Sir Elton John blessed a sold-out crowd in Moline, IL at the TaxSlayer Center (formerly the iWireless Center) tonight, performing an over 2-hour set that covered his decades of hits and fan favorites.
With performances of ‘Bennie and the Jets’, ‘Daniel’, ‘Rocket Man’, ‘Tiny Dancer’, ‘The Bitch Is Back’, Candle in the Wind’ and many more, fans from Moline, Chicago, Davenport and throughout Illinois and Iowa left the concert with a night that they won’t soon forget. The 70-year-old icon hasn’t lost a step in his many decades of performing, and Sir Elton will rival anyone when it comes to the keys, and fans at the TaxSlayer Center were witness to just that.
Check out our photos from tonight’s performance below and see the remaining tour dates here.
After a couple of October performances, a memorable headlining set at the Voodoo Festival in New Orleans and three postponed dates throughout the country, the Foo Fighters picked things up where they left off in Madison, WI tonight, as the Seattle rockers brought their Concrete & Gold Tour to a sold-out Wisconsin crowd at the Kohl Center.
Performing for nearly three hours, with a setlist that covered the band’s new LP and their catalog of hits and B-sides, Dave Grohl and company did not disappoint, delivering a memorable night that Madison won’t soon forget. You can easily bet that many in attendance tonight will be glued to their computers this Friday (10 AM), to grab tickets to the band’s Wrigley Field performance this summer, because even 3-hours of the Foo Fighters will leave you wanting more.
Check out our photos from tonight’s performance below and peep the remaining tour dates here.
Chicago’s Fake Shore Drive celebrated 10 years of helping break some of the biggest names in Chicago music last night with it’s huge anniversary concert at the Portage Theater, for part of Red Bull Sound Select‘s “30 Days In Chicago” series. And what better way to celebrate than boasting performances from some of the best rappers Chicago has to offer, and a huge reunion performance from the legendary hip-hop duo, the Big Tymers.
With a price of admission of only $15, Fake Shore Drive and Red Bull Sound Select gave fans their money’s worth just moments after doors opened, as the night was kicked off with performances and appearances from The Cool Kids, Twista, GLC, King Louie, G Herbo and many more.
But although Chicago kicked off the night, it was Detroit and Cash Money Records which brought the memorable evening to a close. ‘First Day Out’ rapper Tee Grizzley put on a great performance, bringing Detroit to the Windy City and setting the stage for Birdman and Mannie Fresh to put on an unforgettable show, and one of their rare and only performances in the past decade, rapping some Big Tymers classics like ‘Still Fly’, ‘Get Your Roll On’ and more.
Check out our photos from last night’s performance below.
Macklemore returned to The Rave’s Eagles Ballroom in Milwaukee tonight for another sold-out performance, after a memorable 2016 performance with Ryan Lewis, in the very same room. And while Macklemore was without his partner-in-crime this time around, as the duo of “Macklemore and Ryan Lewis” are currently on hiatus while the close friends take some time musically apart, Macklemore still brought the same fun energy in support of his new solo LP, Gemini.
Up first for the evening were opening sets from XP, Eric Nally and Travis Thompson, emerging artists that you can all find featured on Gemini. Not only did the cast of openers gain new fans with their opening performances, but all of the above would later join Macklemore on stage to perform their Gemini collaborations, ‘Church’, ‘Corner Store’ and ‘Ain’t Gonna Die Tonight’. Gemini also boasts features from artists like Kesha, Offset, Skylar Grey and Lil Yachty, but having some of the album’s featured artists, big or small, definitely was a nice bonus to the night.
But despite entertaining performances from XP, Nally and Thompson, the anticipation continued to build as it was time for the man of the hour to hit the stage. And to kick off his performance in support of his new album, Macklemore opened his set with Gemini‘s opening track, the Eric Nally-assisted ‘Ain’t Gonna Die Tonight’. Macklemore continued with two more tracks from the 2017 LP, his first solo album since 2005, before really getting the crowd going with his 2012 mega-hit, ‘Thrift Shop’.
The above sequence set the tone for the entire night as Macklemore performed the vast majority of his new album, while still taking time to pay homage to his catalog of hits with Ryan Lewis with performances of ‘White Walls’, ‘Thrift Shop’, ‘Downtown’ and ‘Same Love’. Then, to end the glorious night and close out his 17-song setlist, Macklemore gave fans a great encore performance of his Gemini single, ‘Glorious’. Fans already can’t wait for Macklemore’s next Milwaukee visit, no matter who he brings with him.
Check out our photos from tonight’s performance below and peep the remaining tour dates here.
It’s starting to get cold in the Windy City but the live music scene is getting hotter than ever. We’re months removed from the summer festival season, but Chi-town is bringing some of the biggest artists in the world to the city for some amazing shows.
From Red Bull Sound Select’s “30 Days In Chicago” series, with concerts from Migos, Lil Yachty, 6LACK and the big reunion of the Big Tymers (to name a few), to some big headlining arena shows from The Weeknd, Halsey, Guns N Roses and more, Chicago (and the surrounding areas) are delivering some of the best concerts of the year in November.
Check out our list of the 12 can’t miss concerts in Chicago this month!
Katy Perry and Noah Cyrus invaded the United Center last night, as Perry brought her headlining tour, dubbed Witness: The Tour, to the historic United Center. With elaborate set designs, a huge eye-shaped video board and a number of entertaining costume changes, Witness: The Tour is something you have to see to believe, and we captured some memorable shots of night one (of two) of Perry’s Chicago stop on the tour.
Check out our photos from last night’s performance below and read our full review here.
Moments ago, Katy Perry closed things out after her and supporting act, Noah Cyrus, delivered a memorable night one for Witness: The Tour‘s mini two-night Chicago residency at the historic United Center.
There exists a fine line between a concert and a performance, but tonight was undoubtedly a performance as Katy Perry brought an amazing spectacle full of platinum and diamond hits, five entertaining costume changes, fireworks, lights and an elaborate set design that fans will never forget. And with support from emerging pop star, Noah Cyrus, fans were in for a treat from the very beginning.
Up first for the night was the diversely talented 17-year-old singer/actress, Noah Cyrus. If you couldn’t guess by the name, Noah is the younger sister to Miley Cyrus and the daughter of country legend, Billy Ray Cyrus. But just as Miley made her own name for herself, stepping out of her father’s shadow, Noah is quickly doing the same.
Not only is Cyrus making her arena tour debut, but the Nashville native has already celebrated her first platinum-certified single with ‘Make Me (Cry)’, her music video for ‘Stay Together’ has already amassed over 50 million views on YouTube, and she is only months away from the release of her anticipated debut album, NC-17.
While Cyrus put together one of our favorite performances from B96′s Summer Bash concert, just months ago and only a few miles away, her live performance clearly improves with a supporting performance, when compared to a radio gig. Performing seven songs, just under a half hour, Cyrus previewed a number of tracks from her forthcoming debut LP and gave a memorable performance of Selena Gomez’s ‘It Ain’t Me’ and Lady Gaga’s ‘Million Reasons’, a performance which earned her a big co-sign from Gaga weeks ago. And when Lady Gaga comments on your bright future, and your cover “warms her heart”, you must be doing something right.
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
Personal highlights of Cyrus’ set came at the beginning and end, as Noah opened with her fun and addictive single ‘Stay Together’ and closed with her Labyrinth-assisted hit, ‘Make Me (Cry)’, two tracks which are night and day in their feel but together help show the range of content that young Cyrus can sing about. Although Noah Cyrus’ supporting performance won’t quite compare to Perry’s, with the experience and monumental production that Katy Perry brings to the table, Cyrus still gave fans a million reasons to get to the arena early and to catch an inevitable headlining tour that will come through in the relative future.
With the mood set from Noah Cyrus’ supporting set, it was time for Katy Perry to great her Chicago fans. Opening with the title track from her new album, Witness, Perry’s 4th major label album and where the tour also get its name, Perry submerged from the sky on a giant star, in the biggest Katy Perry-fashion imaginable. But that was only the beginning as a number of props, wildly dressed backup dancers, giant puppets and expensive production elements would complement her throughout the hour and 45-minute performance.
For Perry’s second song of the night, ‘Roulette’, the Santa Barbara-native sang atop two huge dice and confetti began to fall from the sky. Although tonight’s performance was dominated by the biggest single’s of Perry career, which mostly precede her new album, it was the fun and eye catching production of the tour that made Perry’s performances from her newest LP (which she performed just over half of), not only bearable but equally entertaining.
