Vic Theatre — Chicago, Illinois
December 9, 2025

Golden Smog have always felt like a band born out of friendship as much as music—a loose-framed, harmony-rich collective stitched together by the songwriters who shaped the alt-country movement. On Tuesday night at Chicago’s Vic Theatre, that spirit was alive and unmistakable as the supergroup closed out their brief winter run with a show that played like a celebration of shared history.

The lineup included Jeff Tweedy, Gary Louris, Kraig Johnson, Dan Murphy, Marc Perlman, and Steve Gorman, who took the stage to a roar, the kind reserved for musicians who’ve soundtracked entire chapters of listeners’ lives. For Chicago fans, the evening carried an extra sense of occasion with Tweedy, returning to the Golden Smog fold for the first time since 2022, was back on home turf. That hometown welcome was loud, affectionate, and sustained.

From the opening chords of “Looking Forward to Seeing You,” the band eased into the kind of jangling, bittersweet Americana that feels like Golden Smog’s natural state. Throughout the set, they stitched together originals and deep-cut covers with the comfort of longtime collaborators.

The night was dotted with thoughtful nods to songwriters the band clearly holds close: a tender, reverent rendition of Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy,” a shimmering cover of Bowie’s “Starman,” and the Kinks’ “Strangers.” Each cover felt less like a detour and more like touchstones of influence woven into Golden Smog’s own DNA.

But it was the encore that offered the night’s most memorable moments. The crowd hushed as Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy returned alone, two songwriters with decades of intertwined history stepping into the spotlight with just their acoustic guitars. What followed was a four-song miniature set of startling intimacy: “Radio King,” “Listen Joe,” “Long Time Ago,” and “Please Tell My Brother.”

Their soft harmonies floated through the room with a quiet electricity. And midway through, Tweedy delivered a striking acoustic solo during “Listen Joe,” a moment that felt less like a flex and more like a gentle reminder of his melodic instincts.

The full band returned for a fiery, full-throttle ride through Neil Young’s “Revolution Blues,” the kind of performance that sends a jolt through the room. By the time the opening chords of “Until You Came Along” rang out, the entire Vic Theatre was singing in a communal swell that seemed to lift the song into something larger than nostalgia.

Golden Smog shows don’t happen often. They feel like reunions of musicians, of eras, of listeners who’ve carried these songs with them across decades. On that December night in Chicago, the band leaned into that rarity and delivered a show built on camaraderie, craftsmanship, and the joy of playing songs that still mean something.

Setlist: Looking Forward to Seeing You, Lost Love, To Call My Own, V, Glad and Sorry (Faces cover), All the Same to Me, Love and Mercy (Brian Wilson cover), Ill Fated, Starman (David Bowie cover), Walk Where He Walked, He’s a Dick, She Don’t Have to See You (To See Through You) (Bobby Patterson cover), Won’t be Coming Home, I Can’t Keep From Talking, Yesterday Cried, Pecan Pie, Strangers ( The Kinks cover), Red Headed Stepchild, If I Only Had a Car

Encore: Radio King (Acoustic Duo Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy), Listen Joe (Acoustic Duo Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy), Long Time Ago (Acoustic Duo Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy), Please Tell My Brother  (Acoustic Duo Gary Louris and Jeff Tweedy), Revolution Blues (Neil Young cover), Do Anything You Wanna Do (Eddie & the Hot Rods cover), Until You Came Along

Golden Smog photo gallery by Tony Vasquez