Early in the set, Alice Merton sings “Vertigo” from her 2022 album, S.I.D.E.S. This song truly rocks and showcases her powerful leading vocals. It’s immediately clear this is going to be a great show.

Later on she talks about how she was in a toxic professional relationship. This person made her feel like the smallest person in the room. She broke contact with this person and wrote “Same Team” about them. “We’re not two sides of the same team anymore / No, I just can’t, I just can’t”. It’s a powerful song about breaking free.

Alice says she moved around a lot as a kid. At 13, she moved from Canada to Germany. She found it very difficult to learn the language. “There are six words for the!” She starts to go into further detail but then stops herself saying she is talking too much. The audience responds that they like it. So, she continues to say that with all this moving around that she never feels “Homesick”, which is the title of the next song. “No, I don’t get homesick / But I’m sick when I’m without you.”

This theme continues on her biggest hit, “No Roots”. “Ask me where I come from, I’ll say a different land”. This song has over 366 million streams on Spotify.

It has been 5 years since her last show in Chicago. The pandemic and some issues with visas caused this long delay. See our review of the opener, Parker Bossley, at this show in April of 2019, here.

Merton ends the set with “Why So Serious” from her 2019 album, Mint. “I stole the phrase from The Joker. Please don’t sue me!” “I wanna live in the now / I’m not gonna live in the past / Don’t wanna care about what-ifs / ‘Cause what if those things don’t last? / And I wanna live with no regrets”. What a great song to end with!

See the full setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $32

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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

Quinn Delaney

A middle-aged man is training a young soldier. They are underground in a protected bunker because it’s not safe above ground. They are only in contact with one other survivor. Why isn’t it safe above ground? What is he training the soldier to do?

Levi Halloway (Haven Place, Grey House) has written a fantastic dystopian science-fiction thriller that has the audience on the edge of their seats for the full experience. The audience is searching for clues and answers to this future world he has created. It’s in the same genre and of equally high quality as Silo and Fallout. The set designed by Grant Sabin is absolutely amazing. It looks like it was created for a multi-million dollar movie.

Michael Shannon (Oscar Nominations for Nocturnal Animals and Revolutionary Road) is outstanding as the man determined to succeed past his many failures. Travis A. Knight (Toni Stone) is very impressive as the young soldier trying to figure out his identity and his purpose. Lawrence Grimm (3C) is superb as the other survivor, doing his best to stay alive.

At the end, everyone was in awe. It’s a world class production worthy a great future on Broadway and beyond. It would also make for a great movie that could win Oscars. Do not miss this show!

Cost of a ticket: $75

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Get tickets now for Turret through June 9^th!

Quinn Delaney

Fay and her sister meet at their childhood home. Their mother passed away recently and their father has invited them there to tell them he is selling the house. While Fay is in town, she likes to walk on the nearby bridge to clear her mind and see the views. She meets Hopkins up there. After running into each other a few times, he reveals that he was planning to jump off the bridge but meeting her prevented him from doing so. This causes Fay to worry that he’ll want to jump again.

Charly Evon Simpson has written a play that handles a very heavy topic with grace. It’s well balanced as it combines moments of joy with moments of great sadness.

Jazzma Pryor (STEW) is outstanding as Fay, who is onstage the entire show going through times of human connection, heavy emotions, and shedding tears. Jennifer Glasse (The Locusts) is great as the sister, who handles things seemingly smoother. Darren Jones (Wellesley Girl) is excellent as the father, who is a bit lost after losing his wife. Jeff Kurysz is superb as Hopkins, the new friend that Fay didn’t know she needed.

See the program here.

Cost of a ticket: $45

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Get tickets now for Jump through June 2^nd!

Quinn Delaney

At the age of 23, James Arthur started thinking that maybe a music career wouldn’t work out for him. His mother bribed him to audition for The X Factor. He went on to win which kickstarted his career.

He is currently touring in support of his latest album, 2024’s Bitter Sweet Love. He kicks off his set with the title track It gets the crowd singing along: “I need just a bit of sweet love / And not your bittersweet love”.

Later on he says the next song is from the soundtrack for “The Greatest Showman”. It’s “Rewrite The Stars”, which he recorded with Anne-Marie. “And she’s here tonight… Just kidding!” he jokes. “What if we rewrite the stars? / Say you were made to be mine / Nothing could keep us apart / You’ll be the one I was meant to find”.

Midway into the set, Arthur says the next song he sang with Kelly Clarkson. He says many people like to propose during this song. “Does anyone have a ring on them?” he asks the crowd. “Wherever we go, whatever we do / I just wanna spend forever with you” he sings. After the song, he asks if anyone got engaged. “No? Well, maybe next time”.

