WIIT-FM (Chicago, IL)

@colekincart Day one technically started around 7 a.m. when I landed in Porto. With nearly 10 hours to spare before gates opened, I wandered the city, grabbed breakfast, and put together a quick preview of the artists I was most excited to catch over the weekend (which you can read here).

@colekincart If day one was about arrival, day two felt like finally settling into Porto. Or at least that’s what I was thinking this morning (the morning of day 3) over an açaí bowl and a cinnamon espresso. Jet lag is still hanging around, though I think it’s finally beginning to lose.

@colekincart Well folks, the end is near. And what better way to round things out than abroad, far away from Chicago and in a city entirely unfamiliar to me, but surrounded by sounds I’ve spent years obsessing over. To keep the sentimentality at a manageable level, I’ve officially begun one of my final assignments for WIIT 88.9 FM. A station that has somehow served as a second home since 2021.

@colekincart (words n’ pics) This past Friday, Bleachers headlined The Salt Shed for a sold-out show kicking off their Bleachers Forever tour. Tour openers can be strange affairs, honestly. Sometimes it takes bands a few shows to figure things out. A setlist needs tweaking, transitions need tightening, and pacing has to settle into place. Fortunately, those concerns don’t seem to apply to Jack Antonoff and Bleachers.

Alice Phoebe Lou absolutely gets it when it comes to songs about love. She touches on every possible feeling, ranging from softly enchanting to passionately yearning, and sometimes even a little sexy. Her show at the Vic Theatre on April 22nd, 2026, genuinely blew me away. She is one of the most talented artists I’ve had the pleasure of seeing, and I was grateful for the opportunity to see her once again.

@colekincart (words n’ pics) This past April 2nd, The Format graced The Salt Shed for a sold-out stop on their Boycott Heaven tour — a show that, for me, felt a long time coming. Before getting into the night itself, it’s worth situating who The Format are, especially if your entry point was adjacent. The Arizona duo — Nate Ruess and Sam Means — built a cult following in the early 2000s with a brand of indie rock that leaned theatrical, vulnerable, and at times almost baroque in its composition.

@colekincart As finals finally began to clear earlier this month, I’ve been taking some time to not just decompress from school, but also to unpack the year behind us, musically speaking.

@victoriaaspurez @oliviamcmath (a review by to jam) Snocaps consists of lead vocalists and sisters Allison and Katie Crutchfield, MJ Lenderman on drums, and Brad Cook on bass. There was high anticipation for a band full of household names, and they did not disappoint. This is not the first band Allison and Katie have had together, and it was clear by their natural performance.

@colekincart (words n’ pics) Last Sunday felt like one of those nights that sits weirdly between seasons. Not quite winter, not quite fall, but just Chicago being Chicago and choosing to be indecisive and gray. Trying my best to plan for the weather (a la, how many layers do I need?), I made my way up to the Riviera to catch Wednesday on their Bleeds tour.

@bware._23 Last night’s performance by The Brokes at Reggie’s was genuinely one of the most fun and memorable concerts I’ve ever had the pleasure of attending. For some context, The Brokes were formed in Toronto in 2022 as a note-for-note tribute to the Strokes- they’re for those who are ‘too broke to Stroke’. Despite being a tribute act, the show features five incredibly talented musicians who brought phenomenal energy and fantastic stage presence.