Had it really been nearly 2 years since Raven last kicked Chicago’s ass? Indeed it had, and yours truly was suffering from withdrawals. Of course, this prolonged absence was no fault of the band’s own. As detailed in our most recent conversation with founding frontman/bassist John Gallagher, both he and younger brother guitarist Mark had a hell of a 2025 as far as health scares go. Now in 2026, armed with a clean bill of health, their trusty axes, and a lethal need for speed, the Raven looney brigade flew into their home away from home, Reggies, to treat headbangers young and old to 90 minutes of unadulterated “Athletic Rock”.
Mind you, I must put an emphasis on the word “young” in that last sentence. Apparently the support act for this tour, Slackjaw, is TikTok famous, so it was wild to see these seasoned veterans playing to a crowd of 16 to 21 year-olds in Sleep Token shirts and cargo pants, looking more dressed for a Hot Topic sponsored gala than an old school metal show. Nevertheless, old timers who’d followed Raven since the band’s Kill ‘Em All for One Tour heyday were thrilled to be reunited with them yet again, and the kiddos? Well, to say they were schooled would be an understatement.
Wasting no time whatsoever, Raven came bursting onto the stage with “Can’t Take Away the Fire”, the eponymous title track of their latest EP. Considering the events of 2025, not only did this song make for the perfect show opener, but it doubles as a battle cry, reinforcing the band’s “never surrender” ethos. Also featured from the band’s ongoing “modern” era were “Surf the Tsunami” and “All Hell’s Breaking Loose” off All Hell’s Breaking Loose, as well as “The Power” and “Top of the Mountain” off Metal City. While many legacy bands rightfully steer clear of new material, knowing fully well it falls short of their glory days, Raven can comfortably sandwich these tunes between the classics because, quite frankly, they’re of the same caliber!
Speaking of the classics, there were no shortage of those! “On and On”, “Break the Chain”, “Faster than the Speed of Light”: You get the idea. For this here Raven diehard, the highlight of the show was hearing seldom performed deep cuts like “For the Future” off their debut, Rock Until You Drop (1981), and “Pick Your Window” off the criminally underrated Life’s a Bitch (1987). No two Raven shows are ever the same, which is all the more reason to catch them as many times as possible, even on a single run! For example, on this particular evening, John Gallagher’s bass tone was unusually hefty. His low end attack always packs a gut punch, but last night it warranted its own episode of My 600 Pound Life. When he did his wacky solo, conjuring sounds more characteristic of Edgar Winter’s keytar than a traditional four-stringed axe, it felt as if my skull was being split in half.
Although Raven proclaimed nearly 40 years ago that “Life’s a Bitch”, I’m of the disposition that life’s a blessing. Whether you’re spiritual or not, it’s nothing short of miraculous that main-man John Gallagher is still with us, let alone kicking ass and taking names on the concert stage like he should be. And as for brother Mark, well, let’s just say he’s showing off those new ankles the way a kid would’ve flexed new Jordans when I was in high school. Together with trusty drummer Mike Heller, these brothers have infused this “tomorrow’s never promised” attitude into their already potent English speed brew onstage. Lord help us all when they construct their next monster of a studio album!
Setlist
- “Can’t Take Away the Fire”
- “Hell Patrol”
- “The Power”
- “Top of the Mountain”
- “Surf the Tsunami”
- “Rock Until You Drop”
- “Faster than the Speed of Light”
- “Pick Your Window”
- “For the Future”
- “All Hell’s Breaking Loose”
- “On and On”
- “Break the Chain”
- “Chainsaw”