For the penultimate song in his set, he plays the cover of Christina Perri’s “a thousand years”. This song has a mind boggling 1.6 billion streams on Spotify. It’s part of the soundtrack of The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn. “I have loved you for a thousand years / I’d love you for a thousand more”.

He ends the set with his first major hit, the cover of Shontelle’s “Impossible”. He has created a unique version of the song that sounds amazing and is a great choice to end the set with.

See the full setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $60
PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It
Rating Scale: Exceptional Value > Worth It > Discounted > Go for Free > Don’t Bother

Quinn Delaney

Sammy is a morally bankrupt lawyer who only cares about himself. One day he drops to the floor and begins to die. He is visited by an angel who tells him is going to hell after he passes. He points out that she should have waited until after he died to tell him. He threatens to report her and is then granted a second chance. Sammy decides to do good deeds to go to heaven.

Rob Ulin has written a fantastically funny play. It pokes a lot of fun at religion and morality like The Good Place. It poses many interesting moral questions along with having many huge laughs. It’s a truly great ensemble piece with so many great roles.

Jason Alexander (Seinfeld, Orville)  is outstanding as Sammy, a lawyer doing good for selfish reasons. The character has a touch of George Constanza in him. Daniel Breaker (The Good Fight, Mozart in the Jungle) is stellar as his priest, who is very conflicted about the moral gray zones that he finds himself in. Michael Kostroff (Whistleblower, The Wire)  is stellar as the monsignor, who is very frank and funny about Catholicism. Candy Buckley (The Americans) is exceptional as the angel who jumps the gun on condemning Sammy to hell.

Olivia D. Dawson (Cobra Kai) is great as Sammy’s assistant, who knows him better than anyone else. Joe Dempsey is superb as the equally morally corrupt insurance agent. Ellis Myers is impressive as Sammy’s son, who enjoys pretending to be ethical. Meg Thalken (Four Places, A Funny Thing…) is excellent as the elderly lady in need of a lawyer.  Maggie Bofill (Smash) is solid as Sammy’s ex-wife, who is very hesitant to let him back into her life.

This is an incredibly well done professional production. This world premiere will surely have great success here in Chicago, on Broadway, and beyond. It is Tony Award Worthy!

Cost of a ticket: $74 (Middle Gallery)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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Get tickets now for Judgement Day through May 26^th!

Quinn Delaney

Theatre Pick: The Artistic Home Presents Cut to the Chase at The Den Theatre (Through May 5, 2024)

Cut to the Chase is a short play festival presented by The Artistic Home. This year it features seven short plays that fall into different genres including drama, sci-fi, and dark comedy. It’s a showcase of playwrights (Will Dunne, Siah Berlatsky, Lydia Moss, Drew Carnwath and Peter Snoad, Michael Hagins and Erin Osgood) and actors. The festival has been specifically programmed with plays that have similar themes, structure, and style that helps tie them together into one show.

Check out our review of The Artistic Home’s production of Witch here.

Cost of a ticket: $26

Get tickets now for Cut to the Chase through May 5^th.

Concert Pick: Tei Shi with Amira Jazeera at Sleeping Village (May 6, 2024)

Tei Shi is touring this year in support of the new album, Valerie, which was just released on April 19^th. Tickets are $25.   

Check out our review of Tei Shi from April 2023 here.

Comedy Pick: The Lincoln Lodge

The Lincoln Lodge features great stand up every night of the week except Monday. Check out their calendar here. Most of their shows are around $10.

Quinn Delaney

Barefoot in the Park was written by Neil Simon. It first premiered on Broadway in 1963 starring Robert Redford and Elizabeth Ashley. The film version was released in 1967 starring Robert Redford and Jane Fona. A revival opened on Broadway in 2006 starring Amanda Peet and Patrick Wilson. And now, in April 2024, the Saint Sebastian Players production opens at St. Bonaventure.

Paul and Corie are a newly married couple. They have just moved into their apartment. It’s a 5^th floor walkup. The heat isn’t working, there’s no tub, and there is a hole in the ceiling. Corie wants to celebrate the new place, but Paul insists he needs to work on an important case for tomorrow. She is quick to bring up divorce over this small disagreement. Will the marriage survive this apartment?

This is a light and fun play that gives a glimpse into life in the 1960s. There are some funny moments, but a lot of the comedy didn’t age very well. However, the fault is not with the cast.

