The Punk Vault

Riot Fest 2026 Day Three – 9/20/26 at Douglass Park

Thanks to an overnight flash flood rainstorm that lasted the entire night, and then the rain that continued the entirety of Sunday, it turned out to be the most challenging Riot Fest in history. It was challenging for everyone involved on numerous...

Riot Fest 2026 Day Two – 9/19/26 at Douglass Park

Saturday started off a little wet, but when the second day of Riot Fest opened the weather was humid but nice. Sadly that would change later in the day, but we’ll get to that in a bit. The second day of the 21st Riot Fest had a stellar lineup...

Riot Fest 2026 Day One – 9/18/26 at Douglass Park

Friday started the last and best weekend of the summer when the 21st Riot Fest kicked off. It was a beautiful day for the first day of the fest, but unfortunately it ended up being the only dry and nice day of the entire weekend. Like every year...

Cabaret Voltaire – 9/16/26 at Metro

Last night was the second and final night of Cabaret Voltaire at Metro. Just like the night before, they filled up the place nicely. I Speak Machine was up first and just like Tuesday, Tara put on am amazing performance well worthy of fighting...

Cabaret Voltaire – 9/15/26 at Metro

Tuesday night was a very special one as it saw the long awaited return of Cabaret Voltaire to the Metro. This was the first of a two night stand and the most beloved music venue in the city. It had been over 30 years since the band played here, and...

Silver Abuse – 9/3/26 at Reggie’s Music Joint

First generation Chicago punk band, Silver Abuse, made a rare appearance headlining a really good four band bill at Reggie’s Music Joint (the bar side of the venue). It was hot as hell outside, and not much cooler inside, but at least there...

Sludgeworth – 8/30/26 at Cobra Lounge

In what should become a regular thing, yesterday Cobra Lounge hosted a Sunday matinee show when Sludgeworth headlined the second of their two record release shows, the first being the night before. It only took more than three decades, but the band...

Quicksand – 8/26/26 at Bottom Lounge

Wednesday night, Quicksand and Bane made a stop here in Chicago on their current tour to play a show at Bottom Lounge. Soul Blind was the opening band. This New York band played an interesting mix of metal/post-hardcore, grunge, and a bit of...

Category - Show Reviews

Verbal Assault – 7/2/22 at Chop Shop

Three decades is a long time to wait for a band to return but that’s around how long it has been since Verbal Assault last played, let alone toured. The band recently decided to dust off their gear and get the...

Jawbreaker 4/14/22 at House of Blues

Thursday night was the second of an unprecedented four night run of Jawbreaker playing the House of Blues in Chicago. They are touring in celebration of the 25th anniversary of their last studio album, Dear You and are...

Jawbreaker – 4/13/22 at House of Blues

Just a few years ago, the idea of Jawbreaker playing shows again and being an active band was just the stuff of fantasy for their fanbase, a fanbase that grew exponentially the more years they’d been broken up...

Gary Numan – 3/21/22 at Park West

Last night saw the long-awaited return of Gary Numan to Chicago when he headlined a show at the Park West. Much like the rest of the world, the last two years were challenging for Mr. Numan. He released his most recent...

Nitzer Ebb 11/18/21 at Metro

Thursday night was an exciting night for industrial music fans as the legendary Nitzer Ebb made their return to Chicago after being off the road the last two years (thanks to the pandemic). After being cooped up for the...

Cradle Of Filth 10/16/21 at Concord Music Hall

Saturday night, Cradle Of Filth made their long-awaited return to Chicago to headline a night of metal at the Concord Music Hall. They were originally touring with 3 Teeth and Once Human, but both bands had to drop off...

Cold Waves IX Day Two 9/25/21 at Metro

Saturday night was the second night of Cold Waves IX at Metro, and the most stacked lineup of the weekend. It featured some legends, some returning acts, and a pair of legends teaming up for a set of great music as well...