Author Archives: Taylor Nettnin

Ravinia Festival, located just outside of Chicago in Highland Park, IL, opened its 2025 season with a bang, tapping Grace Jones and Janelle Monae to provide entertainment on its second day of the season. Highlights this year include The Roots, Chicago, Kygo, Beck, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.

The listening experience is unique when enjoying a show at Ravinia. You have the option to purchase a seat in the pavilion, where you’ll get a close spot to the stage and the best viewing experience, or you can purchase a lawn ticket, where you are allowed to bring your own food and drink.

When looking out at the vast lawn area, you see a sea of attendees who have gone all out and brought folding tables where they have set up a buffet for all of their friends to enjoy. Some even complete the buffet with candles and incense to truly set a relaxing vibe. One thing that remains the same no matter where you sit is that you are going to have a great time and, as was the case with Grace Jones and Janelle Monae, you are going to dance.

Taking to the stage to a sea of excited concertgoers, Janelle Monae continues to live up to her hype. It was fitting that she walked on stage to Prince’s “Let’s Go Crazy” because it was the late musician’s birthday, and the two had a close working relationship, which is evident in her set.

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Japanese Breakfast performed three sold out shows at the Salt Shed in Chicago during their Melancholy Tour, and we were able to catch the final show on Friday, May 2nd. 3,600 fans packed the previous Morton Salt facility turned indoor/outdoor concert venue for an unforgettable evening.

Starting the night off was Ginger Root, an indie soul trio from California. Integrating a multimedia aspect to their set, fans were able to dance along while watching as their in-house camera man projected live video of the performance onto adjacent screens, often mixing it into colorful shapes in addition to short, pre-taped skits that played between songs. Utilizing various synths and a rigged-up telephone converted to a microphone, Ginger Root proved that their unique style was more than enough to warm up the packed audience before the main event. One fan even created nearly 1,000 custom guitar picks for the band!

Filling the stage with fog and uncovering a large seashell in the middle, Japanese Breakfast took to the stage. Singer Michelle Zauner entered the dark aura with a lantern, lighting it before grabbing her guitar and taking a seat inside the seashell. Her bandmates sat on the steps surrounding her, launching into “Here Is Someone,” the first track off their most recent album For Melancholy Brunettes (& Sad Women).

While their newest album explores darker themes, experiencing them live is anything but dark. Zauner often had a huge smile plastered on her face, encouraging the attendees to sing with her and jump around. The night was dreamy, characterized by the gorgeous set pieces that adorned the stage in addition to the aforementioned seashell. It felt as though the band were part of a Renaissance painting.

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Joywave is a band that will always be committed to the bit. If they weren’t a band or currently on tour promoting their latest album Permanent Pleasure, they’d have a booming career as stand up comedians. Yet here we are, watching magic happen every time they step on the stage. Their tour stop in Chicago at Thalia Hall on Tuesday, September 17th was no exception.

Walking on stage wearing matching green outfits, each band member may look the same but they sure are unique and stand out in their own ways. Guitarist Joseph Morinelli stood out with his mind bending and guttural chords loudly echoing around the room, drummer Paul Brenner kept us all on beat while adding in his own flair with various cymbal crashes and the like, and singer Daniel Armbruster provided the quick quips that kept the crowd laughing between songs when he wasn’t belting out his incredibly catchy lyrics. Even touring musicians Taylor Dubray and Kevin Mahoney added to the uniqueness on stage, uplifting the band even further.

The crowd ate it up the entire night. Whether it was dancing along to the disco-esque track “He’s Back!” from their latest album, or screaming the lyrics back to “Coming Apart” from their 2020 album Possession, Chicago truly showed up. So much so that Joywave’s sound engineer James stated through the bands in-ear monitors that “they’re loud as fuck, I’ll tell ya!”

