June 28, 2025

Psychedelic Furs

By Rob McCune

Deep in the labyrinthine heart of MGM Northfield Park, past the relentless clang and kaleidoscope flash of a thousand hungry slot machines, something truly electric went down. This wasn’t just another concert; it was a bona fide British rock renaissance, a sonic detonation that proved some flames, once lit, burn eternal. And leading the charge? None other than the legendary Psychedelic Furs, backed by the equally compelling The Chameleons, in a night that screamed “revolution” louder than ever.

The Chameleons: Manchester’s Secret Weapon Unleashed

The air was thick with anticipation, then it was sliced open by the raw, unadulterated power of The Chameleons. Hailing from Manchester, this band—a cult favorite for decades—kicked off the proceedings with an energy that belied their understated legend. While they might not have etched themselves into the mainstream consciousness like some of their contemporaries, their four studio albums since the early ’80s speak volumes. And get this: a brand-new record is dropping this year, featuring tracks from two killer EPs that hit in 2024. Talk about a comeback!

Frontman Mark Burgess, a shaman on vocals and guitar, didn’t just play songs; he wove tapestries. “Soul In Isolation” from their ’86 classic Strange Times wasn’t just “Soul In Isolation”—it was a sonic mashup, seamlessly bleeding into snippets of Buffalo Springfield’s “For What It’s Worth,” The Beatles’ “Eleanor Rigby,” and even The Smiths’ “There Is a Light.” The set closer, “Don’t Fall” (from ’83’s Script of the Bridge), got the same treatment, echoing “Please Please Me” and a defiant “Rebel Rebel.” This wasn’t just a nod to the past; it was a bold declaration that the future is built on the foundations of rock’s legends.

Their new tunes, birthed from their 2021 revival (their second since 2000!), slid right into the setlist like they’d always been there. The hauntingly poignant “Where Are You?” and the soul-stirring, politically charged “Saviors Are A Dangerous Thing” delivered a vibe that was both refreshingly modern and achingly nostalgic. Keep your ears peeled, because their new album, “Arctic Moon,” dropping in September, is poised to be an absolute banger. Post-punk revival never sounded so good.

The Furs Fly High: A Soundtrack to Generations

Then came the main event. The Psychedelic Furs erupted onto the stage, and the “fur-vor” was palpable. Richard Butler, the quintessential frontman, stalked the stage with the kind of magnetic prowess that would make Bowie proud, his black, British-style long coat swirling like a storm cloud. Beside him, brother and co-founder Tim Butler laid down the thundering basslines, while Rich Good and Peter DiStefano unleashed a torrent of electrifying guitar riffs, feeding off the ravenous energy of the crowd. This wasn’t just a band playing music; it was a force of nature.

And let’s not forget Amanda Kramer, a true keyboard wizard who’s been a vital part of the Furs’ latest incarnation. Her presence, along with the band’s tight-knit performance, spoke volumes about their enduring power. Many in the front rows, grizzled veterans of countless Furs shows, confirmed what we already knew: this band is a religion.

The setlist was a journey through the annals of pop culture. “Love My Way,” that timeless ’82 gem, resonated with a new generation, its cinematic legacy echoing from Valley Girl to The Wedding Singer to Call Me By Your Name. When the opening chords of “Pretty In Pink” — the iconic title track from the John Hughes masterpiece — hit, the entire venue rose in a collective exaltation. And then came “The Ghost In You,” a soaring anthem from ’84’s Mirror Moves, its emotional weight amplified by the memory of Robyn Hitchcock and Counting Crows’ renditions.

The night culminated in a whirlwind of high-energy grooves with “Heartbreak Beat” (’86) and “Forever Now” (’82), leaving the crowd breathless and clamoring for more. They got it. The Furs returned for a powerful encore of “India,” the opening track from their self-titled ’80 debut, completing a full circle that night. It was a reminder that some sounds, some energies, are simply timeless. Here’s to hoping this Brit rock legacy keeps on rolling and rocking for many years to come.

