Delicate Steve is the stage name of musician Steve Marion. Tonight, he plays many songs from his latest album, 2022’s After Hours. The songs are fresh and keep the audience fully entranced. No words are needed. Like classical music, the emotion is in the notes.

His musical talent matches that of Joe Satriani, another instrumental rock guitarist. See our review of Satriani’s 2022 performance at the Chicago theatre here.

Throughout the show, Steve doesn’t say much beyond “Hi Chicago”. He lets the music do the talking.

In his set, he also includes older tracks such as “Butterfly” from his 2011 debut album, Wondervisions. The audience is ecstatic to hear this one.   

In the middle of one song, he transitions into a cover of “Benny and The Jets” by Elton John. Since he doesn’t sing, the audience sings the words! The crowd was very exuberant all night long and he surely made some new fans on this evening.

Cost of a ticket: $28

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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

Quinn Delaney

O.A.R. started playing together when they were in 8^th grade. They have been touring relentlessly ever since. Tonight they are playing on a hot and humid night in Chicago at Northerly Island.

Midway into their set, they play “Love and Memories” from their 2005 album, Stories Of A Stranger. Lead singer, Marc Roberge, sings “Love me (faster than the devil) / Run me (straight into the ground), yeah / Drownin’ (deep inside your water) / Drown in love and memories.” This is a great love rock song that puts a smile on everyone’s face.

Next up is “Shattered (Turn The Car Around)”, which is their most popular song on Spotify with over 58 million streams from their 2008 album All Sides. “How many times can I break ’til I shatter? Over the line can’t define what I’m after. I always turn the car around.” This song is truly a crowd favorite.

“Hey Girl” was their first single. It is on their 2003 album, In Between Now and Then. They made the music video on a budget of $17.

They close out with “That Was A Crazy Game of Poker” from their 1997 album, The Wanderer. “I had three Jacks and a pair of nines /My mind is turning, just two shots more / There’s not much left to play.” At a length of 8 minutes and 42 seconds, it is quite long for a hit song. It’s a fantastic long jam that has people throwing playing cards into the air for a great finale to their excellent set.

See the full setlist here.

The Goo Goo Dolls also rocked the house. See our review of their performance from July 2017 here.

Cost of a ticket: $99 plus fees (Back of 100 section)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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Quinn Delaney

Rock of Ages first appeared on Broadway in 2009 to great success. A film version starring Tom Cruise was released in 2012 with moderate reviews. Broadway in Chicago brought the touring version to Chicago in April of 2019. Now, the Mercury Theatre is running a version that is better than the movie. Michael Metcalf stars as Lonny, the narrator of the story. He plays the 80’s rocker with a huge rock star hairstyle acting hilariously as he flirts with a woman seated up front.

A hysterical scene involves a couple getting physical in the bathroom. It is Stacee Jaxx, played hilariously with style by Donovan Hoffer, and Sherrie, played excellently by Kayla Marie Shipman. They fool around as they sing Foreigner’s “I Want to Know What Love Is”. This is just one example of the humor involved which was missing in the movie version.

The entire cast is fantastic. Aaron M. Davidson (Hair) is hilarious as Franz, the engineer who everyone thinks is gay, but is really just German. David Moreland (Rent, Cruel Intentions) is perfectly cast as Drew, the wannabe rockstar who can’t quite get it right.

In this performance, Darryl D’Angelo Jones is great as the Mayor, who is very open to accepting bribes. Also, Jason Richards (Avenue Q, The Producers) is fantastic as Hertz, the business tycoon trying to shut down The Bourbon Room.

Veronica Garza (Who’s Holiday) is so funny as Regina, the leader of the resistance to Hertz’s plans. Steve Watts is superb as the hippie owner of The Bourbon Room. Sharriese Hamilton is solid as Justice.  Lastly, Clayton Cross, Tafadzwa Diener, Julia Fleckenstein (Cabaret), Rachel Thomas, and Shaun Dennis White (Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Cabaret) make for one hell of an ensemble.

Rock of Ages is the name of a song released in 1983 by Def Leppard. However, there are no Def Leppard songs in the show.

Overall, it’s a truly fun experience and a must see for all fans of comedy and 80s rock!

Get tickets now for Rock of Ages through September 10th!

Cost of a ticket: $65 (Premium Seats)
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
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Quinn Delaney

Michael Jackson is preparing for the 1992 Dangerous World Tour. He wants it to be the best tour ever, no matter the cost. He is even considering mortgaging Neverland to pay for all the extras he is requesting. This includes special effects such as jet packs, toaster lifts, and pyrotechnics. An MTV film crew is there to create a documentary of the preparation and they discover that Michael is taking painkillers regularly.

The highlight of the show is the thrilling playlist! They start of with a bang with “Beat It”. “Just beat it (beat it), beat it (beat it)
No one wants to be defeated
Showin’ how funky and strong is your fight
It doesn’t matter who’s wrong or right
Just beat it”

“Billie Jean” is MJ’s most popular song with over 1.46 billion streams on Spotify. The performance of this song does not disappoint.

“Billie Jean is not my lover
She’s just a girl who claims that I am the one
But the kid is not my son
She says I am the one, but the kid is not my son”

“Thriller” is handled fantastically. The costumes are excellent along with the dancing. “It’s close to midnight
And something evil’s lurking in the dark
Under the moonlight
You see a sight that almost stops your heart.”

After the curtain call is the fantastic “Black or White”.

A few hits that are missing are “Remember the Time”, “The Way You Make Me Feel”, and P.Y.T. Perhaps these one and others will be featured in a sequel!

Get tickets now for MJ through September 2nd!

Cost of a ticket: $113 (Orchestra Far Side)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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

Quinn Delaney