Early in their set, Moon Taxi plays “All Day All Night” from their 2015 album, Daybreaker. This is a very upbeat and joyful song that puts a smile on everyone’s face and get’s them dancing. It’s a great choice to play early.

Later on they play “Hometown Heroes” from their 2021 album, Silver Dream. “Yeah we go way back where we started from / We were hometown heroes high enough for everyone / Yeah we go way back where we started from / Oh we used to say it’s one for and all for one”. This a fantastic nostalgic song that has everyone singing along.

Towards the end of the set, they play “Two High” from their 2018 album, Let The Record Play. “So put ’em up / Two high / We can walk together with our hands up in the sky / So put ’em up / Tonight / We can come together / We won’t give up on the fight”. Everyone puts their hands up with two finger extended as they move to this incredibly catchy song. This is their most popular track on Spotify with over 158 million streams.

Soon afterwards is “Morocco” from 2013’s Mountains Beaches Cities. It’s very impressive how the great tracks just keep coming. The lead singer mentions how they had previously played the stage in the restaurant downstairs to about five people. So, he was so glad to be able to play on the main stage tonight.

They close out with “Classics” from 2023’s Set Yourself Free. “So raise your glasses / To the Classics / Make em last no / Don’t ever let them die”. It’s another great song that completes a set that spanned their career showing a consistently high level of quality. This Nashville band has truly developed a polished live show.

See the full setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $43

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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

Quinn Delaney

Formed in 2010 in Tinley Park, Illinois, Real Friends is an American emo rock band consisting of Kyle Fasel (bass guitar), Dave Knox (lead guitar), Eric Haines (rhythm guitar), Brian Blake (drums), and Cody Muraro (lead vocals).  Since their inception, they have released seven EPs, three studio albums, and garnered a fan base of close to 500k monthly listeners on Spotify. This fall, they are co-headlining a tour across North America with Knuckle Puck, alongside the support of One Step Closer and Arm’s Length. This past weekend, they played their third show at the House of Blues in Chicago.

The lineup for this event is truly incredible as each band set the stage with electrifying energy. This energy evoked a sense of belonging amongst their fans where the comradery resulted in the creation of a true rock-fashion mosh pit and crowd surfing throughout the evening. Following Knuckle Puck, the crowd eagerly awaited the final performance. As Real Friends came to the stage, the show carried on with the same energy,  opening with, “Me First” from their 2018 album, Composure.

Their setlist was comprised of both their early work and their more recent albums, highlighting fan-favorites including, “Tell Me You’re Sorry,” “Six Feet,” and “From the Outside.” Midway through the performance, Cody Muraro joined fans on the main floor to create a more intimate feel as he dove into the lyrics of “Teeth.”  “The medicine isn’t kicking in but life is kicking my teeth out/ On the floor again and I’m losing it/ So beat me tiI I black out/ Cause I don’t want to face it.” The audience singing along with their eyes closed, feeling every emotion of the lyrics of this song is a testament to the band’s success as they have the ability to connect with their fans through the universal themes of pain, loss, perseverance, and love.

Shortly after, Muraro expressed the band’s appreciation to their fans stating, “Really feeling the love tonight!” Nostalgically, he reminisced about the band growing up and hearing some of their influences play at the House of Blues and thanked the fans for allowing them to live their dream of playing a sold-out show at the same venue. He shared their exciting news of a new album release in 2024 and played “When You Were Here,” a single off the new album being released this Friday. As the night neared the end, the band played, “Late Night in My Car,” and there was only one way to conclude this epic evening…a launch from Muraro into the crowd for one final moment of crowd surfing! 

Check out their new song this Friday here: https://www.realfriends.band/

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To begin the show, they show a video of Ben Kweller 20 years ago when Sha Sha was released. He is in Osaka, Japan, playing a show at a Tower Records. After the show, he is signing records for a huge line of fans. Then the video says “Are you ready?”. Kweller and his band take the stage and launch into “How it Should Be (Sha Sha)” and the audience immediately begins dancing and singing along.