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On June 7, 2025, Lords of Acid delivered an electrifying performance at Chicago’s Bottom Lounge, marking a significant chapter in their legacy. The show was part of their “Praise The Lords” tour, which introduced Carla Harvey, formerly of Butcher Babies, as the new lead vocalist. This addition brought a fresh dynamic to the band’s already high-energy electro-industrial sound.

The evening commenced with an intense set by Little Miss Nasty, known for their dark, seductive performance art. Their act combined elements of rock, metal, EDM, and dark hip-hop, featuring aerialists, contortionists, and elaborate visuals that set a provocative tone for the night.

Lords of Acid took the stage with a setlist that included their iconic tracks, such as “Pussy” and “I Sit on Acid.” The band’s performance was characterized by pulsating beats, vibrant visuals, and an engaging stage presence. Carla Harvey’s commanding vocals and dynamic stage presence were well-received by the audience, signaling a successful integration into the band’s lineup.

The Bottom Lounge, located at 1375 W. Lake St, provided an intimate setting for the event. The venue’s single-floor layout, with a bar at the back and side, created a close-knit atmosphere that enhanced the concert experience. While there is no seating available, the standing-room setup encouraged audience participation and energy.

Overall, the show was a testament to Lords of Acid’s enduring appeal and adaptability, successfully blending their classic sound with new elements to captivate both longtime fans and newcomers. Praise the Lords!

Lords of Acid – OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Little Miss Nasty – OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Chicago’s Bottom Lounge – OFFICIAL WEBSITE

Posted: May 08, 2025

MILWAUKEE, WI (May 8, 2025) – Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance has added additional artists to the lineup, since the festival’s initial release in mid-February. Summerfest 2025 takes place over three weekends, June 19-21, June 26-28, and July 3-5.

New additions to the 2025 Summerfest lineup include:

Third Eye Blind, The Mavericks, Malcolm Todd, LANCO, Mike Posner, Hoodie Allen, 311, Badflower, Dorothy, John Oates, John Waite, GROOVY, The Strike, People R Ugly, Sophie Hunter, Cil, Diany Dior, Rachel Bochner,  Landon Smith, Georgie Najar, The Crombies, Cordell Winter, Walt Disco, Local H, Haley Johnson, The Romantics ft. Mike Skill, Tierra Kennedy, Chicken P, Certified Trapper, Immortal Girlfriend, Steve Da Stoner, 414 Big Frank, Caley Conway, and many other national, regional, and local artists. 

Third Eye Blind and The Gufs have been announced for July 5 at BMO Pavilion, the festival’s final day. Reserved tickets go on sale Tuesday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. at Summerfest.com and Ticketmaster.com(opens in new tab at www.ticketmaster.com) or in person at the Summerfest Box Office. All reserved seat tickets include same-day Summerfest admission.  At the BMO Pavilion, fans can choose between reserved seating (available for purchase) or free general admission on a first-come, first-served basis for all evening headlining shows during Summerfest.

Fans can also experience an elevated concert experience at the Level Up Deck located at the Miller Lite Oasis, overlooking the stage for artists such as The Mavericks, Gary Clark Jr., Mayday Parade, Billy Corgan and the Machines of God, Dispatch, and others. Tickets for Level Up are available now and include admission to Summerfest the day of the show, two complimentary beverages, and access to a private bar, restrooms, and more.

Summerfest pit wristbands are on sale now, online only at Summerfest.com and allow standing-room access to the Generac Power Stage and Miller Lite Oasis. Fans who purchase wristbands will be able to enter the designated pit area starting at 6:00 p.m. Each wristband includes admission to Summerfest and access to the stage pit area for the selected date, for an up-close concert experience with artists including Jack’s Mannequin, Bossman DLow, The Head and the Heart, Gary Clark Jr., Mayday Parade, Whiskey Myers, and many more.

To purchase tickets and view the full lineup, visit Summerfest.com(opens in new tab at summerfest.com). 

(All performances, dates, and times are subject to change)

About Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance
Summerfest presented by American Family Insurance is one of the most iconic celebrations of music in America, hosting the industry’s biggest acts for an unforgettable live music experience.  Since its inception in 1968, Summerfest continues to distinguish itself as a premier independent national music festival and has developed an unrivaled reputation, consistently featuring hundreds of performances across 12 stages, throughout the permanent 75-acre festival grounds along Lake Michigan. Summerfest will take place over three weekends – June 19-21, June 26-28, July 3-5, 2025.   For the latest information, visit Summerfest.com, or Facebook, X, Instagram and TikTok: @Summerfest. 

Milwaukee World Festival, Inc., producer of Summerfest, continues to fulfill its nonprofit mission of bringing the community together and providing a showcase for performing arts, activities, and recreation to the public, through music and special events.

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Attending Kat Von D’s live performance at new music venue, The Offset, in Chicago was an unexpected delight that I didn’t know I needed. As someone who had only seen her through the lens of her makeup artistry and television persona, I walked in with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Would she be just another celebrity trying to dabble in music, or could she genuinely captivate an audience?

From the moment she stepped on stage, any doubts melted away. The energy in the venue was electric, and Kat commanded it effortlessly. Her presence was magnetic, and it was clear she wasn’t just performing; she was sharing a piece of her soul with the audience. The first few chords of her opening song sent a wave of excitement through the crowd, and I found myself swept up in the moment.

Her voice—rich and emotive—was a pleasant surprise. It carried an authenticity that felt refreshingly raw, far removed from the polished studio versions I had heard before. Each note resonated with depth, and her lyrical storytelling drew me in, painting vivid images that lingered long after the last song faded. The setlist was a perfect blend of haunting melodies and powerful anthems, showcasing her versatility as an artist. See/hear for yourself with the video/photo gallery below!

What struck me most was her genuine connection with the audience. Between songs, she shared anecdotes and insights that revealed her passion for music and the stories behind her craft. It felt personal, as if she was inviting us into her world. The crowd, in turn, was supportive and enthusiastic, creating a palpable sense of community that made the experience even more special.

As the night unfolded, I found myself completely immersed. The visuals were stunning, enhancing each performance with captivating artistry that echoed her background in tattooing and design. It was more than just a concert; it was a full sensory experience.

Walking out of the venue, I couldn’t help but smile, feeling uplifted and inspired. Sometimes, the best surprises come from the most unexpected places, and this performance was a beautiful reminder of that truth.

Click HERE for Kat Von D’s OFFICIAL WEBSITE

The Concord Music Hall, renowned for its vibrant atmosphere and top-notch sound system, provides an ideal setting for the duo’s dynamic performance. Concertgoers can anticipate an immersive experience with impressive visuals and lighting complementing the high-energy music. Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to their sound, this event promises to be an unforgettable night of dancing and musical euphoria.

We’ll be there. Stay tuned!

New York NY

by Shrithik Karthik 

American singer and songwriter d4vd is set to light up NYC with a unique show in partnership with Gov Ball After Dark at Irving Plaza on June 11th. This special event marks his second performance in the city on tour, following his electrifying live show at Gov Ball on June 8th. 

After being a fan of him for a few years, this is a pleasant surprise. He announced his tour a few months ago in March, and after seeing only one date for a NYC show compared to his last tour, which had more than one, I wondered if he would add another show. It turned out to be confirmed with this partnership with Gov Ball that we will have one more show right after the festival! 

D4vd exploded in popularity in the past 2 years after the release of Romantic Homicide, which, fun fact, he made in his bedroom closet! Since then, he has released several other songs, which have done well on Spotify, Apple Music, and more. Here With Me is another one of his songs, and it has over a billion streams on Spotify, which is an incredible achievement. With this show in NYC, I highly encourage everyone to show out and go see him if they can get tickets! His shows are always so fantastic because of just how much energy he has and his stage presence. Another thing that I really love about his shows is his set design. It is always so lovely to see artists go all out with their set design, and with all the light bars, the sound effects, and more, his is a must-see. 

As a long-time fan, I can’t contain my excitement for D4VD’s return to my city. Check out his tour dates to see if he’s coming to a city near you, and join me in experiencing his electrifying performances! 

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Together, these three acts delivered an electrifying performance that spanned decades of music, leaving fans exhilarated and craving more. It was a celebration of the past, present, and future of industrial rock, reminding us why this genre continues to captivate audiences nationwide. Speaking of which, the tour continues and the link to upcoming dates can be found here: TOUR DATES

For more information on I Ya Toyah, as well as the official websites of Cold and Orgy, please see the links at the bottom of this page.

Official Links:

Orgy

Cold

I Ya Toyah

Louisville Palace

Louisville, KY

March 28, 2024

By Shrithik Karthik

ONEUS came to Louisville on March 28, 2024, to perform at the Louisville Palace and they put on an unforgettable show. The choreography, the music, the energy, and the excitement from the crowd were electric. Playing a mix of their music that was slow-paced and then fast combined with the intense visuals and lasers created such a vibrant energy through the venue.

The show started sharp at 7:30 which I thought was such a nice touch, there were no openers, but starting on time is quite rare nowadays. Instantly they danced, they sang, and they went crazy. All the artists were wearing headsets and with all the dancing they did that was the right decision. They were insanely active on that stage, but when they took breaks, they knew to make it as interactive as possible. After a few minutes of incredible dancing, they stopped to interact with the audience and talk to us directly. This was cool to experience from the crowd and during these breaks the group would talk to us in Korean and the translator would speak back to the crowd in English to understand them which was very nice. They would talk about how hard they worked with the choreography, their time on tour, some inside jokes about the group, and more. The audience loved hearing them speak so intimately and it was a nice touch as well. 

The crowd was by far one of the funniest parts of the show, they were so reactive to the group. Since it was a primarily female audience, whenever one of the members of the group did a seductive dance move the audience would scream, and at the end of the songs they would even bark which I thought was very funny. They ate everything up no matter what the group did. Having a very devoted audience is important because it makes the artists perform so much better. After all, they feel like there is a real purpose behind it. I’ve gone to shows where the audience was so bored and the artists wouldn’t give it their all. This however was nothing like that, ONEUS gave it their all the entire time from start to finish which was so fun to see

This being my first K-Pop show I didn’t know what to expect, but wow was it fun. It was so cool to see such a lively and devoted fanbase go crazy at everything the group did and they put on a fantastic show. Can’t wait to go to more shows just like this one. They have a few more shows on tour so make sure to check them out if they’re coming to a city near you.

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This year the lineup of artists contains some of the biggest names in the music industry with Post Malone, Rauw Alejandro, The Killers, 21 Savage, SZA, and Peso Pluma. Post Malone was one of the headliners in 2021 and he returns this year with three more albums added to his catalog and he will definitely put on an incredible show. SZA has been on an incredible run recently going on a huge extended world tour this year and last year, and her songs have garnered well over a billion plays in 2023 alone. Peso Pluma has gained heavy traction only recently in 2023 with the release of his song Ella Baila Sola which has gone viral on practically every major platform. 21 Savage also returns to Gov Ball this year as the headliner after performing in 2021. With his new release of his album “american dream” he will put on a performance you will not want to miss out. These artists cover a huge range of music including Latin R&B, Rap, Rock, and more.

Incredible food options exist all around the festival this year with over 50 food options in 2023 and even more expected this year. Located in the heart of New York City, Governors Ball will be three days of fantastic energy and fun. With a beautiful park and so much to explore there will be lots of room to move around. Getting to the festival is very simple and convenient with options such as trains, buses, and the airport is close by as well. This year comes with the addition of one-day, two-day and three-day tickets which allow people to choose which days they want to attend and get the most bang for their back. Be sure to bring your best friends, your best energy, sing your heart out, and get ready to have the time of your life this year at Governors Ball 2024. Grab your tickets right now on the official website governorsballmusicfestival.com/ 

Be on the lookout for any news on the social media pages.
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The colossal lineup features over 65 artists across five stages, including System of a Down, Slipknot, Bring Me The Horizon, A Perfect Circle, Alice In Chains, Danny Elfman, Bad Omens, Sleep Token, Knocked Loose, and many more.

The festival begins at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 27th and will end at Midnight. That’s thirteen full hours of live music amazingness at the Las Vegas Festival Grounds!

BE THERE!

Sick New World Official Website —-> CLICK HERE!