Opening for Save Ferris was a teen ska punk band out of Cleveland called Sabon, whose 16-year-old lead singer (and saxophonist) Sophia Parke could play Ferris Buehler’s sister Jeannie (the Jennifer Gray part) in a remake of that film. Sabon played a 30-minute set bursting with youthful energy and full of potential, with songs for their fans (and likely schoolmates) off their debut album, plus a ska punk cover of Starship’s “We Built This City” as the kicker.

For Save Ferris to share the stage with such a young, up-and-coming local band is just another testament to how dedicated they are to passing the ska punk tradition onto a new generation.
Powell paused during the headliner’s hour-long set to speak encouragingly and with relatability to the young punks. She emphasized how important it is to keep local music scenes and small venues like the Musica alive, noting how she herself very fortunately “found her crowd” at such a place when she was 17.

It’s fitting that the band’s music has served as a soundtrack for teen angst in movies like “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999).
But the song that launched Save Ferris to stardom in 1995 was a cover of Dexys Midnight Runners’ “Come On Eileen,” which the band closed their set with. Other ska-ified cover songs performed at the Musica included the Dead Kennedys’ “Too Drunk To F***” and Operation Ivy’s “Artificial Life.”
Save Ferris hasn’t released a full album since 1999, but a series of singles dropped in 2017, 2024 and this year are sustaining the beating heart of the band’s particular style of ska.
Long may it live.
Rob McCune is Every_Thing_After_Photo on Instagram, where he shares his concert photography and reviews, as well as clips from his “Every.Thing.After” podcast, with interviews with musicians and bands.

Save Ferris– Website | Facebook | YouTube | TikTok | Instagram | X |

Dropkick Murphys

by Andrew Latshaw

Get ready to stomp, shout, and sweat — punk royalty is coming ashore.

On August 10, Jacobs Pavilion at Nautica transforms into a full-blown punk celebration as Dropkick Murphys and Bad Religion co-headline the Summer of Discontent Tour — a lineup built for die-hards, new fans, and anyone who believes that music should still mean something.

Dropkick Murphys, the Celtic-punk powerhouse from Boston, are fresh off the release of their new album For the People, a fiery mix of class-war anthems, unity chants, and working-class pride. Expect the set to swing from new bangers like “Who’ll Stand With Us?” to timeless barnburners like “Rose Tattoo” and “Shipping Up to Boston.” Bagpipes will scream. So will the crowd.

Bad Religion hits just as hard — but with sharper edges. These punk philosophers bring decades of melodic aggression and political venom, with classics like “American Jesus” and “Sorrow” still landing like punches to the gut. Where the Murphys bring muscle and mayhem, Bad Religion counters with cerebral firepower and punk precision.

Kicking things off are The Mainliners, a gritty, no-nonsense blast of pub-punk energy. Think beer-soaked chords, boot-stomping rhythms, and just enough chaos to light the fuse for the night ahead.

And the venue? A waterfront gem. Jacobs Pavilion’s open-air setup and city skyline views create the perfect clash of summer serenity and sonic violence. It’s intimate enough to feel the sweat but big enough to blow the roof off — if there were a roof.

Doors open at 6PM, show starts at 7. That gives you just enough time to grab a drink, find your spot, and brace yourself.

🖤 What to Expect:

• Wall-to-wall crowd chants. “Fields of Athenry” won’t be sung — it’ll be roared.
• Brand-new battle cries. The Murphys’ For the People is already primed for pit-approved glory.
• Punk with a purpose. Bad Religion doesn’t just rock — they provoke.
• Unity in sweat and sound. Crowd surfing? Likely. Circle pits? Guaranteed. Shared fists-in-the-air rage? Absolutely.
• The river breeze between sets. Because even punks need to catch their breath.

🎟 Pro tip: Dress to move — comfortable shoes, light layers, and enough grit to survive a mosh pit. And bring cash or card — merch and beer lines move fast, and not waiting is punk.

To sum it up:
Two iconic bands. One killer night. Punk anthems echoing across the water. If you’re in Cleveland and miss this, don’t blame the scene — blame yourself.

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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directed by Manny Buckley

City Lit Theater,

Chicago,IL

Nov.16,2024 

by Maja Rios

Seven Guitars, a play by August Wilson, was outstanding. It was one of the most memorable plays i have seen. All the cast members were great. The second-floor theater in Edgewater Church, was a very intimate setting for play.

 The play centers around a Pittsburgh blues guitarist who wants to travel to Chicago to make a hit record, that his manager has promised him and ultimately betrays. He is a dreamer, womanizer, hustler and focal point of the play. The other supporting characters are friends and foes, both women and men, who are doubting of his ability to be successful.  The character of Vera (Maureena Azzun) is the main female who agrees to be with him and support him. My favorite character is the Jamaican- American, Hedley, (Robert Howard) who is the most volatile, preachy, person quoting from the bible in his rich patois, and most outspoken of, the Black man in Americas’ status, past enslavement, and thus frequently proclaiming ” the Black man is the King” The Ethiopian King.”

Other supporting characters are three other women and two other men all who give advice to each other and comment on the blues guitarist’s hopes for a better life as they sing,dance,argue etc,,and offer advice, both good and bad.

     Seven Guitars is probably the most in depth slice of Black American life I have ever seen depicted in a play. Food,Music,Religion,Politics and History of Black American Culture is displayed through slang, dialogue and word play. Details  of Black life, such as Bid Whist,Greens,,Buddy Bolden, Sweet Potato Pie, Plantation, are frequently mentioned by the characters, that are all mainstays and still are today, of Black Culture, even though play is set in 1940s Pittsburgh, complete with great costumes from that era. 

     Although the play centers on Black life, it is at the same time the total experience of the human condition, of jealousy,despair,hope,belief,anger, death, marriage typical August Wilson style. All the actors were wonderful. I highly recommend this play. One of the best plays and acting I have ever seen.

When I heard Billy Bob Thornton was coming to town with his band, The Boxmasters, I literally jumped at the chance to cover the show. Get this: The band blends elements of rock ‘n’ roll, country, and ’60s pop, and when you throw in a front man with as much worldwide popularity (and notoriety) as actor Billy Bob Thornton (“Bud” as his gas-station attendant button down shirt displayed), the level of uniqueness was something that simply could not be missed. Here’s my honest take on their performance at Chicago’s City Winery last week:

In terms of authenticity, The Boxmasters’ music is rooted in a genuine appreciation for vintage Americana sounds, drawing heavily from the ’60s, British Invasion rock, and Southern influences. You can sense that the band’s style and Thornton’s vocals are sincere attempts to pay homage to those eras. Also, the lyrics seem to have a strong narrative quality, which is of no surprise, given Thornton’s acting and creative background. Honestly, most of their songs carry a certain straight-forwardness but with quite a bit of wit as well, which was fun. The only disappointing aspect is Billy Bob’s singing voice. It’s gravely and a bit monotone, which makes the songs feel less engaging after awhile. But, Thornton and the entire band are certainly entertaining, that’s a fact.

See Photo Gallery Video Below

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Based on the fact that the band is playing to a niche’ audience in smaller venues makes it surprising that they have released seventeen (17) albums, they’re latest entitled, Love & Hate In Desperate Places, which was just released this past August. But, unlike others in this day and age, let us not gauge worthiness and success on crowd size alone. In the end, if you’re into throwback sounds and appreciate strong storytelling in music, you’ll definitely enjoy them. Plus, watching/hearing the legendary Billy Bob in action…I mean, c’mon, it’s a win-WIN! Catch Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters in the States through mid-November. Click HERE for the band’s official website.