Joywave gets better with every album they release, and subsequently every tour that follows the release. They’ve aged like fine wine, and their live shows help amplify their already spectacular recorded material. There’s no telling where they will go next, but if the Permanent Pleasure Tour is any indicator, they’re going to continue going up from here.

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Embarking on the first headlining tour of his 10-year career, Shaboozey brought his sold out fall tour through Chicago on Tuesday, September 10th. Luke Borchelt provided direct support.

Starting the night off was country artist Luke Borchelt, who brought his long time collaborator to accompany him on electric guitar while he sang and played his acoustic guitar. While his set was a bit short, it was sweet. He displayed his gratitude to the crowd the entire time for helping get his career off the ground after many years of hard work, finally embarking on his first ever tour.

After moving the show date up a day from its previously scheduled September 11th booking to accommodate his appearance at this year’s MTV VMA awards where he was nominated, Shaboozey made sure to let the crowd know how thankful he was that they were accommodating. “[I] can’t miss my first VMAs,” reiterating that it was the fans who got him to a place where he is being recognized for his accomplishments.

With this fall tour, Shaboozey is out to prove why he’s quickly gaining popularity. Walking out on his Western-themed stage to a recording of his collaboration with Beyonce titled “Spaghetti,” he jumps straight into a riveting performance of “Last of My Kind,” in which he captivated the entire crowd and got as close to the audience as he could, teetering on the edge of the stage.

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Following the release of their most recent album I Love You So F***ing Much, Glass Animals stopped in Chicago for two nights on their Tour of Earth world tour. Kevin Abstract provided support both nights.

Starting his set in the last row of the stadium seats, Kevin Abstract stunned the crowd as he swiftly walked down the stairs and started a dance party in the middle of the general admission crowd during his first song. Similar to his day’s in the boy band BROCKHAMPTON, Kevin Abstract kept the audience amazed with his high energy performance and constant engagement with the crowd.

Playing a mixture of solo work, as well as a handful of tracks from his boy band days, Kevin kept the crowd on their feet for the duration of his performance. He even invited dozens of fans on stage for several of his songs, making sure to spend extra time with the handful of younger fans and showing them how to dance to his music.

Next up was Glass Animals. Known for their highly energetic performances and elaborate stage setups, the fans made sure to match the space aesthetic of the tour by dressing up in alien-esque outfits, even bringing small blow-up aliens to toss around the crowd. The stage was built to look like the inside of space ship and had a large orb in the center that displayed different graphics throughout the night. After a brief transmission over the Jumbotrons teasing the start of the show, the four members of the band took to the stage and immediately got to work.

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Proving that they’re one of the greatest metal acts around, Metallica continuously reinvents the wheel they spin upon. This year’s go-around is their M72 Tour, which stopped in Chicago this past weekend for two explosive shows highlighting their momentous career.

Breaking away from a traditional rectangular stage with an optional cat walk, Metallica played their set “in the round,” which was a large circular stage in the middle of the floor, allowing fans to stand in the hollow center and around the sides of the stage, and was complete with eight pillars topped with giant screens so anyone sitting at the back had as good of a view as someone on the floor; a difficult feat to accomplish at Chicago’s Soldier Field as it seats over 60,000 people at any given time.

The M72 Tour boasts that each of their two nights in every city will be distinct, complete with different opening bands and a no-repeat setlist each night. They also schedule a day off between their two shows, but offer a slew of various Metallica adjacent events that can be attended in the interim, called “M72 Takeover Events,” like a film fest, bowling, and various other activities.

Friday night’s show was a masterclass on how to stay on everyone’s mind for many years to come. Ripping through a nearly two hour, 15 song set, Metallica gave everyone a little taste from almost all of their albums; they played at least one song from every album created during the ’80s and ’90s, but skipped straight to their most recent release when including tracks from the 2000s to now.

