Dying To Go

Cate Le Bon with Frances Chang

Thursday, January 22 • 8:00 PM

This isn't just an album—it's a sonic diary of heartache, a love letter to the lonely landscapes of desolation, and a daring exploration of the tender, messy emotions that come with love and loss. Cate Le Bon's seventh record "Michelangelo Dying" is a raw, unfiltered expression of intimate vulnerability. It's an ethereal journey that takes you from the quiet corners of Hydra, Cardiff, London to the windswept desert of Los Angeles, all through a soundscape brimming with textured arrangements, looping drones, and percussive synths. Le Bon's poignant lyrics will catch in your chest and linger long after the last fading notes of the album's centerpiece "Is It Worth It (Happy Birthday)?". This record isn't for the faint of heart—it's a testament to the transformative power of heartache, the universality of love, and the uncharted landscapes of human mortality. And if that's not enough, the legendary John Cale appears on the mournful "Ride." This is music that dares you to feel, to grieve, to love, and to survive. So plug in, tune out, and let the hauntingly beautiful melodies of Cate Le Bon guide you through the messy labyrinth of the human heart.

Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608

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Dry Cleaning with YHWH Nailgun

Friday, January 23 • 8:00 PM

Catch your breath and cancel your plans because Dry Cleaning is back on the scene. This isn't your run-of-the-mill indie rock gig, it's a spiritual transfusion of radical sounds and lyrical prowess. With Secret Love, these South London sound mavericks continue their uncanny courtship of 80s US punk paranoia and stoner rock strut, pushing boundaries and triggering dopamine hits faster than you can say 'avant garde'. Lyricist and front-person, Florence Shaw, dredges up the hidden and unspeakable, making confessions that are as haunting as they are addictive. Armed with their latest release, they're not just playing songs, they’re hosting a spoken-word seance, summoning the spirits of Laurie Anderson and Sue Tompkins. Prodigious producer Cate Le Bon describes it as akin to walking through a city - and she's not wrong; each track is a borough, a street, a hidden alleyway you're compelled to explore. Opening act YHWH Nailgun complements the engrossing headliner with a raw indie ferocity that'll make your heart skip a beat. This isn't just a concert, it's a revelation. The kind of night that makes you feel like you've discovered fire, the wheel, and the secret of the universe all at once. So, if you're tired of scrolling through your feed, looking for that jolt of coolness to snap you out of your ennui, here's your chance. Say goodbye to the humdrum, say hello to Dry Cleaning. You'll thank us later.

Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608

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What's Her Face with Front Desk and AG & The Groove

Friday, January 23 • 8:00 PM

In the vibrant, often chaotic realm of indie music, there's a bittersweet symphony about to play out. What's Her Face, the six-piece band known for their soulful male/female harmonies and charismatic stage energy is about to hang up its moniker for good. The band's acoustic-driven originals, a tasteful meld of soul, blues, and folk, will be performed one last time under the familiar name before they embark on a new journey. A new name, a debut album looming on the horizon—why not be part of this intimate transformation? Sharing the stage, of course, is Front Desk. The genre-bending sextet straight out of Chicago's electrifying music scene. Their unique flavor - a thrilling fusion of funk, soul, rock, and jazz - has a reputation for making shows a playful improvisational playground, with tunes that have the crowd singing along and begging for more. And let's not forget, AG & The Groove, offering a sound that's equal parts nostalgic and refreshingly new. These cats know how to set the theme for an impromptu night of sonic exploration. Again, this is your last chance to see What's Her Face, as they are, before they morph into their next avatar. So, grab your plus one, soak in the tunes, and bid adieu to a name that sparked many a memorable night. This is not just another show—it's an indie rite of passage. The only question left is, are you in or out?

Joe's on Weed Street
940 West Weed St.
Chicago 60642

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shame

Sunday, January 25 • 8:00 PM

Shame's new album, Cutthroat, is a veritable showdown at the intersection of raw tension and liberating release, with the five-piece firing on all cylinders. Think of it as a joyride - a reckless, exhilarating spin down the backroads of punk and indie-rock, where every note is a rebel yell and every lyric is a spit in the face of complacency. With Grammy-winning producer John Congleton pulling no punches, shame's sonic evolution is souped-up, supercharged, and guaranteed to make your heart pound like a bass drum. Ditch the ennui, because Cutthroat isn't about wallowing in self-pity - it's a riotous "fuck you" to the status quo. The record dissects the bleak reality of our current era with a biting humor and a merciless eye, painting a vivid portrait of conflict, corruption, and the primal hunger for something better. This is shame at their most unapologetic - with a fresh, confrontational sound that's as explosive as a live wire, and just as electrifying. And when that slams into their new electronic experimentation? It's the sonic equivalent of igniting a can of gasoline. From the blistering title track to the final echoes of the closer, Cutthroat is a masterclass in indie fury and dancefloor hedonism. So strap in, because this joyride is about to go from 0 to 100 - and you won't want to miss a single, heart-stopping second.

Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608

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Lauren Spencer Smith: THE ART OF BEING A MESS TOUR

Tuesday, March 3 • 6:30 PM

Catch Lauren Spencer Smith as she brings her jumbled emotions and raw energy to the legendary Aragon Ballroom stage. This isn't your average synth-pop parade, folks. Nope, Smith's THE ART OF BEING A MESS TOUR is a cathartic ballet, weaving wistful warbles into an intoxicating sonic tapestry that's sure to be as visceral as it is memorable. Doors swing open at 5:30PM and the symphony of soul-baring begins at 6:30PM. And what's that? It's an ALL AGES event, making it the perfect excuse to drag your twee-loving kid brother out of the basement. This isn't just a gig, it's a lifeline—with $1 per ticket going towards the Lauren Spencer Smith Fund supporting young folks battling housing insecurity, hunger, and addiction. You're not just feeding your insatiable appetite for alternative melodies, you're helping break the chains of disadvantage. So, come for the music, stay for the cause, and leave with your heart humming. And remember, this is a standing room only venue—so leave your inhibitions at the door and let Smith's melodic poetry sweep you off your feet.

Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
1106 W Lawrence
Chicago 60640

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Peaches - No Lube So Rude Tour (18+)

Saturday, March 7 • 8:00 PM

Take note, the Peaches are back with their "No Lube So Rude" tour, an invitation to a night that is determined to color outside of the prosaic lines of your ordinary adult life. Offering up a post-punk palette, the band's raw energy and raucous electro vibes are set to transform every venue into a brutalist playground. Their sensual, audacious tracks, laced with a subtle hint of rebellion, elicit a sense of nostalgia for a time you've never lived and a punk scene that's been dead before you even knew it existed. Grab your leather jackets and your best dancing shoes. It's not just about the music; it's about the culture, the community, the communion of like minds under the strobe lights. As the Peaches dare to be different, so should you. Join the tour and dive headfirst into the pool of audacious authenticity and raw expression. Don't sleep on this one — it's a rude awakening you won't want to miss.

Vic Theater
3145 N Sheffield Ave
Chicago 60657

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INZO - 18 & Over

Friday, March 13 • 10:00 PM

Coming off a hot streak of hits, INZO is geared up to wave their electro-pop wand over the masses, in an 18 & Over event that's bound to be the talk of the town. For the uninitiated, INZO deftly combines the ethereal soundscapes of synthpop with subtle touches of avant-garde electronica, stretching the boundaries of your typical indie fare. This isn't just another gig—it's a sonic journey. Expect heart-thumping basslines, twinkling synth motifs, and a light show that could put the Northern Lights to shame. These audio-visual conjurers are coming in hot and ready to make you question all your prior musical tastes. Fasten your seatbelts and chuck your inhibitions out the window—this is a trip you'll want to remember. If you're keen on being part of the in-crowd and ready for a night crammed full of phosphene-inducing beats and infectious energy, you’d better get your hands on those tickets ASAP. Don’t miss out and be the one scrolling through envious IG stories saying, “could’ve, would’ve, should’ve.”

Radius - Chicago
640 West Cermak Rd
Chicago 60616

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City Pop Waves: Masayoshi Takanaka SUPER TAKANAKA WORLD LIVE 2026

Tuesday, April 7 • 8:00 PM

Get ready to set your coordinates for a sonic journey beyond the edge of the known music-verse. Masayoshi Takanaka's SUPER TAKANAKA WORLD LIVE 2026 is ready to take flight and you're on the guest list. Brace yourself for a night of city pop waves crashing against the shores of the Aragon Ballroom - a space that flips traditional venue assumptions on its head, matching Takanaka's own penchant for sonic rule-breaking. Doors swing open at 7PM, but the real magic kicks off at 8PM where you get to lose yourself in Takanaka's labyrinthine soundscape. It's all ages, but don't let that fool you - this isn't some kid's show. This is a pilgrimage for the truly musically enlightened, daring the listener to dive into the deep end of audial exploration. Remember: once you're in, you're in. There's no re-entry, so make sure you're prepared for a one-way trip to planet Takanaka. This is your chance to be part of a cosmic event that will light up the indie music scene like a supernova. Be there or be subjected to the relentless FOMO wave that's sure to follow.

Byline Bank Aragon Ballroom
1106 W Lawrence
Chicago 60640

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Heavenly / Humdrum / Swansea Sound

Thursday, April 23 • 9:00 PM

Dust off your thrift-store flannels for an evening of what’s both nostalgically familiar and infectiously fresh. Heavenly, the indie-pop darlings birthed from the post-punk womb of Talulah Gosh, are re-entering the scene with their signature melodic blend of punkish rhythm and girl-group harmonies. A staple of both the UK indie scene and the Riot Grrrl movement, this band took a heart-shattering hiatus after the loss of their drummer, Mathew Fletcher, in 1996. Now, they're back, shaking off their halos and making the kind of music that makes you weak in the knees and strong in the heart. With their discography re-released and a handful of sold-out shows already under their belts, Heavenly are not only reclaiming their space in the indie-pop universe, they're expanding it, drawing in a fresh generation of fans who've gone from flipping TikTok tracks to spinning Heavenly LPs. They're currently working on new material that promises to be the sonic equivalent of a secret handshake – something only the coolest kids know about. Miss out, and you're the only one not in on the joke.

