Ryan Hurd Takes Over Joe’s On Weed St. In Chicago!
Last night at Joe’s on Weed, the lights dimmed low and the air hung heavy with anticipation. It had been over three years since Ryan Hurd graced the stage here in Chicago. The crowd was eager to sing their hearts out, to hear this record for the first time live. Personally, it was a real treat to see him with a full band backing, since I saw his acoustic performance in Allegan, Michigan, in 2023.
All Photos By: Summer Lee NorwellTimmy McKeever didn’t open the night with fireworks; he opened it with feeling. And in that quiet, mellow space he created, heartbreak didn’t feel heavy. It felt human. Singing of heartbreak, this night was all about being seen and heard. His soulful voice was refreshing for a nineteen-year-old. Not surprising that he’s been cutting his teeth since he was 9 years old playing bars. You can see the ease in the way his set list was curated, showcasing new music and who he is as a musician. He gave us a tease of his newest single, “Hell Again”, with Big Mo, which just dropped. There was a good mix of originals and engaging the crowd with a Toby Keith medley. He’s had several songs go viral on TikTok, including his breakup version of "Tennessee Orange” by Megan Moroney. He just might be a rising star to get behind!
From the first growl of the guitar, it was clear: this wasn’t going to be a polished Nashville show. This was raw, back-road poetry electrified. Ryan Hurd didn’t sing to impress - he sang to heal, and somehow, took us all along for the mending. “Midwest Rock & Roll”, the head single off the same-titled album, was the third song of the set, but it set the tone for what’s to come. “You set your own heart on fire when you grow up where it’s cold” is the true Midwest love statement.
There were plenty of throwbacks from his last album, Pelago, such as “Platonic”, “To A T,” and “June, July, August,” but the sudden acoustic addition of “Diamonds or Twine” really got the sold-out crowd excited. Trying to hold on to those last bits of summertime. When Ryan sang “Chasing After You’, if the crowd wasn’t already standing, they would have immediately been on their feet. Not having the privilege to hear songs from Pelago live before was very exciting for me. That album basically covers my entire upbringing at my family’s lakehouse.
You could feel the cathartic reaction in Hurd as he played throughout the night. The harder rock sounds mixed with the heartbreak lyrics really drove home the importance of this album on an emotional level. Ending with an encore of “Wish for the World” speaks for itself.
It wasn’t just a concert. It was therapy wrapped in melody; a tender reminder that heartbreak isn’t the end of love’s story, just one of its truest verses. As he stated, “the end is where the best bits are.”
Click Here For More On Ryan Hurd
Ryan Hurd Set-List:
What Are You Drinking
Every Other Memory
Midwest Rock & Roll
Platonic
June, July, August
Love in a Bar
What If I Never Get Over You (Lady A cover)
Diamonds Or Twine (First Verse and Chorus)
Dress (Taylor Swift cover)
City Girl (Quick Snippet)
This Party Sucks
Youth
Florida With a Girl
To a T
Vindicated (Dashboard Confessional cover)
Michigan for the Winter
Chasing After You
Die for It
Paul
Wish for the World (Acoustic encore)
