happen in Chicago, and upon arriving at the venue there were thousands already inside, and loads of people still waiting to make their way in for an insane night. Aside from their acoustic tour at the Chicago Theater in 2022, A Day to Remember hasn’t played a show in Chicago Since 2021, which is quite a while, so this show was a huge deal to us Chicagoans. The rest of the lineup for the night consisted of Scowl, Four Year Strong, and The Story So Far.
Four Year Strong has always been one of the hardest pop punk bands setting themselves apart in the music scene. The energy during their live performances never disappoints, it truly feels like a jolt of electricity flows through any crowd they play. With the release of a few new songs like “Daddy of Mine” and “Uncooked” their hardcore rhythms are even more apparent than ever before. Dan O’Connor and Alan Day say they showed up to day one of recording their newest album without a single finished song which feels so unbelievable because all 5 new songs they’ve released so far sound so polished, even amazing live too, and honestly some of my favorite work that Four Year Strong has created to date. Their sixth studio album Analysis Paralysis releases on August 9th, 2024, be sure to listen to it as soon as it comes out!
The Story So Far played a great mix of old and new during their set. Longtime fans were excited to hear favorites like “Roam” and “Bad Luck” which brought high intensity in the crowd. On June 21st, 2024 The Story So Far released their fifth album I Want To Disappear. If you were a fan of their album Proper Dose, you would love their latest album, despite this, a ton of progression is still very apparent in The Story So Far’s style as a band. Fans got a small taste of a few new songs added to the setlist like “All This Time” and “Letterman,” hopefully they do a full album run soon, I know I’ll be there.
The venue erupted into chaos as A Day To Remember finally burst onto the stage, beginning their show with the heavy classic “Sticks and Bricks” and continuing with “All I Want” and “2nd sucks.” Some of these are my all-time personal favorite songs that the band has released, and even I could not contain myself in the photo pit as they were played. To say that things were starting right was a severe understatement, the amount of hits that A Day To Remember has is excessive in the best way possible. The rest of the setlist included a mixture of songs from Homesick, For Those Who Have Heart, What Separates Me From You, Common Courtesy, and so on, with a few singles thrown in as well.
I have never been to an A Day To Remember show that didn’t leave an impression on me forever. In March 2011, they came to Chicago with their Game Changers tour which is quite literally my favorite show I’ve been to in my life. Fast forward to 2014, A Day To Remember announced (the morning of) that they were playing a surprise set at Warped Tour in Chicago and everyone lost their minds hearing the news, and again, they played yet another unforgettable show. These guys know what it takes to make sure everybody has the time of their lives.
Their entire set was a whole hour and 45 minutes long, for as long as this set was, I know they still had even more hits that they could have played which just goes to show truly how impressive their entire discography is. Of course, playing every single song in one night is impossible, but they did an amazing job at crafting this tour's setlist.
The Least Anticipated Album Tour is now over, but you can catch them at Rocklahoma Fest on August 31st in Pryor, Oklahoma and at When We Were Young Fest on October 19-20th in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Four Years Strong
The Story So Far
The Beths @ The Salt Shed - Chicago
August 24th, 2023: The Beths, Beach Bunny @ The Salt Shed - Chicago, IL
The Beths - Photos Courtesy of: Timi Ikene
Beach Bunny's Lili Trifilio invited a stacked lineup to her Pool Party on Thursday, August 24th, which included New Zealand Natives The Beths! With their quintessential indie sound, The Beths dazzled and swooned the audience with their tunes. Having played the Salt Shed venue just a year prior with Courtney Barnett, the crowd was no stranger to The Beths, and sang "I'd Die a Little Death" and my personal favorite, "I'm Not Getting Excited" (which I did indeed get very excited for) with soul.
Next to the blow-up pool floatie-covered stage was Beach Bunny, the headlining act. Hailing from right here in Chicago, she created an atmosphere of peace and love right out the bat, playing her popular hits like the irreverent "Prom Queen" and "Pain Killer" to a crowd that has been following her since her DIY show days.
Beach Bunny
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
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.
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
