{"id":203979,"date":"2025-09-06T03:37:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-06T03:37:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/203979\/"},"modified":"2025-09-06T03:37:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-06T03:37:20","slug":"10-cant-miss-concerts-in-chicago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/203979\/","title":{"rendered":"10 can\u2019t-miss concerts in Chicago"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two blockbuster concert runs bookend a busy fall slate. Beginning Sept. 15, Lady Gaga hosts her Mayhem Ball at the United Center for three evenings on her first trip to the city since summer 2022<\/a>. Toward the end of autumn, Paul McCartney swings through the United Center for a pair of dates on his Got Back Tour. The Beatles great last entertained Chicago in July 2017<\/a>. Get back, indeed, Sir Paul. It\u2019s been a long time.<\/p>\n

Plenty of action takes place between the pop juggernauts. A majority of the finer options unfold at small and midsize venues \u2014 and cost less than three figures, less than the going price of a hoodie at stadium events. While hundreds of shows will compete for your money and attention the next few months, here are 10 can\u2019t-miss events plus another 10 gigs that double as kindred shows and shrewd alternatives.<\/p>\n

Gillian Welch and David Rawlings<\/p>\n

Early in her career, Gillian Welch lost any chance of appearing hip by admitting she primarily listened to deceased musicians and considered a half-century a measuring stick for artistic relevance. She never wavered from that thinking. Leveraging close-harmony vocals, acoustic string instruments and detailed storytelling that veers from ghost-story eerie to nursery-rhyme comforting, Welch and David Rawlings play earthy Appalachian, bluegrass and folk songs rooted in a dust-swept past. The lyrical themes \u2014 mortality, pain, hope, persistence, disaster \u2014 reside equally in the present. Welch and Rawlings know the subjects well. They spent a better part of this decade rebuilding their studio, wrecked by a tornado, and coming up roses with the award-winning \u201cWoodland.\u201d 8 p.m. Sept. 24, at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; tickets from $88.02 at auditoriumtheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Joe Henry and Mike Reid.<\/strong> Veteran producer and singer-songwriter Henry finds a natural collaborator in the understated Reid, author of a dozen No. 1 country hits. 7 p.m. Sept. 14 at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; tickets from $48 at\u00a0oldtownschool.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Michael Schenker<\/p>\n

You\u2019d be challenged to identify a lead guitarist as accomplished, influential and original as Michael Schenker, who lacks mainstream name recognition in the U.S. The German native assisted the Scorpions on two LPs and fueled the vastly underrated British ensemble UFO on six esteemed albums, including the live landmark \u201cStrangers in the Night\u201d \u2014 all before turning 24. Schenker then anchored the Scorpions\u2019 breakout \u201cLovedrive\u201d record before bad blood and differing opinions sent him on his own path. At these three shows, the hard-rock virtuoso who inspired Metallica shredder James Hetfield to obtain the white \u201cFlying V\u201d model that helped catapult him to stardom will exclusively perform material from his \u201970s stint with UFO. 7:30 p.m. Sept. 25 and 8 p.m. Sept. 26 at Des Plaines Theatre, 1476 Miner St., Des Plaines; tickets from $158.75 at desplainestheatre.com<\/a>. 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles; sold out, www.arcadalive.com<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Bruce Dickinson.<\/strong> On a rare outing without his main band, the swashbuckling Iron Maiden vocalist delves into his formidable, seven-album-strong solo catalog. 8 p.m. Sept. 27 at The Vic Theatre; tickets (ages 18+) from $84.67 at jamusa.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Raphael Saadiq<\/p>\n

Multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and producer Raphael Saadiq is the musician countless \u201cretro soul\u201d simulators wish they could be. Embodying a savvy combination of class, sophistication, smarts and style, the Oakland native learned from some of the best in the biz. Specifically, the icons of the \u201960s and \u201970s he grew up watching, and Sheila E., with whom he toured while her band opened for Prince in the \u201980s. Since establishing a name for himself with the R&B trio Tony! Toni! Ton\u00e9!, Saadiq released five rewarding solo LPs and became an in-demand collaborator whose 22-time Grammy-nominated resume counts credits ranging from Beyonc\u00e9 to Elton John and Mary J. Blige. If you go, and you definitely should, expect razor-sharp interplay and total commitment to the craft. And remember to dress to the nines. 8 p.m. Oct. 8 at the Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; tickets from $66.35 at msg.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"RaphaelRaphael Saadiq performs during the 2018 Pitchfork Music Festival at Union Park on July 21, 2018. (Courtney Pedroza \/ Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Thundercat.<\/strong> Fresh from co-headlining the Montreal Jazz Festival, the bassist-vocalist flouts his genre-hopping constructs on a short tour. 8 p.m. Nov. 7 at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $63.75 at\u00a0ticketmaster.com<\/a><\/p>\n

