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

Marilyn Manson 7/5/13 at Riviera

It has been a couple of years since he last toured but Marilyn Manson brought his musical freak show back to Chicago to play at the Riviera. This show was originally booked at the Congress Theater but ended up being...

Naked Raygun 6/28/13 at Metro

The Metro turned 30 years old this year and what better way to celebrate than with a band that has been around even longer and was one of the bands who were regulars there. Naked Raygun are super heroes in the city of...

Bow Wow Wow/Gene Loves Jezebel 6/27/13 at Reggies

It was 80’s prom theme night over at Reggies on Thursday night when two 1980’s bands teamed up for a show. Bow Wow Wow and Gene Loves Jezebel  hit the road on a joint tour and the air was thick with...

D.I. 6/18/13 at Reggies

As summer finally is getting under way it means that more bands are touring. Tuesday night one of those bands is punk rock legends, D.I. who headlined an evening of punk rock over at Reggies in the South Loop. Those...

Kylesa 6/5/13 at Bottom Lounge

Wednesday night over in the West Loop, the Bottom Lounge hosted the return of Kylesa to Chicago. It had been awhile since they last played here which was out of character for the band as they tour quite often and seem...

Bad Religion – 4/5/13 at Congress Theater

A few thousand punk rock fans spanning multiple generations packed the main floor of the Congress Theater on Friday night for a three-band show headlined by Bad Religion. The show was originally supposed to include...