After a few songs, he breaks the high E string on his guitar. He decides that he will still play the next song with it, because it doesn’t need that string. Afterwards, he goes to the his keyboard while his guitar is fixed. There he plays “In Other Words”. “The butterflies are passive aggressive /And put their problems on the shelf but they’re beautiful”. This is such a beautiful song and it sounds great tonight.

On bass today is Christopher Mintz-Plasse. He plays a right handed bass upside down. Many fans recognize him as an actor from Superbad and Kick-Ass. He says just one bit of self promotion. “This album is 20 years old, so I know a lot of you have kids. Go see Trolls 3!”

Midway in the set, Ben talks about how his son, Dorian, passed away this year in February at the age of 16 (He died in a freak car accident). In a tribute, they play one of his songs, “How I Am”. It’s a very heartfelt moment.

Later on, they play “Starz” from his 2021 album, Circuit Boredom “’Cause I can’t find my thoughts when the lights go out (They shut off the lights momentarily here) / I see stars / Brighter than the Milky Way / I see stars / Wishing that one day / They would be ours.” This is great new rocker that proves he can still write great songs.

To close out the set, they play “Penny on the Train Track” from his self titled 2006 album.  “I’m just a penny on the train track / Waitin’ for my judgement day / Come on baby girl let me see those legs / Before I get flattened away”. This is such a great song with a driving beat. The energy in the room is fantastic.

To end the night, he talks about how Chicago has always been one of his favorite cities to play. He says that Q101 was a huge key in his success as they were the first to put “Wasted and Ready” in their playlist. This song is his most popular on Spotify with over 3.6 million streams. “She is a slut but ex thinks it’s sexy / Sex reminds her of eating spaghetti”.  He plays it with great passion and makes it a perfect finale.

See the full setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $40

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value –

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

Quinn Delaney

This is a unique theatre experience. Upon entering The Vault, you first see the setup for where the plays will take place. You are then directed down the stairs to another room where a reception is set up with a full buffet and bar. It has the feel of a small wedding as the audience mingles. After about half an hour, the actors begin with a short scene that ends with them inviting the audience back up to the main room.

The first short comedic play is called “I Work With Computers”. At first it seems like a normal work scene of someone having issues communicating with his coworkers. One of his colleagues says he doesn’t know what to do when two files have the same name. Should he just replace the old one? Should he rename the new one? If so, how should he rename it? And then it clicks that this coworker is a file manager on a computer! He also has to deal with the search coworker bringing the wrong information, the annoying autocorrect, and the shutdown feature. It’s quite hilarious once you figure it out!

The other plays are similarly funny and clever. Here is the full lineup with credits:

“I Work With Computers” Written by Steve Nordmark, Directed by Joseph Zaki

“Kid Boss” Written by Harper Levander, Directed by Kelly Levander

“Heavenly Incorporated” Written by Joseph Zaki, Directed by Kelly Levander

“Unaverage Joe” Written by Seph Bennett, Joe Bushell, & Anna Yee, Directed by Anna Yee

“Fate or Fiction” Written by Joe Bushell, Directed by Joe Bushell & Kelly Levander

“Game of Office Chairs” Written by Alex Schearer, Directed by Joe Bushell

Cost of a ticket: $38

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It

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Check out their website here for information about future events.

Quinn Delaney

Bumpin Uglies are from Annapolis, Maryland. Early in their set, they play “Island Time” from their 2019 album, Buzz. This is their most popular song on Spotify with over 14.8 millions streams. “Put me back on island time / I need that state of mind / Island time, where everything’s slow / Put me back on island time / We can ignore the grind / Island time, where we take it slow, oh”. This song has such a great slow groove that transports the audience to a beach in Hawaii as they sway along.

Soon after, they play “Radio” from their 2018 album, Beast From The East. “I don’t write songs for the radio / I write songs for the stereos / So turn it up until the speakers blow / We’re getting faded at the reggae show”. This is a fantastic about being in a band touring the country for the love of the music instead of for fame.

Brandon Hardesty, the lead singer, asks the audience about that awful liquor that is famous in Chicago. “Malort!” replies everyone. “Let’s get shots of Malort for the band! I’m sober, so I’ll just enjoy watching!” Each member of the band took a shot and promptly displayed their Malort face!

