The Vaccines lit up Chicago on January 24th, turning The Vic Theatre into a buzzing, sweat-soaked haven for indie rock lovers. From the second they hit the stage, the night exploded into motion. The British indie rockers wasted no time diving straight into a set packed with sharp riffs, driving basslines, and lyrics that beg to be screamed at the top of your lungs.
Frontman Justin Young had this effortless way of pulling everyone in—whether through his magnetic stage presence or the sheer power of his voice cutting through the chaos. The room felt alive, pulsing under the glow of neon lights as the crowd jumped, swayed, and shouted every word right back at the band.
The energy in the room was a contagious high, spreading from the stage to the farthest corners of The Vic Theatre like a spark catching fire. There was no pretense, no need to look cool or composed. The crowd moved instinctively, some throwing their arms around friends, others jumping wild, completely lost in the moment. It was the kind of atmosphere that made you forget your phone was even in your pocket—everywhere you looked, people were locked into the experience, feeding off the pure rush of sound and movement.
People danced without hesitation, shouted lyrics like they were personal mantras, and moved as if the music had taken over completely. It was the kind of night that didn’t need an encore to feel complete because the high of it all would linger long after the doors swung open.
The Vaccines have this rare ability to make a show feel both massive and deeply personal at the same time. One moment, the room felt like a riot, bodies pushing forward, the floor vibrating beneath the weight of hundreds of feet. The next, it was as if everything had slowed just enough to feel the weight of every note, every lyric, every second passing. There was no lull, no chance to check out. Just a steady, immersive ride that made time irrelevant.
At the end of the night, strangers became friends over shared lyrics, recapping their favorite moments like they had just lived through something bigger than a show. Even outside, the pulse of the night carried on. Chicago’s streets became alive with fans who weren’t quite ready to let go, and that in itself encapsulates the impact this band will always have on music lovers alike.