New Wave 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…]

Famed film composer Danny Elfman of Oingo Boingo throws Aragon a “Dead Man’s Party”

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 [More…]

Empire Of The Sun have The Salt Shed “Walking On A Dream” during Lollapalooza aftershow

Seeing a set at Lollapalooza is always an event in and of itself, but getting a chance to catch one of its prominent players in a coveted aftershow is as exclusive and [More…]

The Human League, Soft Cell, Alison Moyet span “Generations” in Chicago Theatre sell out

In the 15 years since electronic innovators The Human League last came to town, its legend has only expanded, which alongside the similarly influential likes of Soft Cell and [More…]

Thomas Dolby does indeed blind House Of Blues with science, ’80s, Gail Ann Dorsey’s assists

Few artists were as identifiable with the 1980s as Thomas Dolby, though the electronic innovator went on to explore a multitude of projects as a singer, songwriter, keyboard [More…]

“Totally Tubular” Thomas Dolby plans to blind Illinois with science and “Iconic 80s Recollections”

There’s so much more to Thomas Dolby than simply being the inventor of “She Blinded Me With Science,” although the fact it had such a prominent presence [More…]

Boy George & Culture Club cheerfully spread all kinds of “Karma” around a sold out Hard Rock Live

So many aspects of 1980s were defined by Boy George & Culture Club, from a brilliant blend of new wave, soul and reggae sounds, to pushing the envelope with gender fluid [More…]

“Stop Making Sense”: Genesee Theatre “Must Be The Place” when Jerry Harrison talks Heads

Despite being broken up since 1991, outside of a single Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction reunion in 2002, Talking Heads are back in the cultural conversation, thanks in [More…]

CU1 Amp encounters the mind-blowing “Breach” of Twenty One Pilots’ closing “Clancy” saga

A mere year after dropping the “Clancy” collection, Twenty One Pilots followed it up with “Breach,” a continuation of a conceptual saga whose narrative dates as far [More…]

Rivers Casino relishes 40th anniversary of Howard Jones’ “Dream,” Haircut 100 in America

Between the 40th anniversary of Howard Jones’ breakthrough album, “Dream Into Action,” and the fact that Haircut 100 hasn’t been to the Chicago area in at least as [More…]