Towards the end of the night, they play “Trouble” from their 2022 album, Mid-Atlantic Dub. “Trouble made a martyr out of me / I hate to love our codependency / my accomplice and my airtight alibi / She beats me down and it makes me feel alive”. It’s not often that the name of the venue is in the lyrics of a song.

To close out their set, they play “Bad Decisions” from 2015’s Freakout Hell Bus. “So we’re making bad decisions / Bad decisions tonight / Running amuck and keeping it up / Until the morning’s light / ‘Cause we don’t need no guarantees / Living the now, figure it out when it’s right / We’re making bad, bad decisions tonight”. This is a great party song to end their great set of reggae and reggae adjacent music.

See a recent setlist here.

See our review of The Expendables in 2018 here.

Cost of a ticket: $33

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It +

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

Quinn Delaney

To begin, The Nasty Delicious plays the main theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey. At the climax of the song, Craig Robinson enters with a very slow and smooth walk. It’s a perfect start to the set.

Soon afterwards, Craig says it isn’t fair how women get the “Here Comes the Bride” song at weddings, and the men don’t get one. He wants the “Rocky Theme” to play as he walks down the aisle. This idea is both awesome and hilarious as he plays the song.

He also plays a lot of songs where he slightly adjusts the words. In “Summer Nights”, he changes the lyrics to:

“Tell me more, tell me more, does he have a big cock?

Tell me more, tell me more, I’ll jerk off in a sock! “

Midway into the set, they play the main theme from “The Office”. It’s a great moment to celebrate that show. He was in 118 episodes from 2005 to 2013.

He also plays a lot of partial covers such as “Jessie’s Girl”, which he also sings on the Hot Tub Time Machine soundtrack.

Later on, Robinson suggests playing “Eye of the Tiger” in everyday moments when you need to get pumped up. Like, before having a meeting with your boss, or before having doggy style sex with your partner.

It was an absolutely hilarious night full of great music and nonstop laughter.

See a similar setlist here.

Cost of a ticket: $19

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Exceptional Value +

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

Quinn Delaney

Many of the productions that happen in the lower level of St. Bonaventure, you would be surprised to see there. For example, The Shady Lady was about a man having multiple affairs and embezzling money. However, this musical is exactly what you would picture taking place in a church basement.

In a tragic accident, 52 nuns died from eating bad soup. They ran out of money after burying 48 of them, and buying a 3D HD Flatscreen TV. So, the sisters are putting on a show to raise money to lay to rest the last four.

It’s a very light hearted family and religion friendly show, which can’t be said of many of SSP’s other productions. There are some laughs, but not nearly as many as in other shows by the Saint Sebastian Players.  

The cast consists of Lauren Miller (Boeing-Boeing), Karyn Louise Doerfler, Heidi Mansfield, Kay Flynn, and Allison Ristaino.

Cost of a ticket: $35

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Half Price –

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Get tickets now for Nunsense through November 12^th.

Quinn Delaney

 

It begins as a minstrel show. Before long, the characters snap out of it and discover they are real people trapped in the show. They spot the playwright in the audience. They drag him on stage and proceed to beat him up. Afterwards, they put on a rap show. Bones loves to rap about making big money. Tambo wants to address systematic racism in America.

Dave Harris has written a very dark comedy that is a quite unique and bizarre theatre experience that leaves the audience trying to make sense of it. In this production, there are extremely bright lights and very loud noises. Earplugs would be a good idea for the rap concert scene.

William Anthony Sebastian Rose II (Whistleblower) is intense as Tambo, always trying to address the issues of racism. Patrick Newson Jr. is excellent as Bones, on a quest to find as many quarters as he can. Lastly, Timothy Bernard Felton and Michael-Ellen (Mikey) Walden are solid in their supporting roles.

See the program here.

Cost of a ticket: $31

PlaylistHQ Economic Rating: Worth It –

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

Get tickets now for Tambo & Bones through November 11!

Quinn Delaney