Boys Like Girls in Chicago

About Boys Like Girls

Boys Like Girls formed in Boston in 2005 and became one of the defining pop-rock bands of the late 2000s. Built around Martin Johnson's vocals and the band's knack for crafting hook-laden songs, they carved out space between emo sincerity and pop radio accessibility. Their 2006 debut album spawned "The Great Escape," a track that defined a moment when relatably awkward romance could soundtrack your entire high school experience. "Two Is Better Than One" featuring Taylor Swift proved they could do earnest duets without irony. Even as taste shifted, they remained good at what they did: writing songs about wanting someone, losing someone, or pretending not to care. They've never stopped touring or releasing music, proving there's a persistent audience for this particular brand of careful vulnerability wrapped in power chords.

Their crowds are engaged without being frantic. People sing every word to the familiar stuff. There's genuine affection in the room rather than nostalgia-drunk irony. They're reliable musicians who play tight, don't oversell the drama, and seem aware they're working in a legacy.

Known for The Great Escape, Thunder, Two Is Better Than One, Love Drunk, Be Your Everything

Boys Like Girls + Chicago

Boys Like Girls played Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Chicago on August 26, 2025, with a nine-song set that mixed the classics with newer material. "Love Drunk" opened and "Five Minutes to Midnight" followed, then they dropped "BLOOD AND SUGAR" and "LANGUAGE" -- newer tracks that held their own against the nostalgia. "She's Got a Boyfriend Now" and "Thunder" carried the middle, and "MIRACLE" kept things current before "Two Is Better Than One" slowed the pace. They closed with "The Great Escape," which is the only way to end a Boys Like Girls show. Chicago got the reunion-era setlist.

Boys Like Girls in Chicago News

• Boys Like Girls to Celebrate 20 Years of Self-Titled Record with ‘Soundtrack of Your Life’ Tour TicketNews · Nov 5, 2025
• Jonas Brothers – JONAS 20: Living the Dream Tour | 08/26/2025 Choose Chicago · Aug 26, 2025
• Jonas Brothers moving Wrigley Field tour stop to new venue CBS News · Jun 18, 2025
• Jonas Brothers Add Dates to 20th Anniversary Tour After Downgrading Some Venues Rolling Stone · Jun 16, 2025
• The All-American Rejects & Boys Like Girls To Tour With Jonas Brothers Rock Sound · Mar 24, 2025

Live Music in Chicago

Chicago's always been a rock city first—blues and soul DNA runs through everything—but the 2000s pop-rock wave definitely had its moments here. The kind of guitar-driven, radio-friendly rock Boys Like Girls trade in fits somewhere between the city's legacy acts and its current indie sensibilities. Chicago tends to respect solid musicianship, which works in their favor.

Chicago road trip to see Boys Like Girls?

Stay in Lincoln Park or Wicker Park depending on your vibe—both neighborhoods have real character and plenty of late-night options. Book dinner at Alinea if you're feeling ambitious, or hit RPM Italian for something excellent and less impossible to get into. Spend an afternoon at the Art Institute, then walk along the Lakefront. The city's got enough to fill a weekend without feeling like you're checking boxes. Catch the show, eat well, and remember why you liked this band in the first place.