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
O.A.R. started playing together when they were in 8th 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.
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.
Photos by Liz Lauren
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 Follow us on Facebook!
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!
Tonight is a reunion of sorts. The lead singer of Yellowcard, Ryan Key, opened for Mayday Parade as a solo artist a few years ago. Also, Yellowcard’s Ocean Avenue and Story of the Year’s Page Avenue were both released in 2003 in a battle of the best Avenue record. All together they make an excellent concert lineup.
Story of the Year closes out their set with the fantastic “Until the Day I Die”, which has a whopping 117 million streams on Spotify. From the moment the first guitar notes play to the final chorus, the fans are raptured. “Until the day I die, I’ll spill my heart for you, for you!”
Next up is Mayday Parade. In the middle of their set, they roll out the piano. Everyone leaves the stage except for the lead singer and the drummer, who is there for backup vocals. It’s a giant sing-a-long to “Miserable at Best.” “I can live without you, but without you I’ll be miserable at best,” sings the entire audience. It truly is a special moment!
Next, they play “Piece of Your Heart”. Again, everyone sings along. “I’ve got a piece of your heart, but I want the whole damn thing!” All the couples hold each other tight. It’s a romantic emo moment.
To close out their set, they play “Jamie All Over”, which has over 92 million streams on Spotify and it is their biggest hit to date. “I’ll take this Cali sunrise with me, and wake up with the fondest memories”. Everyone is jumping around and there is a lot of crowd surfing. It’s a great happy rocker to end with.
In 2017, Yellowcard completed what they were calling their final tour. Then, in 2022, they were invited to play at Riot Fest. They accepted this invitation and it ignited them to reunite and launch this year’s tour, which is their biggest tour ever. The lead singer, Ryan Key, is amazed at the size of the crowd. When they last played Chicago, it was at the House of Blues which has a capacity of 1,800. Today they are playing to about 7,000 people!
They jump right into “Way Away” to start, the opening track off their Ocean Avenue album. This tour is celebrating the 20 year anniversary of it’s release. “Way away away from here I’ll be / Way away away so you can see / How it feels to be alone and not believe (feels to be alone and not believe) / Feels to be alone and not believe anything.” It’s a great upbeat track that kicks their show off with a bang.
A few songs later, they play “Believe”. It features a “face melting” solo by the violinist, Sean Mackin. “Everything is gonna be alright, Be strong, believe!”
To end the night, they play “Ocean Avenue” which has a massive 317 million streams on Spotify “If I could find you now things would get better / We could leave this town and run forever / I know somewhere somehow we’ll be together / Let your waves crash down on me and take me away.” This pop punk anthem is the perfect song to send the fans out with giant smiles on their faces.
A couple meets at college in Chicago. During the last week of the semester in December, he asks her out on a date while it is snowing. Jump forward five years and they are married with a baby. The father has become a successful author while the mother is struggling to get published.
Kate Arrington has written a play that is full of interesting events. These make for great scenes, however, it feels like a great outline that is missing the details. It jumps from event to event without any explanation of what happened in between.
Ian Barford (Linda Vista, The Minutes) is great as the father unsure of what he is doing with his life. Judy Greer (Married, Kidding) is so likeable as the mother, who is so kind to the father, even after he what he does to her. Caroline Neff is so cute and funny as the father’s literary agent. Nicole Scimeca is solid as the narrator.
Photos by Michael Brosilow
Overall, it’s a solid production with a great cast. It has strong bones and it just needs to add a bit more meat to the story.
Cost of a ticket: $84 – $102
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Half Price +
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
The Who’s Tommy was first released in May of 1969. The film version starring Roger Daltrey was released in 1975. The Broadway debut was in March of 1993. It was nominated for the Best Musical Tony. The Paramount Theatre in Aurora produced the musical in January of 2015. And now, in June of 2023, it opens at the Goodman Theatre.
Tommy’s father goes missing in action in the war while his mother is pregnant. Tommy is born and his mother meets a new man. His father is then rescued and returns home. The new man attacks and the father shoots him to death. Tommy witnesses this and goes deaf and blind. They see many doctors, but none of them can help. One day he discovers pinball and he quickly becomes a master.
This production is absolutely world class. It is Broadway and Tony Award worthy. All of the elements are at such a high level.
The set design by David Korins is incredibly impressive. It’s a very futurist look with lighted doors and mirrors. The lighting design by Amnada Zieve and the projection design by Peter Nigrini adds up to an incredibly amazing visual spectacle.
