Phoebe Bridgers Unleashes All Of Chicago’s Skeletons at Northerly Island

“Happy Pride, everybody! Don’t let all the appropriation get you down” said Phoebe Bridgers to a sold out crowd at Chicago’s Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island Saturday night. Accompanied by a downtown skyline adorned with rainbow colors celebrating Pride Month, it’s hard to imagine a more dreamy setting for an artist renowned for her moody songwriting.

The multi-grammy winner was backed by a five piece band each sporting Bridgers’ signature black skeleton outfit, which could also be seen scattered among the crowd. Bridgers and company opened the night with “Motion Sickness”, a favorite single from her debut studio album, Stranger in the Alps.

Written about her break-up with ex-boyfriend Ryan Adams, the track represents a formula that Bridgers has become famous for: emotionally packed lyrics recounting strained relationships and trauma. It’s this type of authenticity, as well as an infusion of awkwardness and lighthearted wit, that makes fans relate to her so much.

While Bridgers played four more tracks from Strangers, including singles “Smoke Signal” and “Funeral”, most of the set was dedicated to her 2020 critically acclaimed album, Punisher. Standout performances included the more upbeat “Kyoto” and a powerful performance of “I Know The End”, which had fans roaring while storybook pages burned on screen.

Bridgers also performed her latest single, “Sidelines”, her first new original song since the release of Punisher. While written for the Hulu series Conversations with Friends, the lyrics are signature Bridgers. “Watched the world from the sidelines / Had nothing to prove / Til you came into my life / Gave me something to lose” she sings over subtle strings and synths.

The night concluded with a performance of the fan favorite deep cut “Waiting Room.” Bridgers wrote the song when she was just 16.

Bridgers’ “Reunion Tour” kicked off last month and continues throughout the summer. The singer announced on social media that “A dollar of each ticket will go to The Mariposa Fund, who work to provide abortions, specifically for undocumented people who already face huge systemic barriers when trying to obtain safe reproductive health services.”

For a list of remaining tour dates and tickets, click here. See our photo gallery from last night’s show below: