Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Having been a new wave trailblazer leading Oingo Boingo throughout the 1980s would’ve been enough to immortalize singer/songwriter/composer Danny Elfman, but that was only just the beginning of what he would go on to innovate and accomplish.

Turning to gothic-themed film scores and classical works by the end of the decade allowed him to rack up countless credits, alongside a lifelong creative partnership with A-list director Tim Burton, all while maintaining a prolific solo career. 

Thankfully, a little bit of everything was on display when Elfman made a rare appearance in Chicago at the Aragon Ballroom, which outside of extremely occasional soundtrack shows and last fronting the group in 1994, was his first ever local career-spanning set, in addition to being the start of an entire fall tour.

Accompanied by an all-star band of guitarist Nili Brosh (Dethklok), fellow guitarist Robin Finck (Nine Inch Nails, Guns N’ Roses), bassist Matt McJunkins (A Perfect Circle, Eagles Of Death Metal) and drummer Josh Freese (Nine Inch Nails, Foo Fighters), the double Emmy and Grammy Award-winner was endlessly epic in the rock context.

There was a hearty helping of the sole headliner’s previous industrialized long-player “Big Mess,” plus a slice of the next mind-bending one on the way, such as the alternative, practically cinematic nature of “Upside Down” and “The River Of Life,” each complemented by oddly alluring visuals.

Movie and television themes were mostly absent outside of “This Is Halloween” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” featuring the normally shirtless Elfman tossing on a Jack Skellington-styled jacket, though it was surely disappointing to some he didn’t fit in at least a couple more off a lengthy list including “Beetlejuice,” “Batman,” “The Simpsons,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “Spider-Man.”

Nonetheless, he frequently brought it back to the beginning of Oingo Boingo, a beloved albeit underrated act still capable of sounding ahead of its time four decades later when he dusted off “Insects,” “Nothing To Fear (But Fear Itself),” “Just Another Day,” “Ain’t This The Life,” “On The Outside,” and of course, “Dead Man’s Party” (though unfortunately not “Weird Science”).

In fact, the ending was exclusively spent on that period as well, reanimating additional essentials “Only A Lad,” “No One Lives Forever” and “Who Do You Want To Be” to make this enthralling yet slightly short 80-minute evening otherwise feel full circle.

For additional information on Danny Elfman, visit DannyElfman.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom include Black Label Society (Sept. 12); Jay Park (Sept. 15); Wave To Earth (Sept. 22); EsDeeKid (Sept. 26); Steve Lacy (Sept. 30); Brand New (Oct. 3); Starbomb (Oct. 7); Shaboozey (Oct. 9); JPEGMAFIA (Oct. 10); Taste Of Chaos (Oct. 11); Jessie Ware (Oct. 13); Suki Waterhouse (Oct. 17); Yousuke Yukimatsu (Oct. 23); The Living Tombstone (Oct. 30) and Gods Of Chaos (Oct. 31). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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