Bob Gendron

Chicago

Freelance Writer at Chicago Tribune

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Articles

Review: Despite uneven pace, a masterful Kendrick Lamar exceeds the hype

9 hours ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

Kendrick Lamar treated himself to a modest victory lap Friday at a packed Soldier Field. Strolling around a series of ramps and runways, the rapper flexed his muscles like a champion boxer proud of his title belt. The somewhat muted display represented Lamar at his most physically ostentatious. Predominantly reserved and incredibly focused, the MC delivered knockouts with one dynamite delivery after another.
Live music for summer 2025: 10 must-see concerts in Chicago beyond the fests and arena shows

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

This summer’s concert slate points to a transition that continues to slowly unfold locally and around the country. Shying away from big festivals, artists are opting for standalone tours or participating in smaller, manageable package bills. That’s welcome news for music lovers who prefer the equivalent of a savory main course to a prix-fixe buffet. And great for anyone looking to catch performers in more intimate environments where headliners can stretch out with a dedicated show.
AC/DC at Soldier Field: They’re still at the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll

1 week ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

Angus Young, his shoulder-length hair now gray and failing to conceal a bald patch atop his head, spun on his back and kicked his legs like a child throwing a tantrum. Wearing his trademark schoolboy uniform with short pants and an Illini-colored orange-and-blue tie, the AC/DC guitarist used his left hand to squeeze the life out of a Gibson SG and his right to pick the strings with vision-blurring velocity.
AC/DC at Soldier Field: They’re still at the top if you wanna rock ‘n’ roll

1 week ago | flipboard.com | Bob Gendron

'Untold: The Liver King' Is in Netflix's Top 10: Here Are 3 More 'Untold' Documentaries That Are Even BetterCommentary: Netflix's Untold documentary series has covered some wild stuff. Every week, Netflix unveils its Top 10 lists for the week before, ranking TV shows and movies by viewership. One of this week's most popular films is Untold: The Liver King, a documentary about raw meat influencer (there …
Review: Post Malone goes all-in on country in a celebratory Wrigley Field concert

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

Fourth of July arrived early this year at Wrigley Field. A third of the way into his Big Ass Stadium Tour, Post Malone punctuated his blowout affair Thursday at the ballpark with a recurring blitz of pyrotechnics. Mushroom-cloud fireballs. Shooting flames. Spark showers. Massive aerial fireworks on the level of Navy Pier’s summertime displays.
Review: Paul Simon’s ‘Quiet Celebration’ is a night to lean into his music

2 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

“We are in a conversation,” a gracious Paul Simon announced Wednesday at the first of a three-night stand at Symphony Center, a proper location for his “Quiet Celebration” tour. And what a memorable conversation it was. Opening the two-set concert with a full performance of “Seven Psalms,” his 2023 album comprised of a continuous suite of seven songs, Simon presented a fearless meditation on mystery, mortality and the great beyond.
Review: After weather clears, Beyoncé kicks up joyous ‘Cowboy Carter’ storm

3 weeks ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

Turns out one thing remains outside of Beyoncé‘s superhuman control: The weather. Threats of severe storms that failed to fully materialize in the South Loop, apart from wind and rain, delayed the start of the first of the megastar’s three-night residency Thursday at a capacity Soldier Field. Beyoncé made the wait worthwhile, though fans had a right to feel frustrated. The National Weather Service announced a tornado watch through 10 p.m. for the Chicago area.
Lucy Dacus at the Chicago Theatre: Understated and personal to the point of feeling muted

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

Lucy Dacus had love on her mind Thursday at the first of a sold-out two-night stand at the Chicago Theatre. The singer-songwriter met the messiness and complexities of the emotion head-on. Her narratives addressed obsessive infatuation, speculative wonder, carnal bliss, honeymoon periods, in-between phases, bitter contradictions and all the euphoria, torment and confusion that serious affection often involves.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds at Salt Shed

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

“We’ve all had too much sorrow,” Nick Cave sang Monday at the first of a two-night stand at Salt Shed. “Now is the time for joy.”And so it was. The esteemed singer-songwriter teamed with his longtime backing band the Bad Seeds, complete with a four-piece choir, to deliver engaging variations on gospel.
Review: For Jack White’s set at the Salt Shed, rock ‘n’ roll was alive and well

1 month ago | chicagotribune.com | Bob Gendron

Jack White exaggerated only a little when he sang that a seven-nation army couldn’t hold him back Thursday at the Salt Shed. Performing the first of a sold-out two-night stand, the vocalist-guitarist sounded unstoppable and acted untouchable. For 85 minutes, rock ‘n’ roll reclaimed its frontier wildness, imaginative weirdness and liberating spirit.