It’s opening week at The Salt Shed located on the Chicago River directly west of Goose Island. While the indoor venue is still under construction, they have begun a two month season of outdoor concerts. It has a street festival vibe with many food options, bars, and other types of vendors. With a GA ticket, it is standing room only and there is nowhere to sit. There is an ADA section far back with seats. There is also a premium section on the river side with a limited amount of seating. It’s a great addition to the Chicago summer music scene.

Fleet Foxes take the stage at exactly 8pm. They open with “Wading in Waist‐high Water” from their latest album, Shore. They are joined by the opener, Uwade, who just played a great solo set.

Midway though the show, an audience member requests “Student Debt”. This was a song created by the lead singer in a 20-minute workshop. He does recall the song and goes on to play about a minute of it. Afterwards, he jokingly invites the audience member to play his 20-minute song. But then he says, “No, let’s not play any more bad songs.”

Soon afterwards, they play “Mykonos”, which is their biggest hit to date. It has almost 200 million streams on Spotify. It features a soaring melody along with some of their best vocal harmonies to which everyone sings along.

Later on, an audience member requests “The Devil Went Down to Georgia”. The lead singer, Robin Pecknold, says he has never heard the song. But, he thinks he knows what it sounds like. He makes up a song on the spot in a country blues style. It is quite impressive and the audience eats it up.

To close out the night, they play “Helplessness Blues”.  “I was raised up believing I was somehow unique / Like a snowflake distinct among snowflakes, unique in each way you can see / And now after some thinking, I’d say I’d rather be / A functioning cog in some great machinery serving something beyond me.” It’s such a beautiful song and it sends everyone out with a big smile on their face.

See the full setlist here.

Also check out our review of their Pitchfork Music Festival appearance in 2018 here.

Cost of a ticket: $64

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney