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Chicago Tribune
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Review: Cyndi Lauper, the most eccentric of pop's powerhouses, says farewell on her ‘Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' tour
Follow the sequins, technicolor tutu skirts and bewigged heads lining up outside of Tinley Park's Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre, and you've found the gates welcoming you to firebrand Cyndi Lauper's 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour.' With over 50 years in the industry — collecting Grammy, Emmy and Tony awards and a 2025 induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame — and just beyond the 40 years since the release of her debut album, 1983's 'She's So Unusual,' the most eccentric of pop's powerhouses gave a final bow on the second leg of her last arena tour for a packed house Tuesday night. She reveled in her biggest hits, funniest stories, and a grand production that she said has been decades of dreams and persistence in the making. Ahead of this tour, which resumed in July after kicking off in October 2024, Lauper assured fans she's not entirely retiring, but wanted to experience saying goodbye while she was still strong and healthy enough to travel and deal with all the 'planes, trains and automobiles' that come with touring the world. 'No matter how big the chapter that came before was, you gotta keep going,' she told the crowd of her views on this next phase. 'There's so many chapters of your life.' Backed by a seven-piece band, Lauper's distinctive style and vocals transported thousands of all ages and gender expressions during her 15-song set. From the opening rush of synthesizers on 'She Bop,' she proved she's the girl still having the best time. For fans and friends Kimber Watkins, Jason Hill and Danny Beagles, those classic songs and quintessential, Brooklyn-bred gumption were exactly what they wanted. 'I saw her in the '80s… probably around 'She's So Unusual,'' recalled Watkins, 57, who was attending in part as an early birthday celebration. '[That concert] was one of the first times that we camped out to get the tickets and all that, back in the day when that was a thing. It was neat. I had the original outfit,' she said, displaying her 'updated' '80s-inspired look, complete with lime green, fingerless, fishnet gloves and full skirt. 'I love 'Time After Time.' I loved her videos, I learned all the motions,' she laughed. The show marked the first time Beagles, 40, was seeing Lauper, but he noted her song from cult film 'The Goonies' was what he was most looking forward to. 'I'm really excited. I'm with a couple veterans here, so they can tell me what to look forward to, but it's an honor to be here to help her celebrate the last time,' he said. ''The Goonies' song was such a formidable part of my childhood. Every time I watch that movie, it's something special.' Hill, a teacher (along with Watkins) who was using the concert as a final summer fling before the new school year starts next week, shared that he'll miss Lauper's longtime human rights advocacy. 'She's a gay icon. She helped me come out of the closet,' Hill shared. 'It's very inspiring to see the Human Rights Campaign here, and Planned Parenthood, and the League of Women Voters. I'm really going to miss Cyndi Lauper. I'm sad to see her go, but I'm so glad to be here. The attitude, the aesthetic. 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun' — it's absolutely become a rallying cry.' As attendees took their seats, they were greeted by DJ Tracy Young ahead of tour opener (and 'America's Got Talent' season seven contestant) Jake Wesley Rogers, whose cheeky, glam-rock cabaret included lots of twirling and a devastating cover of The Pretenders' 'I'll Stand By You' dedicated to his mother. Approaching the nine o'clock hour, Blondie's 'One Way or Another' shot from the speakers. Taking the stage to a brief sizzle reel of her memorable career moments, Lauper wasted no time getting right into the thick of it. With three, mega numbers in a row — 'She Bop' (which was ahead of its time sonically and lyrically), the much-beloved 'The Goonies 'R' Good Enough,' and her nu-wave rendition of 'I Drove All Night' (originally popularized by the late Roy Orbison and after Lauper, Celine Dion) — emotions on and off stage were high. Though inextricably linked to her iconic heyday — during which Cyndi Lauper became the first female artist to achieve four top-five hits on the Billboard Hot 100 with her debut release — her raw talent and accolades don't go as highly remarked upon as those of her peers beyond the end of the neon decade. She continued collecting Grammy awards for rock and dance recordings throughout the 1990s. In 2010, her album 'Memphis Blues' became Billboard's most successful blues album of the year, remaining at number one on the Billboard Blues Albums chart for 13 consecutive weeks. In 2013, she won the Tony Award for 'Best Original Score' for composing the Broadway musical 'Kinky Boots,' making her the first woman to win the category by herself. She was welcomed into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2015. While she became a bona fide (albeit can't-miss) opener for the likes of Cher and Rod Stewart for a few years, this international farewell tour marks her first headlining run in a decade. And she left it all on stage. At-times meandering storytelling aside, it's the mix of Lauper's fierce, unpolished personality (which she often attributed to being Italian, 'half Sicilian,' she corrected herself, and 'working' on her people skills) and evocative music that left fans hanging on her every word. Through tales of growing up within an immigrant family, significant impact on bringing the WWE mainstream, hilarious observations on tour fashion, and affirmations of perseverance and embracing the unknown, each song became much more than a song but a living snapshot of her survival. One that has always been politically-minded. The show was unapologetically charged with feminism, justice and liberty for all. 