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

Slayer 11/15/13 at Aragon Ballroom

The Aragon Ballroom has a fairly long history of hosting big metal shows and they kept the tradition up Friday night when they were the host for the return of Slayer! These metal legends hit the road after a very tough...

The Dickies 11/9/13 at Reggie’s

Saturday  night brought the return of punk forefathers, The Dickies. These pioneers of American punk rock have been around for over 33 years now and are still at it with founding members Stan Lee and Leonard Graves...

Agent Orange and The Bollweevils 10/11 at Reggie’s

Saturday night was a perfect night for a punk rock show and in the South Loop area of Chicago there was no better place to find such a show than Reggie’s. Punk legends Agent Orange played a show along with...

Riot Fest 2013 day three

The third and final day of Riot Fest 2013 didn’t get off to the best start because Mother Nature decided to try her best to ruin the day by having it rain. It rained off and on for nearly the entire day but as the...

Riot Fest 2013 day two

On Saturday the weather was absolutely perfect for an outdoor festival and even more people turned up for the second day of Riot Fest than the record-breaking first day and they got there earlier too. The show started...

Riot Fest 2013 day one

Summer is ending which also means that festival season is also coming to an end but it went out with a bang last weekend when the annual Riot Fest took place in Humboldt Park. Last year the fest grew from being held in...

The Bollweevils 8/2/13 at Brauerhouse

While Lollapallooza was happening down in the city something far more interesting and intimate was happening out in the suburbs as The Bollweevils headlined a show at the Brauerhouse in Lombard. They were part of a...