Steve Sym

Margo Price turned her stop at Metro in Chicago into a defiant, 90-minute celebration of outlaw country grit and sharp-edged storytelling. Blending songs from her latest album, Hard Headed Woman , with well-chosen covers and career highlights, Price struck a balance between reverence for tradition and a rebellious, modern bite. Opening with a nod to classic country swagger, she immediately locked into the room’s energy, commanding the stage with confidence and an unapologetic presence. The...

DIIV’s Tomorrow Never Knows set at Lincoln Hall felt like a rare chance to experience the band at their most immersive in an intimate room. With the venue packed and buzzing, the shoegaze outfit leaned fully into atmosphere, letting their swirling guitars and dense low end wash over the crowd. It was the kind of setting where DIIV’s music thrives—close, loud, and enveloping. Opening with “In Amber,” the band immediately locked into a steady, hypnotic groove, balancing hazy textures with...

The Beths’ November 23 performance at The Salt Shed showcased a band in the middle of an artistic shift—one shaped by the introspection behind their new album, Straight Line Was A Lie . While Elizabeth Stokes has spoken openly about the challenges of writing this record, including creative stagnation and personal recalibration, none of that hesitation appeared onstage. Instead, the band arrived sounding refreshed and fully energized, channeling that creative reset into a show that felt both...