Hard Rock Archives - Chicago Concert Reviews

Des Plaines Theatre goes glam for “Ballroom Blitz” of Sweet’s latest line-up, Prescott Niles’ The Knack

Laying the groundwork for the entire glam rock movement of the 1970s, England’s The Sweet became regarded all around the world, initially breaking up much too soon at [More…]

The Who’s Roger Daltrey “A Great Night Out” to Milwaukee’s historic Riverside Theater

“The Song Is Over” for The Who in North America, or so the latest farewell tour advertisement went, but thankfully co-founding front man Roger Daltrey is still flying the [More…]

Cheers to 21 years of Riot Fest featuring Patti Smith, Iggy Pop, Morrissey, Alanis, Nas and more

Every Riot Fest is a cause for celebration, but now that the famed alternative festival is turning 21, it’s all the more reason to raise a toast and offer cheers, [More…]

Arcada Theatre turns 100 with parade, Ron Onesti, Priscilla Presley, Chubby Checker, Appice bros chat

If the walls inside the Arcada Theatre could talk, they would surely have at least a million stories to tell throughout 100 years of history, especially since it was [More…]

From “Smoke On The Water” to “Splat!,” Deep Purple revs up Ravinia, Kansas carries on

Rejuvenated by an infinitely unlikely reunion that reverberated around the world, Deep Purple returned to Ravinia’s completely upgraded Hunter Pavilion, armed with [More…]

“It’s Times Like These,” Soldier Field “Take Cover” in the everlasting Foo Fighters and QOTSA

Few rock bands from the last three decades have endured to the degree of the Foo Fighters, yet alone remaining as relevant, not only surviving several generations of changing [More…]

“Powering up for the last time,” AC/DC shakes Madison’s Camp Randall Stadium “All Night Long”

The global hard rock juggernaut known as AC/DC keep making bank at the box office, so it’s naturally taking another lap around North America, even if band members [More…]

The Guess Who were “Takin’ It Back,” former Eagle Don Felder took flight for Northerly Island

A version of The Guess Who has more or less remained on the road since the 1960s, but outside of the occasional reunion, co-founding singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist [More…]

Steve Albini-produced Toadies a grungy Vic Theatre “Charmer” after potent punch of Local H

As one of the grunge/alternative rock superpowers that really picked up steam in the front half of the 1990s, it might have seemed like the Toadies would’ve connected [More…]

The Dead Daisies walk on “Holy Ground,” Glenn Hughes’ does Deep Purple in Arcada’s sole U.S. show

The somewhat shifting supergroup known as The Dead Daisies always draw a considerable crowd, but when it was announced the latest line-up would perform only a single show in [More…]