Mavis Staples – Chicago Theater, Chicago, Jan. 10, 2026

Review: Glenn Noble/ Photos: Jennifer Noble

Review by: Glenn Noble.

Photos by: Jennifer Noble

Legend is a word often used, and sometimes misused, as a shorthand way of describing the status of a musician or artist.  In the case of Mavis Staples, the label of “legend” is entirely justified -- given the longevity of her career, the significant historical context around her and the Staple Singers, the degree of affection with which she is held in her native city, and not least, her quality as a performer. So, it was unsurprising that a sold out Chicago Theater on Saturday, January 10^th was abuzz with excitement and anticipation for this show.

Raising the curtain on the evening’s events was a solo performance from singer/songwriter Nathaniel Rateliff. Perhaps more familiar to some through his R&B/soul outfit, the Night Sweats, this Denver, Colorado based artist initially established himself as a solo artist, with a more folky/Americana style of writing. This was the side of Nathaniel Rateliff that was on show tonight and he was met with obvious and vocal delight from a sizeable number of fans in the audience. Accompanying himself on guitar, his expressive and expansive vocals soared throughout the packed theater, often without words, yet still delivering an emotional payload.

In between songs, Nathaniel showed a delightful self-deprecatory streak, often apologising ruefully for forgetting the name of a song or the circumstances surrounding its writing. All of this further endeared him to a very sympathetic and warm audience, many of whom seemed very familiar with his repertoire as they sang and clapped along, ultimately rewarding Nathaniel with a well-deserved ovation.

A figure familiar to many people in Chicagoland, WXRT DJ Terri Hemmert, stepped up to introduce our headline act, using the imminent celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a link to the era of the civil rights movement of which the Staple Singers were so strongly connected. As her band warmed up, Mavis herself took the stage to a rapturous welcome, acknowledging her crowd with a rousing “How you all doing?”, a cheerful smile and wave, and launching straight into a gospel flavoured trio of Staple Singers tunes. A lively “City in the Sky” complete with some energetic dance moves; a recruiting call for the army of love that is “I’m Just Another Soldier” pumping up the crowd; and “Handwriting on the Wall”, an almost country flavour with a peppy guitar solo from Rick Holmstrom concluded the first segment of the show.

Mavis then took a moment to share with the crowd how happy she was to be home again, and let us know she had come to bring “happiness, inspiration and positive vibrations”, and when she playfully said she was going to shake it up “like that Taylor Swift song”, we knew what she meant!

So having caught her breath, she took us into the first of a pair of songs from her latest album Sad and Beautiful World. Appropriately enough, it was a cover of Tom Waits’ “Chicago” which naturally went down a storm with the home town crowd. Moving upstage to be closer to the audience, Mavis then gently shared Kevin Morby’s “Beautiful Stranger” with a kind of calmness that comes from having an unshakeable strength or faith in humanity within, saying that no matter what the violence or brutality in the world, “they cannot scare us”. This was an intensely emotional moment which resonated strongly with everyone in the audience and I think we all took some hope from it. 

Checking in with the crowd after this profound experience, to see if we were feeling good, Mavis announced she was “feelin’ pretty good myself” and raised the energy level by marching us down that "Freedom Highway,” the Staple Singers’ timeless civil rights anthem; it was a widely popular choice followed by an equally popular “Respect Yourself,” a rendition full of fire.

One more track from the new album followed, varying the tempo and tone again with the elegiac “Human Mind”, with Mavis again expressing the sentiment that despite having seen and lived through the worst, it is still possible to have faith and hope that “sometimes” the best part of our nature can prevail.

There was a surprise treat in store now, as Nathaniel Rateliffe was brought back on stage to duet with Mavis on one of Pop Staples’ solo works, ”Friendship”, from an album of “lost tapes” recovered just prior to Pop’s passing.

 Asked by Mavis what he’d like to sing next, Nathaniel made the very popular choice to cover The Band’s classic “The Weight”, which became a real community singing experience;  in turn, Mavis, Nathaniel, Rick Holmstrom, and the two backing singers Kelly Hogan and Saundra Williams each took a verse, while the rhythm section of drummer Steve Mugalian and Gregory Boaz on bass thumped in time to a soulful, loping beat,  while the entire auditorium stood, clapped and sang along with the chorus. It was truly a glorious thing to be part of!  It is obvious that Mavis’ stellar bandmates are her pride and joy and considered like family; earlier in the evening she gave singer Kelly a hug and sang happy birthday to her.

The upbeat mood continued with “Heavy Makes You Happy” aka “Sha-Na-Boom-Boom”, the light-hearted rhythmic beat setting a smile on the faces of the happy crowd. This setting up the closing number, again from the new album, “Everybody Needs Love”, an evergreen Eddie Hinton cover delivered with a message that Mavis and the band demanded that the audience sing along with -- which of course they were delighted to do, as Mavis slowly took her leave. 

Remaining on their feet, the crowd would not be satisfied until the band and Mavis returned to the stage to finish with, inevitably, “I’ll Take You There”. Finally waving goodbye and letting her band close out an extraordinary performance, Mavis left us, warm in a glow of love and positivity -- as I heard someone remark, that this “wasn’t just music, it was therapy.”

In her 70-odd year career, Mavis has seen and been part of some truly harrowing events and it is astonishing and humbling that at 86 she continues to be a beacon of faith in humanity, and is still able powerfully to share that faith with the world through her music.  Long may she continue to do so; we are lucky to have her here.

Setlist from the Chicago Theatre on Jan. 10:

“City in the Sky”

“I’m Just Another Soldier”

“Hand Writing on the Wall”

“Chicago” (Tom Waits cover)

“Beautiful Strangers”

“Freedom Highway”

“Respect Yourself”

“Human Mind”

“Friendship” (Pops Staples cover)

“The Weight” (The Band cover)

“Heavy Makes You Happy (Sha-Na-Boom Boom)”

“Everybody Needs Love” (Eddie Hinton cover)

Encore“I’ll Take You There”

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