March 28, 2024

On the Radar: Spring Awakening, New Foo Fighters Music, Trevor Sensor, + More

Radar

This week in music we say goodbye to Gregg Allman, rock out with the Foo Fighters, and drool over the latest Lollapalooza and Riot Fest additions. All this and more On the Radar.

Riot Fest and Lollapalooza get bigger and better

Riot Fest
Riot Fest

Though we had to fight for it, it’s finally getting warmer in the city and we’re getting closer to festival season. Both Riot Fest and Lollapalooza already dropped their lineups, but they had more in store for music lovers. Riot Fest finally announced the second wave of bands and while it doesn’t feature big name acts, there are some notable additions. At the Drive-In, Best Coast, Seaway, Potty Mouth, Black Pistol Fire, Skating Polly, Upset, Gin Rummy, RVIVR, Radar State, Cockney Rejects, Cap’n Jazz, The Casualties, Mad Caddies, Versus, Seaway, Like Pacific, Grayscale, Warm Brew, Culture Abuse, The Voluptuous Horror of Karen Black and Kembra Pfahler are all added to the already packed bill. And let’s not forget headliners Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age, and Jawbreaker. This year’s lineup is so diverse, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

Not to be outdone, Lollapalooza revealed this year’s pre-parties and aftershows. Catch shows from Royal Blood, PUP, Tegan and Sara, Warpaint, Car Seat Headrest, Crystal Castles, and Live to name a few. Tickets for all shows are on sale now. Check out the complete list of aftershows here.

This year’s Lolla lineup features Blink-182, Muse, Lorde, Chance the Rapper, The Killers, Cage the Elephant, Arcade Fire, Migos, and more. You still have a chance to grab tickets here.

Allman Brothers Band’s Gregg Allman dies

We lost another great musician last week. Gregg Allman, vocalist, keyboardist, and founding member of the Allman Brothers Band, passed away at 69. A press statement posted on his website and social media pages revealed that Allman died at his home in Savannah, GA on May 27. At this time, an official cause of death hasn’t been revealed. In recent years, he struggled with various health issues.

The statement on his website reads: “Gregg considered being on the road playing music with his brothers and solo band for his beloved fans, essential medicine for his soul. Playing music lifted him up and kept him going during the toughest of times.”

Gregg’s longtime manager and close friend, Michael Lehman said, “I have lost a dear friend and the world has lost a brilliant pioneer in music. He was a kind and gentle soul with the best laugh I ever heard. His love for his family and bandmates was passionate as was the love he had for his extraordinary fans. Gregg was an incredible partner and an even better friend. We will all miss him.”

The Allman Brothers Band are known for hits “Ramblin’ Man,” “Melissa,” “Whipping Post,” and “Midnight Rider.” The band were inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1995. Allman also had several hits on his own, including “I’m No Angel” and “Anything Goes.”

Gregg Allman will surely be missed.

Foo Fighters surprise us with a new song

The Foo Fighters made our day when they dropped a surprise new song on us last week. The new single, titled “Run,” is their first new material since 2015’s Saint Cecilia EP. The band also released a hilarious video to accompany the song. The clip finds the Foos much older with long white hair and beards. They perform the song in a retirement home, prompting the seniors to go nuts. They start raging against the nurses, some of the staff, and even a car full of those no good millennials.

So far there’s no word if this is a standalone single or taken from a new album. Whatever it is, it rocks and is lots of fun just like the band themselves. It’s great to have them back.

In case you forgot, the band went on a hiatus back in 2015 prompting breakup rumors. The band assured fans they needed a break and wanted to get away from the public for a bit. The whole thing only lasted 19 months before the Foos started booking festival appearances. Guess you can’t keep them away from music for too long.

Upcoming Shows

While you’re still waiting on that new Tool album, make sure to catch their show at the Allstate Arena on June 8. There aren’t many tickets left so make sure you grab some before they run out.

Chicago punks Rise Against return home for a show at the Huntington Bank Pavilion on June 9. Coming along for the ride are Deftones, Thrice, and Three Trapped Tigers. Find tickets here.

Hopefully, you’ve forgiven Dave Matthews for that bus incident because he’s coming to Chicago for a two-night stint at the Huntington Bank Pavilion. Catch him there June 10 and 11 with special guest Tim Reynolds. Grab tickets here.

Don’t miss the hottest electronic music festival in town, Spring Awakening. This year’s lineup includes Afrojack, Diplo, Die Antwood, Marshmello, Datsik, Benny Benassi, Griz, Krewella, and more. It all goes down June 9 – 11. You can still grab tickets here.

Finally, there are a ton of Spring Awakening After Parties happening on the weekend. Some can’t miss shows include Afrojack at Prysm, Marshmello at THE MID, Griz at Concord Music Hall, and Diplo at THE MID. Find the complete list of shows along with ticket information here.

Chicago Artist Spotlight: Trevor Sensor

Singer/songwriter Trevor Sensor is gearing up to release his debut album Andy Warhol’s Dream, on June 16. Last week, he gave us another sneak peak of the LP with the title track. Speaking about the song in a press statement, Sensor says:

“Writing and recording ‘Andy Warhol’s Dream’ was something of an artistic revelation for me. I’d now realized that my original instincts on my work were true — that the cage of categorizing art by genre, scenes, mediums and other such constricting lenses have no bearing on me.”

Previously, he shared the tracks “High Beams” and “The Money Gets Bigger.” Sensor will spend the summer on the road. Dates kick off July 8 in Des Moines, IA and wrap up August 4 in Milwaukee, WI. He’ll play Chicago’s Schubas Tavern on July 18. You can grab tickets here.