Empty Bottle
1035 N. Western Ave.
Chicago 60622

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The Moss

Saturday, May 2 • 8:00 PM

There's a real sense of your grandma's garage-meets-Tropicalia brewing with THE MOSS, a four-piece sonic lovechild born on Hawaiian shores and hardened in the sun-baked Utah desert. Imagine Pinegrove and Cage the Elephant embarking on a surf trip, with surfboards traded in for Stratocasters and reverb-drenched Fender amps. Their 2019 debut, Bryology, was a no-budget, DIY masterstroke that gave us a glimpse of modern indie doused in '60s blues. It's the kinda album that makes you want to kick back on a longboard and ride the wave of joyous, introspective rock. Fast forward to 2021, and their album Kentucky Derby stays true to the salt-crusted, sun-soaked sentiment while expanding their sonic palette—it's like stepping into a technicolor dream of their previous work. The tracks are sneakily arranged in pairs, offering an immersive, connected listening experience that's as innovative as it is nostalgic. Live? They're an absolute riot. They've got a chemistry that's damn near infectious, making even the most hipster-bearded, PBR-swilling crowd lose their chill. THE MOSS serves up a raw, kinetic performance that's equal parts house party and open-air festival. Don't sleep on this one, folks. THE MOSS is a breezy, boundary-blurring force of nature that'll get even the most jaded souls tapping their toes.

Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport St
Chicago 60608

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BELLE & SEBASTIAN: TIGERMILK + CLASSIC SONGS

Thursday, May 28 • 8:00 PM

Are you ready to ride the melancholic waves of Belle & Sebastian's indie pop? Dig out your trusty plaid shirts and dust off the existential dread, because the Scottish storytellers are bringing their timeless 'Tigermilk' album to life, alongside a cocktail of their classic hits. Expect an evening of diary-entry lyrics wrapped in jangle-pop melodies, where the undercurrents of social realism will reverberate more than just your eardrums. This isn't just a gig—it's an invitation to sink into a world where the offbeat, the introspective, and the poetic collide. So, park your cynicism at the door and let Belle & Sebastian remind you of the audacious beauty of feeling everything all at once.

The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed)
1357 N Elston Ave
Chicago 60642

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BELLE & SEBASTIAN: IF YOU'RE FEELING SINISTER + CLASSIC SONGS

Friday, May 29 • 8:00 PM

Picture this: BELLE & SEBASTIAN are back, tearing through 'If You're Feeling Sinister', plus a mixtape of their most iconic gems. Get ready to be transported back to your favorite 90s angst-filled indie film. This isn't just a gig, it's a time capsule— a sonic diary of heartache, longing, and wistful youth. Dust off your faded Doc Martens, dig out your worn-out cardigan, and prepare to sway under a cloud of nostalgia as the Scottish septet delivers an evening of intimate storytelling. Expect lush melodies, poetic lyrics, and melancholic undertones, all wrapped in a blanket of indie-pop comfort. This isn't just cool, it's an absolute necessity—an antidote for the mundane. A sonic balm for the most jaded of souls.

The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed)
1357 N Elston Ave
Chicago 60642

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Belle & Sebastian - 2 Day General Admission Pass (VALID 5/28-5/29)

Friday, May 29 • 8:00 PM

Leave the ennui at home and prep your Spotify for a deep dive, folks, because Belle & Sebastian are touching down for a two-day indie extravaganza that’ll make you question your commitment to that self-imposed studio apartment isolation. That’s right, the seminal Scottish pop maestros are back, transcending beyond your favorite 2 a.m. introspective playlist and into the tangible realm. We're talking about the band that's been soundtracking your existential crises since your awkward high school years, still standing strong with a discography that ranges from pensive folk ballads to infectious indie-pop bops. Slip into the melancholic swirl of Stuart Murdoch's wistful lyrics and the tapestry of melodies that have seen Belle & Sebastian outlast the ephemeral lifespan of your average indie band. It's the very definition of standing the test of time, folks. And it’s not just about the music—it’s those two days of immersion in a community you’ve been starved of in a world that’s all too online. It's about brushing shoulders with your fellow die-hard fans, those who get why "Get Me Away From Here, I'm Dying" isn't just a song, it's a mood, a mantra, a whole 2022 vibe. So, put the cynicism on pause and dust off that gig-going band tee. Belle & Sebastian are here, and missing out isn't just a personal defeat—it's an indie crime against humanity.

The Salt Shed Indoors (Shed)
1357 N Elston Ave
Chicago 60642

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