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The fun doesn’t stop once Lollapalooza ends for the night—you have numerous aftershows you can choose from to continue the music. On Saturday, August 3rd, I was able to catch Two Door Cinema Club when they played the 1,100-capacity Metro in the Wrigleyville neighborhood of Chicago which was more like a pre-show than an aftershow since they weren’t playing the festival until Sunday, August 4th. Whether it be a proper show or a festival timeslot, if you are given the opportunity to see these Irish rockers, jump on it! These guys put on a show that makes you feel young and also like it’s summer, no matter the season you’re in.

Starting off the show were local young rockers Worry Club, following their festival debut. Their upbeat melodies paired with their charming stage presence helped rejuvenate the crowd of tired attendees after braving the sun and high heat all day. Watching these youngsters have the time of their life on stage made me jealous I didn’t catch their set at the festival.

Starting their set just after midnight, Two Door Cinema Club stunned in their intimate warmup to the next day’s festivities. Given more time than their festival slot, Two Door Cinema Club was able to pack their setlist with fan favorites, newer singles, and a handful of deep cuts.

Acknowledging that the venue was much smaller than the shows they typically play, bassist Kevin Baird comically had to say “if I could say something a little dicky for a moment, it’s refreshing to be playing in a smaller place and being able to see everyone.” Once he said this, I knew we were in for a treat.

Even though the stage was smaller, they ate up every inch they could. Watching guitarist Sam Halliday play is mesmerizing. You don’t know where the guitar ends and Sam starts; they become one with each other. It’s awe inspiring to see a musician play so passionately, pushing the limits of what their instrument can do and creating something great. In Sam’s case, his guitar playing transported the crowd to another world right with him.

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The final day of the 20th Chicago edition of Lollapalooza was by far the hottest of all four days, with the peak temperature rising to 90°. Luckily this didn’t stop the park from becoming packed with attendees to watch a great mix of talented musicians absolutely rock it. While I may be jealous of the people that were able to enjoy the festival by streaming it live on Hulu, nothing compares to witnessing these great sets in person.

3:45PM: I started my day off with Waterparks, a pop rock band from Texas. Right off the bat their crowd is very active, screaming the moment they see even a fraction of the first person to walk on the stage. The crowd is littered with homemade signs and flags being proudly displayed. This is totally understandable because the band was also very active at the moment they walked on stage, their energy was incredibly infectious. However, it was hard to ignore the cameras that are streaming on Hulu during this set. They were quite invasive, oftentimes running around the artists in the middle of the stage, even blocking the view of the fans live in the crowd.

4:45PM: Teddy Swims has a lot of swagger and soul in his recordings, and it translates to his live performances, too. The powerhouse vocalist commanded the stage to an impressively large crowd, rightfully so after a last minute change up with the schedule put Swims on a larger stage than he was previously booked. Being one of the numerous acts this weekend that has found online popularity boosting him to the top of multiple charts, expectations were high for Teddy Swims, and he delivered. His vocals were even better live than on his recordings, perfectly encapsulating the soul you feel when listening to his tracks. I would watch out for Teddy Swims, as I can see him rising to the same level of stardom as Adele.

5:45PM: The Last Dinner Party was another act that was bumped up to a bigger stage, a very smart decision since they packed the Petrillo Music Shell, named the Tito’s Stage during the festival. When they graced the stage, it felt like we were transported to an art museum; each member donned an outfit you would see during the Renaissance. This band knows how to put on a show, often twirling around the stage while perfectly harmonizing with each other. Not only was this act visually stunning, but they impressed with their musical skills as well. It’s no wonder the crowd was going nuts any time lead singer Abigail Morris inched her way closer to them.

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Just past the halfway mark for the annual festival in Chicago Illinois, the heat still didn’t let up for those that attended this year’s Lollapalooza. With most of the stages in the direct sunlight without any type of shade, it was clear as to why the lines for all of the activations that had some sort of shade were astronomically long.

