La Dispute at Thalia Hall
Chicago, Illinois - May 8, 2026
La Dispute made their second-to-last tour stop in Chicago after taking the U.S. by storm. Having previously toured Europe in early 2026, they treated their American fans once after the 2025 tour.
La Dispute, formed in 2004 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a post-hardcore band consisting of lead vocalist Jordan Dreyer, bassist Adam Vass, guitarists Corey Stroffolino and Chad Morgan-Sterenberg, and drummer Brad Vander Lugt. They’re known for albums such as Somewhere at the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair and Wildlife. Notably, their most recent album, No One Was Driving the Car, was released six years after their last release, 2019’s Panorama.
The openers Flooding, an experimental post-rock trio hailing from Kansas, and From Indian Lakes, an indie rock band from California, truly set the tone for the night. Both bands delivered amazing vocals and instrumentation that instantly captivated the crowd.
After a quick stage turnover, the band walked on stage and Dreyer started with a bang, moving back and forth across the stage along with the music as he sang hit songs like “King Park”, “I Shaved My Head” and “No One Was Driving the Car”. All the members of the band have such a strong stage presence. A stand out moment is when Stroffolino managed to do two full spins with his guitar in hand as he shredded, fully embodying their music in their live performance.
What was truly amazing was the crowd’s showcase of their love for the band as hundreds of voices sang their lyrics word for word. The band has cultivated a strong, loyal, and loving fanbase. In an interview with Ashwin Bhandari, Dreyer talks about how numerous fans have resonated and connected with the band’s music through their trauma and their experiences after making it out of hard times. This really struck true as audience members sang along to lyrics of “King Park”, “If you could see it up close, how could you ever forget? / How senseless death, how precious life / I wanna be there when the bullet hit.” It’s admirable and heartfelt to see how vulnerable both fans and the band can be. La Dispute has proven through both their lyricism, musicality, and performance quality what makes a true artist.
