The phrase ‘when this all over…’ has popped up on our collective feeds recently as we continue to endure the COVID-19 pandemic. So when we get the green light and the good news to have fun together in big groups, alternative music lovers will flock to the shows to see our beloved bands again. The post-pandemic party will be one for the ages. Here are 5 bands I am most excited to see when it’s safe to see bands with a lot of people again.
Now my list may be different from your list, so hit me up on social media and share YOUR picks you are patiently waiting to see again.
- RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS
Life long Pepper fanatics rejoiced a few months back when we learned that visionary guitarist John Frusciante was rejoining RHCP for the second time, ushering in new music with a central force in the band on their classic albums ‘Californication’, ‘Stadium Arcadium’ and ‘Blood Surgar Sex Magik’. Now imagine seeing Frusciante back in the fold on stage with this Lollapalooza headlining act.
- HELLA MEGA TOUR: GREEN DAY, WEEZER, FALL OUT BOY
This may be cheating cramming three excessively awesome bands into one slot but August 2020 for me was going to be all about this magical day at Wrigley Field seeing the rock music equivalent of seeing the Avengers assemble. This White Sox fan was pumped to go to Wrigley, ok?! That’s where I was heading into this summer which has been postponed to August 15,2021.
- RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE
With the civil unrest in the world, one of the loudest politically-influenced bands in alternative music needed to return to raise the ruckus. That’s what it felt like with the news of Zach De La Rocha getting back together with Tom Morello and company in one of the biggest music news stories of the year. The United Center shows sold out in minutes, the demand to see this band now was through the roof in an election year. That atmosphere alone would be worth a lot, so of course they added a second show too. They are both delayed to next July.
- THE KILLERS
The sweetest sons of Nevada have always held onto me with their Bruce Springsteen for millennial vibes and undeniably catchy yet meaningful songs. Their latest album ‘Imploding the Mirage’ was due to come out at the end of May but like almost everything in music this year, it’s been delayed. Hearing ‘Mr. Brightside’ with thousands of people roaring to the Madhouse on Madison, our collective voices shaking the foundation of the UC, I fantasized about that a lot.
- MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE at RIOT FEST 2021
Since 2013, emo kids have grown to emo adults but they waited patiently for the Black Parade to come back, and it did in a big way in late 2019 to build anticipation for a world-conquering reunion tour that would bring the influential band to Riot Fest. And with 2020 being very 2020, we have it delayed until 2021 with many great bands joining MCR in the first wave of announced acts. They are a special group whose lasting stories of heartache in character-driven lyrics and Queen meets punk grandeur have found a whole new generation of fans who never got to see them live in their previous run. Hopefully we can belt out “I AM OK NOW!” together in Douglas Park next fall and really mean it.