It was also easy to see why so many groups of people were huddled under the little shade the existing trees all offered, nevertheless everyone (hopefully) lathered on their sunscreen and drank plenty of water so they could brave the sun shining down while the different acts performed. I was happy to see so many Camelbak’s being actively used and refilled throughout the duration of the day. I was also happy to see that many of the artists that were performing were also primarily drinking water rather than opting for their included alcoholic beverages, encouraging everyone in attendance to stay hydrated.

2:00PM: I started my day off with Destroy Boys, a punk rock quartet hailing from Sacramento, California. Even though they were in an earlier time slot, the crowd still packed in to watch as Destroy Boys rightfully destroyed (in a good way) their stage. Guitarist Violet Mayugba really stands out as she whips around her long hair while simultaneously jumping around the entire stage and not missing a single note while playing her guitar. Singer Alexia Roditis matches Violet’s energy as they also amaze the crowd with their electric dance moves, nearly going into a backbend as they get into the music. It’s no shock that the crowd goes wild for the entire set.

2:55PM: Next up I wanted to check out Dylan Brady DJing at Perry’s stage, which has actually been transformed into Sonny’s stage for the day because Grammy award winning DJ Skrillex, aka Sonny Moore, has curated all of the acts performing on the stage for the day—including two sets of his own. While Dylan Brady is known as one half of 100 Gecs, he’s also a skilled producer and DJ. What I liked about his set is he mixed a good variety of older fun songs with current top hits, infusing his signature hyper-pop sound within it all. The crowd loved it just as much, as I looked around I saw circles forming in the crowd with people dancing in the center of them.

4:100PM: Kenny Beats followed Dylan Brady and was able to perfectly keep with the vibe and continue the party at Sonny’s stage. It was peak sun outside, so many attendees gathered under the trees that surrounded the stage, but they were still moving and jiving along with everyone in the crowd. I noticed a security guard that was handing water to the crowd was dancing along with everyone. This for sure is the place to be if you’re wanting to have a great time and let loose.

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It was another hot day in Chicago, but that didn’t stop the masses of fans from flocking to Grant Park for day two of Lollapalooza. Friday’s lineup boasted a pretty eclectic mix of genres. Fans will see the increasingly popular K-pop genre represented once again on the north side of the park, with the 8-member group the Stray Kids dancing the night away. Battling out for the same headlining spot on the south end of the park is SZA, who’s sultry mix of hip-hop and R&B brought a pretty mellow crowd, with most fans dancing and vibing along to the music.

4:00PM: What’s nice about Lollapalooza is that in addition to all of the stages around the park, there are several activations located in various spots. Some of these activations have a small stage where they invite some of the artists playing that day to do a shortened set in addition to their main set.

This was great because I was able to catch McKenna Grace at a different time, since her main set clashed with another set I was trying to catch. When I first saw McKenna Grace‘s name on the lineup, I was a bit confused. Surely this wasn’t the same McKenna Grace, that we have watched grow up on our screens through her various acting jobs. But it was!

And I was happily surprised by how great of a singer she was. I have known her for years as playing the younger version of some actresses in various movies and TV shows, but I never knew that she was also skilled in music. For being at such a small stage, the space was packed. I managed to snake through the crowd so I could grab a spot where I was able to perfectly see and hear her set.

A funny moment during her set was when she acknowledged that we were in the Toyota music den, and said that while she “doesn’t have a license, if [she] did, [she] would drive a Toyota!” This really solidified that she is still a young woman, however, her vocal chops sound like she has been doing this for decades. I can’t wait to see how she continues to grow as an artist and what the music world holds for her future.

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Lollapalooza started its 20th anniversary in Chicago very strong. This annual music festival is one of the biggest taking place every summer, drawing about 115,000 attendees each day—an increase from the previous capacity of 100,000. With so many people coming together in one space, some traveling long distances to experience this festival, it’s only right they book awe inspiring acts. 2024 did not disappoint.