'I always thought about injustices and what didn't seem fair,' Lauper said before introducing the track 'Sally's Pigeons.' 'I've always just wanted the same civil liberties as any man.' During a musical break in 'True Colors,' she stood above a fan waving the LGBTQIA+ flag high above her head. Slight vocal cracking challenged her throughout the night, which Lauper attributed to a lingering cold, but it was nothing a little throat spray couldn't help mask to tackle such octave-jumping songs like 'Who Let in the Rain,' the electroclash club banger 'Into the Nightlife,' dancey 'Change of Heart,' and eternal ballad 'Time After Time,' which left the amphitheater aglow with cellphone light. Where it made sense, she embraced the bit of grit, letting it rip during a duet with Rogers on 'Money Changes Everything.' By the time the three-song encore neared its end and the anticipation for her signature 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' reached its peak, it was hard not to feel… a lot. Originally written and performed by singer-songwriter Robert Hazard in 1979, the never-officially-released demo depicted a man enjoying casual sex, with lyrics celebrating the freedom of a male lifestyle. With Hazard's permission, Lauper dramatically rewrote the track, transforming it into a feminist statement emphasizing female desire, exuberance and assertiveness. In 2017, after seeing international protests in response to the first election of Donald Trump, Lauper told 'Late Show' host Stephen Colbert she began seeing women carrying signs that read 'Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights,' adopting the track as a protest anthem. Lauper released a limited run of t-shirts decorated with the slogan, donating proceeds to Planned Parenthood and True Colors United. In response to the overturning of Roev. Wade in 2022, she launched the Girls Just Want to Have Fundamental Rights Fund to 'financially support women's issues in an inclusive way,' housed at the Tides Foundation. 'Some boys take a beautiful girl and hide her away from the rest of the world,' Lauper belted as her audience joined along. 'I want to be the one to walk in the sun,' she sang before handing hook duties over to the fans. Despite this goodbye, the sun is far from setting on the undeniable uniqueness and spirit that is Cyndi Lauper.
Chicago Tribune
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
25 outdoor concerts for what's left of summer, all with tickets available
This is the time of year when you look around and think, I haven't accomplished summer yet and now it's on its way out. Time to get to some outdoor live music. Even as Lollapalooza wraps up in Grant Park, there are promising nights ahead at Ravinia Festival, on Northerly Island, at Wrigley. Below are 25 outdoor concerts and festivals around Chicago from now until mid-September. Autumn begins the Monday after Riot Fest. Sold-out shows such as Oasis at Soldier Field aren't on this list; all concerts listed here have standard tickets still available as of press time. Cyndi Lauper: The longtime hitmaker's last two big projects were a 12th studio album ('Detour') and composing the music and lyrics for the Broadway musical 'Kinky Boots,' which had its world premiere in Chicago in 2012. Lauper announced in 2024 that she would retire from touring with one final go-around; her 'Girls Just Wanna Have Fun Farewell Tour' comes to Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 5; King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard: Tribune contributing critic Bob Gendron included this show in his top 10 for summer 2025: 'At this ambitious outing, the Chicago Philharmonic helps the collective bring it to life. Expect fireworks without the boom.' At Ravinia Festival on Aug. 6; Rod Stewart: Now 80, the British singer-songwriter has nothing left to prove, but he's still recording new material, including a 2024 album of big band music ('Swing Fever') with Jools Holland. His 'One Last Time Tour' comes to Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 8; LatiNxt: What has become an annual free weekend festival of contemporary Latin music returns to Navy Pier Aug. 9-10; Goo Goo Dolls: The '90s band is traveling with Dashboard Confessional on their 'Summer Anthem Tour,' coming to Huntington Bank Pavilion on Northerly Island on Aug. 13; Nelly with Ja Rule: The rapper and reality TV star's 'Where The Party At Tour' will also include Eve, St. Lunatics and Chingy at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 13; Billy Idol: The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominee is back on the road with Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. 