Joshua Paul Wright (It’s Only A Play, Boeing-Boeing) is fantastic as Paul, who is very frustrated by his wife. Alexandra T. Cross is great as his wife, who really gets a kick out of life. Jill Chukerman is good as the mother, who really wants to be a grandmother. Donaldson Cardenas is expertly bizarre as the upstairs neighbor who flirts with all the women. Lastly, Christian Davis Aldrige and Maddie Hillock are solid in their supporting roles.

Cost of a ticket: $30

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Discounted

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Quinn Delaney

Dan Layus, the lead singer, has a huge smile on his face for the entire show. He is thrilled to be on tour with his band.  The last few times in Chicago, he just played solo. Not long ago, he thought he would have to give up playing music professionally. He wrote the title track of the new album, Something Beautiful, about that thought. “Close to letting go, so one last time / Just let me hold this note and close my eyes /  ‘Cause I’m watching something beautiful die.” It’s a beautifully sad song that has Dan putting his heart into the lyrics.

Midway into the set, they play “Fire”. Layus only recently learned that this song almost didn’t make it on the album because the producer and the label didn’t think it fit in well. This album, Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt (2008) hit #2 on the charts.

Later on they play the fantastic “Steal Your Heart”. “Our love is like an ocean / Take it down to the depths / And I’m taking you with me / Taking every step to steal your heart / Gonna steal your heart away / I’m gonna steal your heart.” It’s a giant sing-along in Park West.

To start the encore, Layus says “Let’s play some Dad rock – old Augustana songs!”

To introduce the next song, he sits down at the keyboard and says he wrote this song over 20 years ago! This single, “Boston”, from 2005, hit #10 on the Adult Top 40. The audience is delighted as they sing along. “She said I think I’ll go to Boston / I think I’ll start a new life / I think I’ll start it over / Where no one knows my name”. After they finish playing it, the audience gives the band a long and loud applause.

Cost of a ticket: $36

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value –

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

See the full setlist here.

Quinn Delaney

Jukebox the Ghost is on a tour called 3 Albums, 3 Nights. Tonight they are playing their first album, 2008’s Let Live & Let Ghosts. Tomorrow night they’ll play their 2^nd album, 2010’s Everything Under the Sun. On Saturday, they’ll play their third album, 2012’s Safe Travels.

Tommy Siegel, who identifies as an agnostic Jew, read the Book of Revelations from the Bible while studying abroad in Italy. It inspired him to write parody songs about the apocalypse. They combined these songs with Ben’s love songs to create this album.

The fourth song of the night is “Under My Skin”. It is the most popular song from this album with over 34 million streams. Ben Thornewill says he started writing this song by asking himself, “what is the stupidest way to start a song?”

After completing the album, they play a few other songs including “Girl” from their 2015 self titled album. It’s their most popular song on Spotify with over 38 millions streams.  “Cause when you meet someone new / It all just takes over you / And you think that you never really tried. / Open your heart, Open your mind”. It’s a great song about start a new relationship that rings so true.

The drummer, Jesse Kristen, comes to the front of the stage, and is met with great applause. He sings the beginning of the song, “Hollywood”. “If all the world’s a stage, then you’re my favorite actress. If all of life’s a game, I sure could use the practice.” He then runs back to his kit and the song picks up the beat. Ben sings “It’s the kind of love that doesn’t exist anymore. You want Hollywood, this is real life!” It’s great lyrics like this that really describe what it’s like to be in a relationship that audiences strongly connect with.

They close with “The Great Unknown”. “So let go / Of the world you know / There’s something’ watin’ for ya / In the great unknown.”  This is such a beautiful song about venturing out past your comfort zone. It’s a great choice for a closer.

See a similar setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $39

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Quinn Delaney

Rodrigo y Gabriela are touring in support of their latest album, In Between Thoughts…A New World, which was created during the pandemic. These new songs feature Rodrigo on electric guitar and Gabriela on acoustic. They blend these instruments together expertly for a truly rocking sound.

They play a lot of songs from the new album including “Seeking Unreality”. This great track showcases their amazing guitar playing ability and proves they are still making great music.

They use a lot of fog to create a great environment for a dazzling light show. Some parts are perhaps a bit too bright for the smaller space of the Charleston Music Hall.

In the encore, they play the fantastic “Tamacun” from their self titled 2006 album. This song sounds fantastic in the small theatre. After each encore song, there is thunderous applause and standing ovations. It felt like each song could be the last one.

They truly make the most of their acoustic guitars. Often they play the body of the guitar like a drum. At times it seems like they are playing six instruments at once in an explosion of sound.

See a recent setlist here.

See our review of their performance at The Chicago theatre in October of 2021 here.

Cost of a ticket: $68 (Rear Orchestra)

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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

Quinn Delaney