1:50PM: I venture to the Bacardí stage, nestled in a more tree-filled area on the north side of the park, to catch Chicago locals Blondshell make their Lollapalooza debut. This stage is interesting because they have a Bacardí activation located directly next to the stage, where attendees can enjoy alcoholic beverages while dancing to DJ’s. Luckily there isn’t any noise overlap, so the music coming from the activation does not interfere with the music happening on the proper stage. Blondshell have a relaxed sound, allowing the crowd to ease their way into day one of the fest.

3:15PM: Lollapalooza does a great job of booking both national and international acts, such as South African songstress Tyla. Her stage has a giant blow up Tiger smack dab in the middle with the screen behind it displaying graphics resembling what you would think you’d see if you were on a safari trip. Backed by many talented dancers, Tyla’s moves and vocals really shined throughout her set. Some of the choreography was reminiscent of a renaissance painting, with Tyla skillfully centered amongst her dancers, perfectly creating a picturesque moment.

5:00PM: I don’t think I’ve ever witnessed a crowd this large at Lollapalooza before, especially not in the middle of the day on a Thursday. This has to be the single largest crowd at any performance in Lollapalooza history; I’d estimate at least 70,000-80,000 people are here to witness Chappell Roan take the stage.

Chappell Roan’s career has seemingly blown up to legendary status overnight. Her performance easily proves why. Dressed in a lucha libre style outfit, with the stage set up as a boxing ring around the drum set and various workout equipment scattered throughout with bodybuilders performing different moves the entire time, Chappell lit up the stage with her energetic stage presence and impressive vocals, not missing a single beat as she traipsed around the stage. This is going to be a very hard set to beat.

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Pitchfork Music Festival 2024 is going out with a bang! The last day of this year’s iteration holds probably the most stacked lineup of the entire weekend. Whether it’s a seasoned artist or an up-and-coming performer, not a single moment of the day was a bore.

Model/Actriz really caught our eye, with what is likely the best set of the weekend. Not only was the music getting everyone moving, but the band themselves put on quite the show. Entering the stage in heels higher than I’ve ever thought about wearing, frontman Cole Haden strut across the stage, slowly applying bright red lipstick in front of the crowd. It’s the first time this weekend that I’ve seen a performer jump into the crowd and stay there for a majority of the set, even getting everyone to kneel down at one point. This set is one to remember.

It wasn’t long until the highly anticipated set from Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member Grandmaster Flash began. Noted as the first musician to make the turntable an instrument, it was only fitting that the legendary performer packed his set with his iconic scratches. He didn’t stick to mixing a single genre during his set, even telling the crowd that “music doesn’t have a color or genre,” so his set wasn’t going to either. He sampled everything from LL Cool J, to Prince, to Michael McDonald. Everybody in the crowd had their hands up, swaying to any and every beat playing over the speakers.

Mingling through the packed in crowd, MUNA commanded their audience as if they were the headliners. While their recorded material reads more pop heavy, their live show packs more guitar riffs with a heavier feel. This feel was mirrored in the crowd, as fans were seen rocking along to the music. Even if the band took a moment to admire the crowd, the fans picked up the lyrics where they left off, reciting everything word for word right back to them. This is yet another set to remember!

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On the second day of Pitchfork Music Festival 2024, the party was in full swing! The park was packed with fans waiting to sing their hearts out to their favorite artists. It was even hard to walk between stages because if someone wasn’t standing in the crowd, they were sitting down towards the back for a more relaxed viewing experience. The day was filled with tons of acts that had everyone moving and signing along.

We started off the day with local folk musician Kara Jackson. Kara’s sweet vocals feel like honey in your ears as she recites her poetic lyrics for everyone in Union Park to enjoy. She dazzled on stage with bright pink hair and a gorgeous denim dress. Her performance was enhanced by her backing band of all-star Chicago musicians, many of whom have graced the Pitchfork stage with their own projects.

