The Punk Vault

Nitzer Ebb – 8/22/26 at Metro

Saturday night, industrial music legends Nitzer Ebb made a welcome return to Chicago once again to headline a show at Metro. It was a three band bill that featured two veteran acts alongside a newer one that may not have been familiar to a lot of...

Eagles Of Death Metal – 8/21/26 at Metro

Friday night was an exciting night in Chicago because Eagles Of Death Metal made their return to headline a show at the beloved Metro. The place was packed full of fans eager for a good night of rock and roll. First up was Mountain Head. This three...

All – 8/5/26 at Thalia Hall

Wednesday night, the beloved brother band of the Descendents, All, made their return to Chicago to headline a show at Thalia Hall. Aside from playing Riot Fest a few years ago, I can’t recall the last time that All did a proper tour so it was...

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...

Category - Show Reviews

Riot Fest 20 Day Two – 9/20/25 at Douglass Park

Riot Fest continued on Saturday bright an early with another completely full day of great bands and great fun. We got a little bit of rain but nothing that slowed things down at all and was just more of a brief nuisance...

Riot Fest 20 Day One – 9/19/25 at Douglass Park

This year was a major milestone as Riot Fest, the best outdoor festival to ever do it, turned 20 years old! The fest started as a two-day indoor show at the Congress Theater (RIP) and over the first half of the...

The Damned – 9/17/25 at The Vic

Part of the fun of Riot Fest every year is the associated “Riot Fest Late Night” shows that take place on the evenings surrounding the big fest. This year we got a real treat two days prior to the fest when...

Sludgeworth – 9/6/25 at Edgewater Music Fest

One of the best things to happen in the last couple of years was having Sludgeworth reunite. Not only have they played a handful of really good shows but they even put out a new single! Thankfully they still seem to...

Frank Black – 1/26/25 at Metro

Sunday night, Frank Black played the second night of his two-night run at Metro, both to a packed house. It was an excellent reason to stay out on a School night. If that wasn’t enough, the opening band for these...

Ghostforest – 1/10/25 at Sleeping Village

Friday night the snow stopped just in time for people willing to go out to head to Sleeping Village for an opportunity to see Ghostforest. They were headlining a four band bill. It took a little while for the club to...

The Blood Brothers – 12/22/24 at Thalia Hall

Sunday night, fans of The Blood Brothers got one more early Xmas gift as they played not just the final night of their three night sellout run at Chicago’s Thalia Hall, but the final night of their reunion tour...

The Blood Brothers – 12/21/24 at Thalia Hall

Saturday night was the second of three nights of The Blood Brothers headlining Thalia Hall for their sold out reunion tour. The band had quite a following in the early to mid 2000’s before breaking up in 2007 and...