Pop Archives - Chicago Concert Reviews

ABC’s “Poison Arrow” and Howard Jones’ “Everlasting Love” pierce the Genesee Theatre

In England, Howard Jones and ABC are enormous, though they each made quite a splash throughout America and elsewhere, especially when dominating MTV in the 1980s. Thankfully, [More…]

The electronic euphoria of ARIZONA takes a “Victory Lap” through a sold out House Of Blues

In ten years together, electronic pop band ARIZONA logged over a billion streams and several hundred shows split between headlining or supporting the superstar likes of [More…]

“Things Can Only Get Better” when synth-pop pioneer Howard Jones joins ABC at the Genesee

Synth-pop pioneer Howard Jones defined much of the 1980s thanks to such contagious cuts as “Things Can Only Get Better,” “No One Is To Blame,” “Everlasting Love,” [More…]

Now Drury Lane “Got A Friend” and “Feel The Earth Move” in “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical”

No matter how often “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical” makes the touring or regional rounds through the Chicago area, it’s a perennial favorite that’s just as fresh [More…]

Genesee says “Happy Anniversary” to a half-century of Little River Band’s “Reminiscing”

The 50th birthday of the Little River Band is an outstanding reason to start “Reminiscing,” though the latest line-up is also marking the milestone with the entirely new [More…]

Romantic R&B, Shalamar grooves and the gospel praises of Howard Hewett please City Winery

Fresh off an extremely rare visit with funk, disco and pop hitmakers Shalamar after over 25 years away from the area, principal member Howard Hewett returned to solo life for [More…]

North Shore Center’s Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular, The Stamps Quartet raise a 90th birthday toast

The Elvis Tribute Artist Spectacular is always a cherished Midwest touring tradition thanks to OMAR Presents, but the latest edition might be the most noteworthy thus far [More…]

PureSoul Presents City Winery with “A Quincy Jones Celebration” in honor of the late local

The late 2024 loss of producer, composer, arranger, conductor, multi-instrumentalist, bandleader and first ever Black record label executive Quincy Jones was immeasurable, [More…]

From Bob Marley to Phil Collins, Black Ensemble Theater puts the needle on the “Hitt Records”

Stores that sell vinyl, CDs and cassettes might not be as common anymore, but no amount of streaming or online engagement can replace the feeling of physically browsing the [More…]

Peabo Bryson, “Idols” Ruben and Haley, Oleta Adams take Genesee “Home For The Holidays”

The Genesee Theatre in Waukegan was a winter wonderland just a few days before Christmas, starting with the cozy decorations that greeted guests and continuing when the [More…]