Bob Gendron

“The American dream is killing me” were the first words out of Green Day singer Billie Joe Armstrong's mouth at a sold-out Saviors Tour Chicago show.

On the first of two nights in Chicago, the band's sound was loud and crystal clear as they played down among their fans. This was a Metallica reinvigorated.

The festival remains well-run at its new Skokie location and boasted two of the most formidable and visionary guitarists in any genre.

Backed by his fantastic Ace in the Hole band, the country legend needed no ego-boosting fireworks to deliver a full concert of traditional standards.

Here’s a taste of what to expect for this year's Windy City Smokeout, which opens with headliner Thomas Rhett on Thursday. Bring your appetite.

There were lots of song favorites if few surprises in a sold-out concert on their Two Icons One Night tour. Billy Joel kept it light, Stevie Nicks kept it real.

Some three decades into a country music career, McGraw keeps putting out hit songs. He connected with the Chicago crowd like a singer with nothing to prove.

The back-to-back shows were album-release parties for Bird’s “Sunday Morning Put-On,” a low-key tribute to midcentury jazz and the Great American Songbook. They also brought Bird’s storied relationship with Chicago...

While this summer will unfold without last year’s multi-day Taylor Swift and Beyoncé extravaganzas, plenty of fantastic shows should keep you busy through Labor Day.