Barenaked Ladies perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on June 6, 2023.
For the 7th almost-annual time, the Barenaked Ladies have hit the road on their Last Summer on Earth Tour. On Tuesday, June 6, Ed Robertson (guitar, vocals), Jim Creeggan (bass, vocals) Tyler Stewart (drums, vocals), and Kevin Hearn (keyboards, guitar and vocals) took the stage at the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago to share good times, fan favorite hits and in-the-moment fun with the enthusiastic crowd.
Despite this being the Last Summer on Earth Tour, the Chicago weather felt more like fall and it didn’t take long for BNL hoodies to sell-out at the merch stand. During the group’s headlining set, Robertson encouraged everyone to move around because the more you dance the warmer it gets.
“I thought I was gonna need that extra layer, but I’m rocking too hard,” he said. “I was taking my own advice, just dancing a little more to bring the furnace up.”
Barenaked Ladies perform at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on June 6, 2023.
After kicking things off with “Matter of Time,” “It’s All Been Done,” and “Roll Out,” Robertson and company took time out for some improvisation inspired by Taylor Swift’s recent three-night run at Northerly Island’s neighboring venue, Soldier Field.
“Nice to be back on Northerly Island,” Robertson rapped as the band jammed into a snippet of Swift’s “Shake It Off.”
“Brian Wilson,” “One Week,” and “Gonna Walk” were further stand-outs of BNL’s set.
Semisonic performs at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on June 6, 2023.
Earlier in the night, Minneapolis trio Semisonic treated fans to songs like “All About Chemistry” and “Closing Time.” Their cover of Outkast’s “Hey Ya!” added to the fun as well.
Frontman Dan Wilson shared that he gets a kick out of how the lyrics of “Singing in My Sleep” have aged over time.
“That song has got a funny line in it,” he said. “It says, that making somebody a cassette – a compilation cassette – is the modern equivalent of singing-up to a Capulet. It’s really funny because it’s almost as old as Romeo and Juliet now to make a cassette for somebody, but it’s still a beautiful gesture.”
Del Amitri performs at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago on June 6, 2023.
Del Amitri was also on hand to share beautiful harmonies kicking-off the night with a setlist that included “Move Away Jimmy Blue,” “Roll to Me” and much more.
Check out photos of Barenaked Ladies, Semisonic, and Del Amitri performing in Chicago below and click here to pick-up tickets to future Last Summer on Earth Tour dates. More information about upcoming shows at Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island in Chicago can be found at LiveNation.com.
(Photos by Laurie Fanelli)
