Bob Gendron

Bob Gendron is a freelance critic for the Chicago Tribune.

Garth Brooks performs at the Allstate Arena on Sept. 4, 2014, in Rosemont. The performance marked the end of Brooks' 13-year tour hiatus. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)

Live music for fall 2026: Garth Brooks, Noname and women running the show

August 31, 2026 at 2:13 p.m.

Fall means live music. Whether due to hotter summers, festival non-compete clauses, routing coincidences or other factors, the stretch from September through November has come to compete with the summer...

Tori Amos rises from her piano bench while performing at the Auditorium Theatre on Aug. 14, 2026, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)

Review: A fiery and unrestrained Tori Amos fills the Auditorium Theatre

August 15, 2026 at 11:17 a.m.

While no longer in the commercial spotlight, the singer and pianist played with a passion that proves she never really went away.

Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters at Soldier Field Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Chicago. (Vincent D. Johnson/for the Chicago Tribune)

Review: Foo Fighters leans hard into its history for its concert at Soldier Field

August 9, 2026 at 11:40 a.m.

Dave Grohl loves rock ‘n’ roll, would do anything for it, and he projected that passion Saturday at Soldier Field, where he and his band surveyed 31 years of musical...

Singer Ariana Grande performs at the United Center as part of her "Eternal Sunshine Tour" on Aug. 3, 2026. (Bob Gendron / for the Chicago Tribune)

Review: Ariana Grande speaks about taking a break, then puts on a dazzling arena concert in Chicago

August 4, 2026 at 10:58 a.m.

Ariana Grande began the concluding American dates of her “Eternal Sunshine Tour" at the United Center by speaking about her widely publicized remarks over the weekend.

Guitarist Alex Lifeson, left, and bassist Geddy Lee perform during a Rush concert at the United Center in Chicago on Thursday, July 16, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Review: With a new drummer and a tribute to Neil Peart, a resurgent Rush gets back to work

July 17, 2026 at 4:00 p.m.

Rush’s first direct tribute to late drummer Neil Peart arrived before the second song on Thursday night at a packed United Center, where the band is playing a series of...

Billy Idol performs at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park on July 12, 2026. (Talia Sprague/for the Chicago Tribune)

Review: Billy Idol is back, still with all that ’80s sneer

July 13, 2026 at 10:50 a.m.

For his concert at the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, he delivered hit songs and all his signature, retro swagger.

Alex Lifeson, Geddy Lee and Neil Peart of the band Rush performs at the International Amphitheatre in Chicago on Dec. 14, 1978. (Paul Natkin/Getty)

50 years of Rush in Chicago: A local history of the band in 10 concerts

July 9, 2026 at 5:30 a.m.

Rush arrives soon for a series of concerts at the United Center. The veteran prog-rockers have had a close history with this town since they played a high school in...

Rosalía performs on her "Lux" tour in Chicago at a sold-out United Center. (Bob Gendron / for the Tribune)

Review: With her ‘Lux’ tour, Rosalía reinvents what an arena concert can be

June 21, 2026 at 11:56 a.m.

If a more innovative and risk-taking singer-songwriter than Rosalía exists on the contemporary pop scene, they’ve yet to appear in Chicago.

A$AP Rocky opens his show from section 320 at the United Center on May 27, 2026, in Chicago. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune)

Review: A$AP Rocky launches tour in Chicago with loads of energy — and a few glitches

May 28, 2026 at 11:29 a.m.

The superstar rapper's “Don’t Be Dumb Tour” premiered at the United Center with an over-the-top, sometimes unsteady two-hour concert.

Kim Gordon performs at Pitchfork Music Festival in Chicago's Union Park on Sept. 11, 2021. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)

Got live if you want it: Critic’s picks for 2026 summer concerts

May 26, 2026 at 5:45 a.m.

Ten concerts that don't demand as much from your bank account, but should still be on your radar.

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