The soulful blues/rock duo, Bird and Byron, blow Chicago performance out of the water

On November 23rd, 2025, rock/soul duo Bird and Byron stopped by Chicago's Beat Kitchen as the 8th stop of their "Steadyrock Dreamstate Tour."

I won't pretend that I have been a long time fan of theirs that has been listening to them since they put out their earlier works in early 2020, but I will say that since hearing about them from their tour with Ocean Alley, about 40-50% of the songs I listen to are all Bird and Byron. Ironically, I thought Bird and Byron would be at the Lolla after show, which is why I started listening to them, only to find out that they would not be in Chicago for this show; I was really just looking to familiarize myself with the opening band. Little did I know, this would be the start of my Bird and Byron listening journey.

This is one of those bands that you listen to once and you get immediately HOOKED (the song that got me was "I'll Always Be There"). Once I was on the hook, I listened to their whole discography and I found that they do not have a single bad song - and they have some amazing covers! In case there was any doubt about how amazing these guys are, I was planning on attending regardless of whether or not I received a pass for coverage, and I dragged both of my Co-Editors in Chief out with me (for my birthday celebration).

With all of that said, how was the actual performance? Bird and Byron sound just as good, if not better, live as they do in the studio. They have this groove and energy to them that just makes you want to move and dance, but they can also slow down some of these songs to make them feel all-the-more special and romantic. Seeing them in a small, intimate setting like this is truly a magical experience; they have that sound and level of enthusiasm that makes you aware that they'll have no problem performing and filling smaller venues and larger arenas alike.

Not to compare the two bands, because they both have their own unique sound, but when my team and I were talking about the performance after the show, they said it gave them a similar sound to Thee Sacred Souls. They are one of my favorite bands, and I remember the days before they were ever trending on social media - I was telling anyone and everyone about this band. I agree that they both have an amazingly soulful sound, and I truly hope that Bird and Byron reach that level of success. Just like I did with Thee Sacred Souls, I am telling everyone about Bird and Byron. These are two very cool guys who, I know, have what it takes to change the game and leave their mark in the music industry.

In case anyone is looking for my top 5 B&B songs, to get started with their own listening adventure, I would suggest "I'll Always Be There," "Monte Carlo," "Oh My Lord," "The Boy Is a Storm," and "By My Side." These are my personal, current, favorites that I always have on repeat. Though I only started listening to them about 3/4 months ago, I wouldn't be surprised if they were in my top 5 artists for this year.

Between their Chicago show and their next show (Richmond, VA), they have a little break in their "Steadyrock Dreamstate Tour," but if you can, I would absolutely urge you to catch one of their last few shows... and buy their merch!!