For Katy Perry’s Witness single ‘Swish Swish’, Perry performed an extended 10-minute version of the track and took time to pick out a dad from the crowd for a little shootout. Their may not be a bust of the dad displayed next to Michael Jordan at the UC’s stadium for all to see, but in that moment he was the coolest dad on the planet.
Photo by Dan Garcia/The Early Registration
A personal highlight of Perry’s set came midway as the infamous Left Shark, from Perry’s 2015 Super Bowl performance, blessed the stage to bust out it’s perfectly imperfect dance moves at the end of the catwalk, as Perry performed her track ‘California Gurls’. Left Shark remained on stage as Katy Perry used a huge telephone to make a call home to mom, which actually may have been real. That sequence paved the way right into Perry’s breakout track, ‘I Kissed A Girl’, where KP was hoisted onto a huge set of red lips.
To cap things off, Perry closed her set with her 2013 hit, ‘Roar’, a track which reminded us of the huge voice behind all the glitter and glam. But the night wasn’t quite over, as Perry returned to the stage atop of a huge hand, to perform her Teenage Dream record, ‘Firework’, complete with confetti, applause, and real actual fireworks.
Tonight’s performance was wacky and fun and everything you needed on a Tuesday night. Perry does anything but mail-it-in when it comes to her tours, so much so, that you wonder how she even turns a profit with all the production and theatrics that her tours offer. If you wanted entertainment, you got it. If you wanted the hits, she brought them. If you wanted cuts from the new album, you got that to. And even if you wanted a raw display of Perry’s vocals, she gave you some of that as well. Tonight was nothing short of a spectacle, and we say that in the best way possible. Perry brings so much to her tour, but most importantly, not at the expense of anything else.
If you missed out tonight, you’re in luck, because Katy Perry and Noah Cyrus return to the United Center tomorrow night.
Music fans in Chicago were in for a treat last night as MetroPCS and Pandora brought Big Sean to Park West in Chicago for their Sounds of Chicago event. With free drinks and food from some of the city’s best spots, a photo booth, tons of free swag and a DJ to warm up the crowd, the night was set for Big Sean to close things out with a full 18-song performance.
Repping a killer Dennis Rodman jersey, Big Sean got the crowd moving with his I Decided track ‘Moves’, which he then followed up with tracks like ‘Paradise’, ‘No Favors’ and his stand out GOOD Music verses on ‘Mercy’ and ‘Clique’. Early on Big Sean also took time to thank the sponsors for bringing him back to one of his favorite cities in the world, where he also had to give a big shoutout to Harold’s Chicken.
Only a few months removed from his memorable performance at Lollapalooza, Big Sean could have easily mailed in his performance. After all, since it was an entirely free show for fans, everyone would have left with their money’s worth. However Big Sean brought the energy and hits that come with one of his tour dates, but in a much more intimate setting, making for a great and unique experience for all of those lucky enough to attend. Chicago fans already can’t wait for Big Sean or Pandora to return for another memorable performance.
Check out our photos from last night’s performance below.
When Imagine Dragons last performed for their Windy City fans, it was at the Allstate Arena on June 15th, 2015. That same night, the Chicago Blackhawks won the Stanley Cup in a thrilling game six victory at the United Center. Just a couple years later, Chicago is hoping that the Las Vegas natives bring their good luck again, as the defending World Series champions, the Chicago Cubs, are facing elimination at Wrigley Field, as Imagine Dragons perform just a few miles away, and where else, the United Center.
But irregardless of the story that would be told at the historic Wrigley Field tonight, music fans took home the “W” as Imagine Dragon’s Evolve Tour delivered from start to finish. From K.Flay’s amazing performance to warm up her homestate crowd to Imagine Dragon’s encore performance of ‘Believer’, no fan left with their voice and everyone left having a memorable night.
While Imagine Dragon certainly did their part to sell the lion’s share of tickets for their headlining sold-out show, the tour’s supporting acts of K.Flay and GROUPLOVE put on a great performance in their own right and gave fans reason to head to the arena moments after doors opened. Wilmette, Illinois native K.Flay blew the crowd away with her impressive vocals, performing a half-hour of her stand out tracks, including ‘Blood In The Cut’ and ‘High Enough’.
