Reviews: Chicago/EWF, Mutemath, Justin Bieber, Tweedy, Bonnie Raitt, The Vamps

Chicago & Earth, Wind & Fire @ BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wis., March 31 – “But the show was at its best Thursday when Chicago and Earth, Wind & Fire joined forces at night’s beginning and end. Aside from the sheer force of so many people, and horn players in particular, rocking out together, the pairing forced the musicians to play at their best, or else risk being upstaged.” – Piet Levy / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Mutemath @ Newport Music Hall in Columbus, Ohio, March 30 – “Mutemath put on a show that fans will remember long after the final chord was played. Also, its members accomplished the goal that any band has for a tour: they made people want to continue to listen to their music. Mutemath is certainly not typical.” – Colin Gay / The Lantern

Justin Bieber @ Valley View Casino Center in San Diego, Calif., March 29 – “Bieber’s energetic performance was enhanced by his talented back-up dancers, pumping strobe lights and trippy video montages. Most of the crowd was on its feet for the entire concert.” – Rob Harms / The San Diego Union-Tribune

Tweedy @ the Powerstation in Auckland, New Zealand, March 27 – “Live, Tweedy the band may not quite have the skills of Wilco. But there was still plenty of disarming atmospheres, guitar scorch and unsettling rhythms on live Sukierae tracks like ‘Diamond Light Pt. 1’ and the funky, fuzzy ‘World Away,’ with both songs showing young Spencer Tweedy’s deft drumming stretches far beyond waltzes.” – Russell Baillie / New Zealand Herald

Bonnie Raitt @ Orpheum Theatre in Boston, Mass., March 29 – “It is always a special event when Bonnie Raitt comes home to play Boston, but Tuesday night’s love-fest at the Orpheum Theater was exceptional even by that standard. By the time Raitt and her backing quartet left the stage after two hours of music from all phases and eras of her career, the capacity crowd of 2,500 fans was roaring in its eighth standing ovation.” – Jay N. Miller / The Patriot Ledger

The Vamps @ 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland, March 28 – “From the opening chimes of ‘Rest Your Love,’ they were infectiously upbeat – a refreshing departure from the cynical, phoned-in cheerfulness often projected by boybands.” – Ed Power / The Independent