The Punk Vault

Cold Waves XIV: The Tear Garden – 9/24/26 at Bottom Lounge

Cold Waves somehow is 14 years old this. year, which is shocking how fast the years went by but here we are. While Riot Fest closed out the summer last weekend, Cold Waves always kicks off the fall and they always do it in style. This year was no...

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...

Category - Show Reviews

The Smashing Pumpkins 11/26/14 at Thalia Hall

Billy Corgan has had a lot of changes in his life recently, not the least of which is he assembled another (mostly) new lineup of his main creative outlet, the Smashing Pumpkins. Billy has been the one mainstay in the...

King Diamond 10/21/14 at The Vic Theater

It has been a long time since King Diamond toured the United States. It has been something like six years since he last graced us with his presence which coincidentally is the last time he released a new album. Things...

The Bollweevils 10/18/14 at Brauerhouse

One of the best bands Chicago has to offer headlined a show at The Brauerhouse in Lombard which apparently is a venue that starts shows whenever the hell they feel like it regardless what their advertising says. It was...

Riot Fest 2014 day three

The third and final day of Riot Fest 2014 at Chicago’s Humboldt Park not only featured another day of great bands of various styles but it also featured the best weather of the weekend. It was sunny and warm the...

Riot Fest 2014 day two

The second day of Riot Fest saw a major improvement in weather as it was both warmer and drier than the day before. It was a beautiful day for an outdoor festival and the only negative about the entire day was how the...

Riot Fest 2014 day one

Last weekend marked the tenth anniversary of Riot Fest. The now decade old fest was celebrated in style by being the largest fest yet. The fest spanned a majority of  Chicago’s Humboldt Park and included more...

Billy Corgan 8/30 at Ravinia

Billy Corgan has played a lot of the major venues both big and small over his lengthy and successful career. Whether it was in the Smashing Pumpkins, Zwan, or just playing solo, the man has done nearly all of it, except...