While technically labeled a rapper, K.Flay has a diverse sound that Top 40, indie and hip-hop fans alike can enjoy. A sound so great and diverse that it caught the attention of Imagine Dragon’s Dan Reynolds who signed the Everywhere Is Some Where artist to his “Night Street Records” imprint. Although Chicago fans tonight weren’t late to the K.Flay party, it’s time to hop on the bandwagon now, because Illinois’ own has been gaining momentum ever since her 2014 debut.
Among the tour’s supporting act was also the Los Angeles indie pop band, GROUPLOVE. Led by Hannah Hopper, GROUPLOVE delivers a polarizing sound that may not be for everyone, but either way, the group brought a ton of energy and character to the entire night. While we certainly enjoyed GROUPLOVE’s set, their live performance might be enjoyed best during a more intimate headlining club show.
After crew finished prepping the stage for the act of the night, it was time for Imagine Dragons to greet their Chicago fans. Kicking things off with their new album’s opening track, ‘I Don’t Know Why’, the crowd erupted from the general admission pits to the nosebleeds. The band emerged through the laser lights as their giant video board supplemented their performance.
Directly after, Dan Reynolds took a moment to get serious before his band performed their 2012 track, ‘It’s Time’. Speaking on the recent tragedy and shooting in Las Vegas, which especially hits close to home to the Las Vegas-natives, Reynolds refused to allow anyone to destroy people’s love for music, which set the stage for ‘It’s Time’, a track that Reynolds wrote during a very difficult and depressing time of his life.
And while the crowd shared an intimate and sincere moment with the band early on, it hardly set the tone for the rest of the night. Throughout the set Imagine Dragons performed a catalog of their biggest hits from the past decade, of course with a lot of attention to their newest LP, where the tour get its name.
One highlight of the performance included the band’s B-stage visit, where fans closer to the back got an up-close performance of ‘Bleeding Out’, ‘Dream’ and a tribute to the late great Tom Petty with ‘I Won’t Back Down’. As Reynolds returned to the catwalk and the clock started to creep on midnight and word traveled that the Cubs got the win, Imagine Dragon’s closed out their set with a memorable performance of their mega-hit ‘Radioactive’, only to return to the stage for some free music when the band truly ended the night with an encore performance of ‘Believer’.
We were all believers tonight, and Imagine Dragons did not disappoint. Chicago fans already can’t wait until the band’s next visit.
Hoodie Allen returned to Milwaukee Saturday night, as the Long Island native brought his headlining The Hype World Tour to The Rave, with support from Myles Parrish and Luke Christopher.
And while it seems like it’s been awhile since Hoodie blessed the stage for his Wisconsin fans, the ‘No Interruption’ rapper is no stranger to The Rave. Allen has performed a number of memorable shows at the infamous venue, including visits for his People Keep Talking Tour, his Cruisin’ USA Tour and of course his 2012 co-headlining tour with G-Eazy.
Having just kicked off The Hype World Tour days ago, Hoodie’s Milwaukee fans got an early taste of the tour and were some of the first in the world to hear cuts from Allen’s brand new and self-released album, where the tour gets its name and which dropped just a couple weeks ago on September 29th.
Throughout the night, Hoodie Allen performed a perfect mix of tracks, both from his new album and his biggest singles and fan favorites from his previous albums and EPs, including records like ‘Know It All’, ‘Sushi’ and ‘All About It’ to name a few. What made the selection of tracks so perfect was likely the fact that the fans themselves chose the setlist for the show, when Hoodie gave fans the opportunity to play a role in the tour by creating an online poll for each night’s setlist. Although time wouldn’t allow Allen to perform every single song he has ever recorded, you can bet that everyone in the crowd left as a happy camper.
It wasn’t just the songs that made last night so great, as Hoodie Allen delivers an exceptional amount of energy into his live performances. You may not find the production level that a high budget arena tour may offer, but Hoodie Allen works the crowd like none other. And what better cherry on top, than to bring a inflatable raft onto the stage and float throughout the packed crowd?
From start to finish, Hoodie Allen gives his all to his fans on stage and off, so it’s no surprise that Milwaukee and The Rave continue to embrace Hoodie Allen throughout the years.
Check out our photos from last night’s performance below, and get your tickets for the remaining dates of the The Hype World Tour here.
The Early Registration 