The Third Mind<\/p>\n

Though an abundance of legacy acts cozy up to nostalgia as they enter the later phases of their lives, others, like the crew of the Third Mind, grow more curious. Spurred by the idea of recording using the groove-based improvisational methods Miles Davis devised to create the electric-jazz milestone \u201cBitches Brew,\u201d and furthered by A-list personnel who made the exploratory notion a reality, the Third Mind takes psychedelia, blues and mystical rock \u2018n\u2019 roll down a deep, twisty rabbit hole with no guarantee of emerging out another side. As for its pedigree? Ex-Blasters guitarist Dave Alvin, drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson, John Cale) and bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven, Cracker) head up the quintet. 8 p.m. Oct. 10 at Garcia\u2019s Chicago, 1001 W. Washington Blvd.; tickets (ages 21+) from $38.45 at garciaschicago.live<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> X and Lobos.<\/strong> Well-versed in everything from rockabilly to blues, two of Los Angeles\u2019 finest exports celebrate \u201c99 years of rock \u2018n roll\u201d with the benefit of original band members. 8 p.m. Oct. 16 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Drive; tickets from $55.88 at auditoriumtheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n

Doechii<\/p>\n

Predicting the future of entertainment trends remains a fool\u2019s errand. Yet all signs point to the likelihood that this show marks your final opportunity to catch Doechii in a medium-capacity venue. For all its notorious acoustics, the intimacy of the Aragon beats experiencing the skilled Florida rapper in a field with tens of thousands of other fans jostling for prime position at last month\u2019s Lollapalooza<\/a> \u2014 where she basically trumped every artist above and beneath her on the bill with a blaze of costumes, choreography and props. Just as importantly, her \u201cSchool of Hip Hop\u201d bustled with charisma, control, songs and flow. Consider it fitting she\u2019s launching her \u201cLive from the Swamp Tour\u201d in a city built on a swamp, and a stroke of luck that promoters failed to realize it could\u2019ve easily been booked in a bigger space. 8 p.m. Oct. 14 at Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $333.50 at ticketmaster.com<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Billy Woods.<\/strong> One of the 21st century\u2019s most prolific, versatile and intriguing MCs returns in support of the horror-themed \u201cGolliwog\u201d LP. 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets (ages 17+) from $33.52 at www.thaliahallchicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"NekoNeko Case performs at the Vic Theatre, April 26, 2019, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)
\nNeko Case<\/p>\n

Two falls ago, Neko Case co-headlined a packed date at Salt Shed. She sang resplendent tunes about loneliness, mourning and animals just blocks away from the Hideout, the local institution where the singer bartended and above which she resided before a wider community discovered her siren voice. The Vermont transplant also revealed she was in town recording an album. The result, \u201cNeon Grey Midnight Green,\u201d marks Case\u2019s first new studio work in more than seven years. It arrives on the heels of her eyebrow-raising \u201cThe Harder I Fight the More I Love You: A Memoir,\u201d<\/a> a book that mirrors the philosophical stances and primal instincts that grace her melodic fare. Nearly three decades into a dazzlingly adventurous career, Case lacks the broadband range of certain powerhouse vocalists but possesses an innate sense for tone, feel, color and psyche few contemporaries match. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $54.45 at saltshedchicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> The Beths.<\/strong> Led by the effervescent Elizabeth Stokes, the New Zealand quartet taps power-pop veins and reliably boosts the pep of their studio output onstage. 8 p.m. Nov. 23 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $39.10 at saltshedchicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Jesse Welles<\/p>\n

Jesse Welles trod a road less traveled in transforming from an unknown rock hopeful to a folk-driven protest singer who blew up on social media, tackles topical subjects and pairs with Billy Strings on \u201cPilgrim,\u201d the third formal effort he issued this year. It joins a catalog of more than two dozen full-lengths and EPs tied to him. Unafraid of failure and apparently unconcerned with self-editing, the Arkansas troubadour only recently found his place after he started mining the news for inspiration. Biting songs about capitalism, Ozempic, war, United Healthcare, foreign policy, artificial intelligence, fentanyl, President Donald Trump and other hot-button subjects followed. Given the rate at which Welles writes and the frequency with which the news wires pulse with doom and gloom, Welles might have another two LPs of material ready by these dates. 8 p.m. Oct. 23 and 24 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; sold out, limited number of tickets available when doors open, thaliahallchicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

\"JesseJesse Welles in Nashville, Tennessee, on Feb. 12, 2025. (Eric Ryan Anderson\/The New York Times)<\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Hayden Pedigo.<\/strong> The sometimes political candidate and prankster updates American Primitive tradition for a younger generation with haunting finger-picked guitar arrangements. 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. Nov. 23 at Sleeping Village, 3734 W. Belmont Ave.; tickets (ages 21+) from $24.72 at sleeping-village.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Yob<\/p>\n

