Although many have never heard their name before, Tortoise is a band that has proven to be one of the most influential groups among the nebulous post-rock genre. The band was formed by bassist Douglas McCombs and drummer John Herndon in late 1980s Chicago. They would soon be joined by John McEntire and Bundy K. Brown, drummer and bassist respectively, as well as percussionist Dan Bitney. Notably, David Pajo, a member of the hugely influential Slint, recorded two albums together with Tortoise. While Brown is no longer a member of Tortoise, the former four have been making music together since the early nineties, their most recent release made available on Sept, 9, 2025 and titled “Touch.”
Despite being dumped into the inscrutable mix of post-rock, the music of Tortoise eludes categorization. Their breakout album, “Millions Now Living Will Never Die,” swings back and forth between jazz-fusion, progressive rock, chamber rock, and electronic ambient. Their subsequent album, “TNT,” demonstrates this same inventiveness, including elements of dub, jazz, rock, and minimalism.
Occasioned by the release of “Touch,” Tortoise announced a sprawling tour, taking them from San Francisco to Sydney. They kicked off their tour in their hometown of Chicago, Illinois, playing their new album “Touch” live for the first time ever. They played the storied Auditorium theater, joined by the Chicago Philharmonic, for a rare audio-visual feast.
Located at 50 East Ida B. Wells Drive, the inside of the Auditorium itself was worth the price of admission. Completed in 1889, the theater is known for its neo-romanesque architecture, unparalleled acoustics, and hosting a litany of the biggest acts of all time, including Ray Charles, The Beach Boys, Diana Ross, James Brown, David Bowie, and Elton John to name just a few.
From my seat three rows from the stage, it felt as if no one could truly honor the acoustic capabilities of the theater better than Chicago Philharmonic, hailed as among the finest orchestras in the nation. Sweeping orchestral refrains were supported by the skilled musicians of Tortoise. Despite the vast differences in style and medium, the two musical bodies wove together beautifully, sustaining a reverent atmosphere.
The performance itself took place over the course of 90 minutes, interrupted by a 30 minute intermission. The setlist included newly released songs mixed in together with some of their most well known and well received pieces. They opened the concert fittingly with “Vexations,” the first track on “Touch” and a haunting ambient masterwork, subsequently moving seamlessly into the industrial “Layered Presence.” Next up was “Elka” from their much acclaimed album “TNT,” a lighter song made deep and powerful by the Philharmonic brass section. “The Catastrophist,” the title song of their 2016 album, was rendered through a unique instrumental, a sonic complement to the previously eerie performances. Returning to “TNT,” a fan favorite no doubt, the band performed “I Set My Face to the Hillside,” lulling the audience with the song’s exotic and hypnotic rhythm. Finally, “Promenade à deaux,” from “Touch” and “dot/eyes,” from their fourth studio album “It’s All Around You,” closed out the first half.
Returning from intermission together, they played five more tracks off “Touch” (“Axial Seamount A Title Comes,” “Oganesson,” “Play Video,” “Night Gang,” and “Rated OG”), all of which they executed with precision, as well as a few miscellaneous songs, including “The Lithium Stiffs” which was performed without the support of the Philharmonic.
Tortoise is special, not just for their innovative musical bent or highly acclaimed oeuvre, but for what they represent. The gentleman seated to my left for the duration of the show explained over intermission that this was his fifth time at a Tortoise event over the course of three decades. They have been cited as among the main drivers for the popularity of so-called post-rock music, alongside such contemporary favorites as Stereolab, Bark Psychosis, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and more. Although the term has been diluted into an amorphous, empty signifier, Tortoise still refuses to be put in a box. After 30 years of making music, the band continues to raise the bar, pushing the envelope of musicianship. Their performance at the Auditorium was not merely historical; it was personally transformative, opening up whole new understandings of what music is.
Image credit: Wikipedia
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