Manchester Orchestra at the Riviera Theatre

I walked into The Riviera on March 9 after taking the 36 bus north. It felt great to be out and doing something that used to be so normal. But I was nervous - this was my transition back to live music and my first indoor venue show in over two years. 

After all the shows I’ve reviewed, I’m used to attending concerts alone and typically use it as a ‘quiet’ time to keep to myself and focus on music to calm my mind. However, I’m entering this show now as a full-time ‘adult’ who works from home, so I was feeling rather giddy and found myself striking up conversations with the other solo guy next to me and the two older women behind me. It was nice just to say hello and be around people for a change. But I couldn’t shake the fear of getting sick. Everyone is so close to each other, I thought. And it’s a sold out show.

Manchester Orchestra at Summerfest in 2017, photographed by Saloni Jaisingh

Manchester Orchestra walked on stage and the crowd went nuts. I mean, hey, this is a lot of people’s first show in a while. 

A quarter way into the show I found myself wishing their performance had more representation from my favorite albums, 2006’s I’m Like a Virgin Losing a Child and 2009’s Mean Everything To Nothing. I don’t blame them for not playing those tracks, though - they’ve released about ten albums since those.

The show continued for another hour; the crowd mesmerized the entire time. It was a truly great performance. Manchester Orchestra has been performing for many, many years and they captivate audiences like some of the biggest bands I’ve seen at festivals. I really felt a strong, emotional energy being in that room – not too surprising considering lead Andy Hull kept saying how special of a place Chicago is for the band. One could sense the strong fandom in the room. 

Closing with, “The Silence” in their encore, the band exited the stage and the crowd dispersed. I’d like to think everyone else’s backs hurt, as well. 

Missed the show? Catch Manchester Orchestra at Lollapalooza this summer. 

Set List:

  • Inaudible

  • Angel of Death

  • Keel Timing

  • Bed Head

  • I Can Barely Breathe

  • Cope

  • Virgin

  • The Maze

  • The Gold

  • The Alien

  • I Know How to Speak  

  • The Sunshine

  • Dinosaur  

  • The Internet

  • The River  

  • Telepath

Encore:

  • 100 Dollars

  • The Silence

Sabrina Miressemanchester orchestra, the riviera