'It's A Nice Day To … Tour Again' comes to Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 14; Indigo Girls and Melissa Etheridge: They'll play their own songs and together on stage in their 'Yes We Are' tour. Many shows at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park are free, but this one on Aug. 17 requires a ticket; Chicago House Music Festival: The annual free celebration of the Chicago art form begins with an Aug. 21 conference at the Cultural Center. Then Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park Aug. 22-23; John Legend: His current tour celebrates the 20th anniversary of his acclaimed debut album 'Get Lifted.' At Ravinia Festival Aug. 23-24; Lil Wayne: The rapper is touring behind 'Tha Carter VI,' his 14th solo studio album, performing with Tyga and Belly Gang Kushington at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 24; Jonas Brothers: After a quick ticket reversal in June, the 'JONAS20 Greetings From Your Hometown' tour is coming to Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park on Aug. 26 instead of Wrigley; Neil Young: This concert with new backing band Chrome Hearts brings Young to the lakefront after a 2024 show with Crazy Horse was postponed due to illness. At Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island on Aug. 27; Chris Brown: His all-stadium 'Breezy Bowl XX Stadium World Tour' brings him to Wrigley Field with guests Summer Walker and Bryson Tiller on Aug. 28; Jazz Fest: Headliners this year include the Grammy-winning vocalist Esperanza Spalding, pianist Monty Alexander, and trumpeter and vocalist Kermit Ruffins. Cuban guitarist and singer Eliades Ochoa will close the fest on Sunday night. The annual free festival over Labor Day weekend is programmed by the nonprofit Jazz Institute of Chicago, presented at Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park Aug. 28-31; My Chemical Romance: They'll play their 2006 album 'The Black Parade' and were last in Chicago for Riot Fest in 2022. Soldier Field on Aug. 29; North Coast: The EDM festival's lineup for 2025 includes a return for deadmau5, the Grammy winner ZEDD, dubstep artist Excision, Chris Lake, Kaskade and Louis The Child. At SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview Aug. 29-31; ARC: This three-day EDM festival boasts Eric Prydz, Jamie xx, John Summit, Amelie Lens and Richie Hawtin in Union Park in Chicago Aug. 29-31; System of A Down: The longtime Armenian American heavy metal band is joined by Avenged Sevenfold for two nights at Soldier Field, Aug. 31-Sept. 1; Evanston Folk Festival: Headliners include Margo Price and Iron & Wine, and don't miss the Chicago Public Media Talk Tents, with appearances by Rosanne Cash and others. In Evanston's Dawes Park Sept. 6-7; The Miracle in Mundelein: The cannabis-friendly, ages 21+ music festival includes Damian 'Jr. Gong' and Stephen Marley, Dark Star Orchestra and Umphrey's McGee in Mundelein Sept. 6-7; Beach Bunny Pool Party Festival: With a title that says 'summer,' the lineup also includes Soccer Mommy, Sidney Gish and Great Grandpa at Salt Shed Fairgrounds on Sept. 7; Waxahatchee: Katie Crutchfield's latest indie music project performs with Jessica Pratt and Sharp Pins on the Salt Shed Fairgrounds on Sept. 9; Pixies: The '90s alt-rockers are on tour with guest artists Spoon & Fazerdaze at Salt Shed on Sept. 15; Riot Fest: This year's headliners in Douglass Park include Blink-182 on Friday, Weezer and Jack White on Saturday and Green Day on Sunday, along with sets by the Sex Pistols and The Beach Boys (current lineups), Weird Al Yankovic, Idles, Alkaline Trio and All Time Low, Sept. 19-21;
USA Today
30-07-2025
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Mexican music star Junior H announces $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour: How to get tickets
If it's a Junior H show, get ready for all the emotions. The regional Mexican breakout star, who's captivated audiences with his retro-modern sound and emotive, sierreño-style lyrics, is heading out on the road this fall with the $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour. "Your favorite $ad Boy is returning to your city," Junior H wrote in Spanish in a July 30 Instagram post announcing the headlining trek. The 22-date tour, which follows the singer's main-stage debut at Coachella in April, kicks off on Aug. 31 at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park, Illinois. Junior will visit a host of North American cities including Camden, New Jersey; Atlanta; Houston; and Phoenix before wrapping with a show at Los Angeles' Hollywood Bowl on Nov. 7. More: Fuerza Regida on making history, performing in LA amid turmoil Born Antonio Herrera Pérez in Guanajuato, Mexico, the 24-year-old singer is considered one of the exponents of the corridos tumbados genre, a style fusing traditional Mexican music with trap and hip-hop. His most recent album, 2023's "$ad Boyz 4 Life II," peaked at No. 14 on the Billboard 200 chart and spawned the top-10 Latin hit "Y Lloro." Cyndi Lauper concert review '80s pop icon says goodbye to touring with heart, color and powerhouse vocals How to get tickets to Junior H tour Tickets for the $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour go on sale to the general public on Friday, Aug. 1, at 10 a.m. local time, according to the Ticketmaster website. Presale tickets for the Nov. 7 Hollywood Bowl show go on sale on Thursday, July 31, at 10 a.m. local time. Cowboy Carter tour earns over $400M: Beyoncé makes history with highest grossing country tour $ad Boyz Live & Broken Tour dates
