Big Richard’s Pet Tour Stop at Garcia’s Chicago Showcases String-Band Mastery

By the end of January in the Midwest, we are clamoring to rid ourselves of subzero temps, snow piles in the parking lots, and dreaming about a stretch of consecutive days admiring the sunshine. I found solace from the wintry mix on the final day of January at Garcia’s Chicago to catch Big Richard as part of their Pet Tour 2026.

Photos By: Jeff Randolph

The Colorado-based quartet, a “neo-acoustic super group” consisting of Bonnie Sims on mandolin, Joy Adams on cello, Eve Panning on fiddle, and Hazel Royer on bass, came through Chicago in support of their latest album, Pet, released on February 6. The album is the follow-up to their debut, Girl Dinner, which was released early last year. It was my first time seeing the group and my first time at Garcia’s Chicago. The venue officially opened in the West Loop last March. The venue sounds incredible and is wonderfully comfortable.

The support act for Big Richard was Al Scorch, an incredibly talented storyteller and singer-songwriter with a comedic approach, bringing a local, welcoming flair to the night. His exemplary vocal style is seasoned with consistent phrasing and melodic textures. His picking on the guitar and banjo complements his engaging persona and musicianship. I got all the feels when he shared a poem about Chicago-style hot dogs. The words, “Botanical salinity of celery salt’s anointment,” still resonate with me. Al did bring his friend Max Subar, another local musician, to the stage to play a couple of songs as well, a terrific way to start an evening of fine music.

Big Richard took the stage and instantly locked in with the audience, opening with the murder ballad, “Rose Connelly.” Such a song is not acceptable at most shows. Still, if you are familiar with Appalachian music and its often-derivative melancholy relationship to traditional Irish music, as well as its gothic motifs and overtures, this should come as no surprise. The band's delivery of such music and the other songs in their diverse setlist all came across as authentic, making each song their own and delivering it with reverence and resonance.

Their cover of Black Sabbath’s “War Pigs” was not only a response to the current climate in the country but an honest display of the musical prowess and virtuosity the band possesses. The band mentioned that the cover had recently been added back to their set due to current events. And as if the Sabbath cover were not enough to get this point across, the band also did an eerie yet refreshing rendition of Tears for Fears’ “Mad World.” Once again, reiterating the theme for the night…that Big Richard brings a refreshing sense of traditional, original, and contemporary flavor to their set. They closed their set with an acoustic version of ‘Wind & Rain,” a stripped-down rendition with vulnerability and sovereignty that secures Big Richard’s place as one of the best string bands around.

Big Richard is a collective. A partnership that is sonically pleasing vocally and through the mastery of their respective instruments. The prominence of Eve Panning’s fiddle playing in most songs in their set and the droning tones from Joy Adams’ cello filled the room eloquently. Both Joy Adams and Hazel Royer delivered exceptional performances on their instruments and with flawless harmonies. Playing songs from their debut album, Girl Dinner, like “Darlin Honey,” “The Missing Stair,” and “The Devil’s Outside,” and placing new songs from their latest album, Pet, in their set showed how the band continues to evolve.

See them live if you have the opportunity. If the opportunity does not present itself, make it your priority to will it into existence.

Setlist

Rose Connelly

Cold Rain and Snow

The One I Love Is Gone

Darlin Honey

So Long My Friend

The Missing Stair

Side Canyon

The Devil’s Outside

Millionaire

War Pigs

It’s Gonna Fall/Old Daingerfield

Mad World

Short Life of Trouble

Slow Me Down

Red Fox Run

Walls of Time

Wind & Rain – acoustic