Though much of the modern metal scene exists underground, where groups engage in never-ending competitions of extreme one-upsmanship, Yob stems from a period when intense music underwent a renaissance that involved cross-pollination from multiple disciplines. That helps explain why subgenre labels such as doom, stoner and prog never stick to the band \u2014 and why it draws attention from outlets and festivals usually allergic to crushing, molten lead. Heavy, dense, patient, stormy, visceral, and given to prolonged moments of solace and beauty: The trio\u2019s low-end-leaning sludge burrows into your physical core. If you surrender to its movements and vibrations, they often come across as waves of meditative bliss. This is one of only two North American dates scheduled outside of Yob\u2019s Oregon base. 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at Thalia Hall, 1807 S. Allport St.; tickets (ages 17+) from $42.56 at thaliahallchicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Dark Angel and Sacred Reich.<\/strong> Bolstered by monster drummer Gene Hoglan, thrash titans Dark Angel attempt a late-career comeback. 6:30 p.m. Oct. 3 at Reggies, 2105 S. State St.; tickets (ages 17+) from $60.43 at reggieslive.com\/show\/dark-angel<\/a><\/p>\n

David Byrne<\/p>\n

Back when independent bands that signed to major record labels were frequently viewed with a jaundiced eye, R.E.M. and Sonic Youth were cited as bellwethers of how to maintain integrity when going the corporate route. It seems many critics and fans forgot that Talking Heads beat them to it. Due to myriad factors, the bygone quartet continues to enjoy increasing degrees of cross-generational relevance reflected both on the screen (a remastered \u201cStop Making Sense\u201d), in record shops and songs of its descendants. Wisely, leader David Byrne never reunited the Talking Heads. He just kept innovating, experimenting, imagining: doing wild, wild life with theater, TV, text, music and everything in between. His new project with the Ghost Train Orchestra promises to mix visuals, narratives and sound in ways only the idiosyncratic pioneer can conceive. 8 p.m. Oct. 28, 29, 31 and Nov. 1 at Auditorium Theatre, 50 E. Ida B. Wells Dr.; tickets from $98.05 at auditoriumtheatre.org<\/a><\/p>\n

\"DavidDavid Byrne performs during the 2018 Coachella Valley Music And Arts Festival at the Empire Polo Field on April 21, 2018 in Indio, California. (Rich Fury\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Patti Smith.<\/strong> The outspoken provocateur and poet extraordinaire performs the seminal \u201cHorses\u201d album in its entirety with her electrifying band. 8 p.m. Nov. 17 and 18th at Chicago Theatre, 175 N. State St.; sold out, msg.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Robert Plant<\/p>\n

In an interview with the Tribune in 2018<\/a>, Robert Plant spoke of hearing a \u201csubterranean drumbeat\u201d and embarking on a \u201cquest for creating great sound.\u201d Those callings \u2014\u00a0\u00a0coupled with an insatiable curiosity for outre rhythms, untrodden ideas and so-called \u201cworld music\u201d \u2014 still serve him at the tender age of 77. His passion for roots and folk, manifested on a handful of LPs and tours with Alison Krauss, continues unabated with his current ensemble, Saving Grace. Digging into what Plant calls \u201ca song book of the lost and found,\u201d the harmony-rich sextet reframes tunes by a diverse cast of writers and conjures a swirling blend of joy, sweetness and dreaminess that functions as a balm to the artifice of our progressively staid digital world. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 12 at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave.; sold out. 7:30 p.m. at Old Town School of Folk Music, 4544 N. Lincoln Ave.; sold out, oldtownschool.org<\/a><\/p>\n

See also:<\/strong> Jeff Tweedy.<\/strong> The indefatigable Wilco leader makes it a friends-and-family affair with a new triple album (\u201cTwilight Override\u201d) and the latest trek in his shape-shifting career. 7:30 p.m. Nov. 1 at Salt Shed, 1357 N. Elston Ave.; tickets (ages 17+) from $64.65 at saltshedchicago.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Bob Gendron is a freelance critic.<\/p>\n

\"RobertRobert Plant performs with Alison Krauss at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park Tuesday, June 7, 2022, in Chicago. (John J. Kim\/Chicago Tribune)
\nFALL ARTS 2025<\/p>\n

Look for all of our guides, Top 10 lists and critics\u2019 picks for what\u2019s coming:<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Originally Published: September 5, 2025 at 5:30 AM CDT<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Two blockbuster concert runs bookend a busy fall slate. Beginning Sept. 15, Lady Gaga hosts her Mayhem Ball…\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":203980,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5124],"tags":[960,171,5386,1818,2765,1370,5424,1072],"class_list":{"0":"post-203979","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-chicago","8":"tag-chicago","9":"tag-entertainment","10":"tag-il","11":"tag-illinois","12":"tag-keywee","13":"tag-latest-headlines","14":"tag-music-and-concerts","15":"tag-things-to-do"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/115155268079737308","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203979","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=203979"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203979\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/203980"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=203979"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=203979"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=203979"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}