After easing into the day with Kara Jackson, it was time to get angsty with Wednesday. The energy from front woman Karly Hartzman was intoxicating, with many fans in the crowd matching her energy and thrashing around. During the set, Hartzman reflected on the state of uneasiness some people have been feeling lately due to politics, lamenting that a lot of the crowd had “anger and sadness you want to let out and I do too; we can do it together,” calling for the crowd to unleash any of their pent up feelings by screaming along with them. And that they did!

For all of the old school hip-hop heads, getting to see De La Soul live was a special treat. Their Pitchfork performance was their first since the passing of original member Dave Jolicoeur in 2023. This highly anticipated set delivered, with guest appearances from Pharoahe Monch and Talib Kweli. Seeing the passion radiating from the surviving members, and how strong their bond is as they riff off one another on stage, proved why De La Soul are legends and will continue to be.

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Pitchfork Music Fest started its 18th year at Chicago’s Union Park with a bang. The sun was shining, not a single rain cloud was present, and smiles were plastered proudly on attendees faces. This year’s festivities brought promise that anyone and everyone was sure to have a great time, with artists from multiple genres being represented across the board. Whether you wanted to dance, to cry, to thrash, or something in between, there was a set for you.

Tkay Maidza, a 28-year old Australian R&B/Hip-Hop artist, travelled over 40 hours to perform for her packed crowd, and if she was feeling any effects from her long travel time, it certainly did not show. Donning a black leather outfit with stars and the word “fame” fashioned on the back, Tkay commanded the crowd with her infectious rhymes and mesmerizing stage presence. Switching between quickly timed rhymes and euphoric poppy tracks, the crowd was treated to a set that was sure to wake them up and prepare them for the rest of the weekend.

Continuing with the Hip-Hop theme, billy woods & Kenny Segal, the collaborative act comprised of the rapper and producer respectively, performed a selection of tracks from their highly revered albums Hiding Places and Maps. A visceral listening experience on its own, hearing billy woods recite his relatable perspective of traveling over Kenny Segal’s jazz inspired backing tracks is even more impactful live.

Yaeji packed a punch during her slot, bringing on two backup dancers to help get the crowd jumping to her house infused electronic set. Between having a dancer push Yaeji around the stage on a rolling chair while pretending to drive a car, to synchronized movements that had Yaeji and her dancers hit their feet on every inch of the stage, there wasn’t a dull moment during her hour long set. The dancing crescendoed during the last track, “raingurl,” with many fans continuing to sing the song long after the set concluded.

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After a brief hiatus and tour cancellation last year, Chicago was treated to a night full of boot stompin’ with Orville Peck as he brought his Stampede Tour through the Aragon Ballroom. In support of his most recent collaboration album, the Stampede Tour brought out a mixture of the soothing yet soulful sounds of Peck’s country crooning.

Country music is currently on a rise in popularity with artists like Beyoncé and Post Malone venturing into the genre, and Orville Peck is a front runner for helping diversify the country fan base. Looking around the packed Aragon Ballroom, you see some fans that are old and some that are young, some that are wearing complete neon outfits and some that are wearing Western wear, and some that are belting back the lyrics to every song, and some that are comfortably dancing along in their own world. Peck looks proudly over the crowd many times throughout the night.

Walking across the stage with a huge smile plastered on his partially masked face, Orville Peck starts the show with the first single he released back in 2018, “Big Sky.” He follows this with “Roses are Falling,” and takes the time to grab a rose from a bouquet he has at the back of the stage and pass it out to a fan in the front row—an act that he continued to perform with various fans throughout the night.

Performing a healthy mix of tracks from each of his releases, the highlights of the night were his performances of the newest tracks, all of which were released as duets: “Conquer the Heart,” “How Far Will We Take It?,” “The Hurtin’ Kind,” and “Cowboys Are Frequently, Secretly Fond of Each Other,” the latter being a collaboration with Willie Nelson.

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