Courtney Barnett has played Chicago many times. Lollapalooza in 2014, the Metro later that year, Pitchfork Music Festival in 2018, and the Taste of Chicago in 2019 just to name a few. This year, she is promoting her new ablum released in 2021 called Things Take Time, Take Time. A cool 70 degrees welcomes her as she takes the stage at a quarter to nine after Alvvays and The Beths successfully warmed up the audience.

Early in the set she plays “Avant Gardener”. “The paramedic thinks I’m clever ’cause I play guitar, I think she’s clever cause she stops people dying.” This is such a perfect line in such a beautiful song.

Barnett’s lyrical style is a stream of consciousness style. It’s poetic in nature. “If you’ve got a spare half million, you could knock it down and start rebuilding” she sings on the beautiful crafted “Depreston”.

Later on she plays “Pedestrian at Best” from her album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit. It’s one of her more rocking songs and a great choice for an outdoor show. “Put me on a pedestal and I’ll only disappoint you!” she yells as she plays power chords on her guitar while strutting and spitting across the stage.

See the full setlist 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