The War on Drugs

It started as a side-project, but Philadelphia guitarist and singer-songwriter Adam Granduciel was turned the War on Drugs into a contemporary rock juggernaut. While his love of Springsteen-inspired narrative balladry and ’80s synthesizers are a constant, every successive War on Drugs album has gotten bigger and glossier—and I Don't Live Here Anymore is no exception. Whether he's overseeing a Tom Petty-inspired ballad or an arena-friendly rock anthem, Granduciel's storytelling has only become more vivid with age, augmented by a backing band that knows how to heighten each stanza with melodic and rhythmic flourishes. The group headlines two nights at the Chicago Theatre—no opening acts required.