@colekincart

This past Saturday, 070 Shake performed at the Salt Shed, touring in support of her third studio album, Petrichor, which was released this past fall via Def Jam Recordings. Coming just a day after seeing Toro y Moi at the same venue (you an read more about that here if you’d like), I was ready for another night of great music, and 070 Shake didn’t disappoint!

070 Shake has been an artist I’ve been following since my early high school days. Her debut, Modus Vivendi, dropped right when COVID hit, and I’ll be honest—it carried me through the latter years of high school. That album was such a solid front-to-back listen and quickly became my go-to for testing and expanding my novice sound system at the time. Specifically, Nice to Have became my most-played song of 2020 and was practically on repeat in my headphones during those days. She was already making waves with guest features on GOOD Music tracks back in 2018, but Modus Vivendi was where I really started to lock into her vibe.

To give some more history, I had tickets to see her last headlining show in Chicago (if you don’t count her Riot Fest set in 2023, which I was there for) but thanks to a school final in May 2022, I had to cancel. That’ll forever be a regret I hold against Illinois Tech but that said, when the chance came to see her again this weekend, I was beyond excited to finally catch a full show.

070 Shake has come a long way since those early days. From Modus Vivendi to You Can’t Kill Me and now Petrichor, her progression as an artist is evident. Petrichor feels like her most expansive work to date, some might call it a next step as she becomes more comfortable on larger stages and with larger audiences. The album’s themes are more expansive, and it was clear that Shake’s performance on Saturday was ready for the big leagues.

As for the show itself? 070 Shake’s voice has this ethereal quality that cuts through the air, but when she sings with urgency—like in What’s Wrong With Me or Blood on Your Hands—you can feel it in your chest. There’s something to be said about an artist who’s performing for both themselves and their fans, and with 070 Shake, it felt like she was giving every bit of herself to the crowd. It’s rare to see someone so in tune with their own music and equally in touch with the people who are there to experience it with them.

Of course, some of the night’s highlights for me the newer tracks like Skin and Bones, Into Your Garden, and, naturally “the classics”, Guilty Conscience and Terminal B. These are the tracks that have followed me through the years, and hearing them live was like closing a chapter. The show had this nocturnal vibe, maybe even unintentional, but it felt like the night was dragging on—like the world outside had disappeared for a moment. Maybe it’s the vibe of Petrichor, or maybe it’s the intimate setting of the Salt Shed, but it felt much later than it was as we headed out into the night.

On Petrichor, Shake shows just how much her sound has evolved—bigger stages, bigger sounds. That said, I couldn’t help but notice the absence of Mike Dean from the production side of things. I’m not sure if it’s something she’s leaving behind for now, but part of me wonders if we’ll see her return to working with him down the line. Regardless, she’s holding her own just fine.

If you haven’t checked out Petrichor yet, do yourself a favor and dive in. 070 Shake is carving out a path that is uniquely her own, and it’s exciting to witness her continued evolution. 070 Shake is currently on tour—view the remaining dates here. You can also listen to her latest album, Petrichor, here.

All photos taken by Cole Kincart. Please email wiit@iit.edu for any inquiries on usage.