The Punk Vault

The Flowers Of Romance Revisited – 4/11/26 at Reggie’s

Saturday night at Reggie’s was a very special night as Martin Atkins and Chris Connelly put together a really talented band to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the Public Image Ltd. album, The Flowers Of Romance. How 45 years has already...

The Flowers Of Romance Revisited dress rehearsal – 4/10/26 at The Museum of Post Punk and Industrial Music

If you are a fan of Public Image, Ltd., you may be aware that my personal favorite album of theirs, The Flowers Of Romance, just turned 45 years old this month! How 45 years went by so fast is an alarming mystery, but suffice it to say that album...

Descendents, Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls – 3/15/26 at The Salt Shed

Sunday night was a magical night for music when Descendents and Frank Turner And The Sleeping Souls played the final night of their tour together at The Salt Shed, one of the nicest venues in Chicago history! Even a rainstorm didn’t keep...

Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything, Sincere Engineer – 2/13/26 at Riviera

Friday night was a triple bill of both emo and pop/punk bands at the Riviera that featured Motion City Soundtrack, Say Anything, and Sincere Engineer. The place was absolutely packed, even before the first band went on! First up was Sincere Engineer...

Smoking Popes – 11/28/25 at Bottom Lounge

Those not interested in getting in fights over flatscreen TVs on Black Friday had a much more entertaining option when Smoking Popes headlined a show at Bottom Lounge. They were on a three band bill and it was a really solid lineup so it was well...

The Saints ’73-’78 – 11/11/25 at Metro

Last tuesday the Metro hosted some Australian punk legends when The Saints ’73-’78 headlined a show there. They were part of a two band bill. First up, also hailing from Australia, was Chimers. This duo made a sound as big as a five...

My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult – 10/31/25 at Concord Music Hall

If you live in Chicago and were ever part of or into the industrial/Wax Trax scene then can you think of a better way to spend Halloween than seeing My Life With The Thrill Kill Kult headline a show at a really good venue? The answer is no, you...

Swans – 9/30/25 at Metro

Tuesday night was a big night if you are a Swans fan as the band made their return once again to the beloved Metro here in Chicago. They headlined a two band bill and when Swans play, it’s always an event. First up was Little Annie & Paul...

Category - Show Reviews

Riot Fest 2018 Day One

As summer starts to wind down and the kids go back to school, the city of Chicago has one last blast before the end of the season and that’s Riot Fest! The festival happens in the middle of every September and...

Helloween 9/10/18 at Concord Music Hall

Last night was a special night for power metal fans at the Concord Music Hall as they presented an evening with Helloween. There was no opening bands, and this version of Helloween is unlike any that you’ve ever...

Channel 3 – 9/7/18 at Liar’s Club

It is always a treat when a classic punk rock band from the early days comes to town and play a show, it is an even bigger treat when that band happens to be Channel 3. These punk rock veterans have been at it for...

350 Fest 8/25/18 at Tinley Park Convention Center

What goes together better than punk rock and beer? The answer is nothing! Ever since Darby Crash uttered “will somebody give me a beer” in The Decline of Western Civilization, and likely well before that...

Godflesh 8/24/18 at Metro

Friday night the Metro and the people behind the Cold Waves festival joined forces to have a show at Metro with the mighty Godflesh as the headliner.  They were joined by three opening acts and it was a great way to...

Dead Milkmen 7/12/18 at House of Vans

It was a pretty hot Thursday night in Chicago which was made hotter by the great event happening at House of Vans. The relatively new venue in the West Loop threw one of their “house parties” which not only...

Poptone 6/21/18

If you were a fan of Bauhaus, Love and Rockets, and Tones on Tail, the Concord Music Hall was the place to be on Thursday night when Poptone headlined a three band bill. All the rain just meant all the more reason to...

Aweful 6/8/18 at Empty Bottle

Last night a great new band made their live début at Empty Bottle as part of a show hosted by the Chicago Underground Film Festival. That band is named Aweful and they were anything but awful, in fact they were quite...