The cast is absolutely fantastic. Ali Louis Bourzgui (Layalina) shines as Tommy. Alison Luff is fantastic as the mother. Adam Jacobs (Aladdin) is superb as the father. John Ambrosino is great in the tough role of Uncle Ernie. Bobby Conte is steller as Cousin Kevin.
Also, the band is top notch. “Pinball Wizard” will be in ringing in the audience’s head for days.
Cost of a ticket: $145 (Main Floor)
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
Milky Chance bring their blend of electronic music and rock to Chicago tonight from Berlin, Germany. They create a great dancing vibe. Early in the set, they play a couple of covers: “Tainted Love” by Gloria Jones (and then popularized by Soft Cell) and “Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?” by Culture Club. They truly add their own spin to both of the songs while revealing a couple of their influences.
Later in the night they play their most popular song “Stolen Dance” from their 2014 album, Sadnecessary. It has over 1.2 billion streams on Spotify. This song has such a great groove that everyone in the audience can’t help but move along.
Immediately afterwards, they launch into “Colorado”. “I get high like Colorado. We had it all but what do I know?” This is a great track that keeps the party going.
The headliner tonight is Young the Giant. Early in their set they play “Something to Believe In” from their 2016 album, Home of the Strange. “Realize you’re a slave to your mind, break free / Now give me something to believe in!” sings the lead singer, Sameer Gadhia, with great passion.
They follow that up with the incredibly catchy “Cough Syrup” from their self titled 2011 Album.
“I got buried / No it won’t be long before I rise in song” Gadhia sings on “I Got”. This song just sounds so good with the long notes of “got” and “buried”. Song after song, the audience erupts with joy.
Finally, to close out the night, they play their biggest hit, “My Body”. It’s a rocking number that gets everyone jumping up and down as they shout “My body tells me no, but I won’t quit, cause I want more!” It’s an excellent finish to a great night of music!
Also see our Young the Giant review from 2017 here.
Early in the set, Ava Maybee sings “Roxanne” by The Police. She sang this song on American Idol in 2022. She ended up finishing in the top 14.
“Don’t you love me?” she sings on “Limerence”, the just released new single. It’s a beautifully haunting track that will surely take off on the charts.
“Puke” is a great song about dealing with anxiety. “If yоu соuld sее thе things insidе my hеаd, yоu’d сlоsе yоur еyеs instеаd оf wаtсhing”.
“What was the color of your eyes again?” she sings on fiercely snarky breakup song, “Colors”. This song has become very popular with over 7.5 million streams on Spotify and rightly so. The lyrics are excellent and it’s very catchy.
Lovelytheband also had a great set. Check out our review of their performance at the Taste of Chicago in 2019 here.
Cost of a ticket: $48
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
“Welcome to theatre class” declares the instructor. “Today, we have a special guest, who has been a background actor in over 3,000 films! Any movie you name, he’s probably been in it!” “Shrek you say? You mean the 2001 film starring Mike Myers, Eddie Murphy, Cameron Diaz, John Lithgow, and others? Yes, I was in it!” says the actor. “Do you remember the scene where Donkey says he is going to make waffles in the morning? I walked by the window while he was saying that! Let’s play out the scene.” Donkey: “In the morning, I’m making waffles”. Actor walks by with a shocked face. “Holy Shit! A talking donkey!” “Wow, did that line get cut from the G-rated movie?” “No, it’s just really quiet!”
“Rush Hour you say? You mean the 1998 film starring Jackie Chan, Chris Tucker, … and others? Yes, I was in it! Remember the scene when they need to get from one place to another? I was the taxi driver! Which character would you like to play? I’ll be uncomfortable with either choice.” “I’ll be both! Hi, taxi driver, take me to the destination.” “Right away!” “Hey, why are we going so slow?” “Because it’s rush hour!”
Photos by Timothy M. Schmidt
This scene is a hilariously created structure that allows the actors to show their improv chops based on the film suggestions. Evan Mills’ (Together at Last) movie knowledge is very impressive and he is hilarious on his feet as well. Claire McFadden is fantastic as the instructor and cracks Evan up as she describes the films.
All the actors also starred in Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not, except for Jordan Stafford. He is excellent in his mainstage debut, especially in his solo scene about the young man talking to his father on his deathbed.
Julia Morales is so funny throughout the show, especially as the principal of the school. Andy Bolduc’s scenes with the dad jokes always result in an eruption of laughter. Kiley Fitzgerald is so great as the mother who makes out with her son’s friends.
They all have great chemistry together. Don’t be surprised to see more great things from them all.
Cost of a ticket: $65 (General Admission)
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Half Price > Go for Free > Don’t Bother
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