Chicago may have been buried under snow and stuck in 13-degree weather in the days leading up to the show, but none of that mattered once Taylor Acorn took the stage at Lincoln Hall. From the moment the instrumental intro began, you could feel the energy shift in the room. As it seamlessly transitioned into “Poster Child,” the title track of her latest album — and her favorite release to date — the night was officially underway.

Without missing a beat, she rolled straight into “People Pleaser” and “I Think I’m in Love,” setting the tone for a night that would balance high energy with emotional moments. There’s a warmth to her performance that makes every song feel shared rather than simply performed. She interacted with the entire room, from the barricade to the back wall, never letting anyone feel left out.

“Alright Chicago, how are we feeling tonight?” she asked early on. She took a moment to acknowledge that this was her first time ever playing Lincoln Hall, admiring how beautiful the venue was and thanking fans for braving the brutal cold to be there. Despite waking up to 13-degree weather, the band was overjoyed to be in Chicago and see “everyone’s lovely faces” in the crowd.

As the instrumental for “Coma” began, Acorn described the track as “a bit of an oldie,” which felt wild considering it still feels brand new. She shared what it meant to write the song with one of her favorite artists and people, Cassadee Pope — a collaboration that still feels unreal, especially for longtime fans. For me, as someone who grew up a huge Hey Monday fan, that moment hit even harder.

This tour is centered around her newest album, Poster Child, and Taylor made it clear the crowd was going to hear, “This is a new one,” quite often throughout the set. But if anyone thought that would slow the room down, they were very wrong. The audience embraced every new track just as loudly as the old favorites. And despite the focus on the new album, her older songs still got their moment to shine.

“You guys sound so good,” she told the crowd during “Cheap Dopamine,” as the room echoed every lyric back to her.

After slowing things down with “Cheap Dopamine,” “Goodbye, Good Riddance,” and “Burning House,” the energy shot right back up with “Vertigo.” The shift was instant. No matter how old or new the song was, the crowd sang every single word back to her from start to finish. The connection between Taylor and the audience never once broke.

One of the most heartwarming moments of the night came when she asked how many times people had seen her live before. A girl right at the barricade — who also happened to be from the UK — shouted out that she’d seen her 31 times. Taylor immediately declared it the world record, clearly in disbelief.

She then asked who in the room was seeing her for the very first time and thanked them sincerely for taking a chance and coming out. She shared how grateful she is every time she gets to step on stage — whether she’s headlining, opening, or playing a festival. The size of the crowd, she explained, never matters as long as she gets to perform.

Before playing “Sucker Punch,” Taylor took a moment to explain its meaning. The song reflects her experience in the music industry — getting knocked down ten times but always finding the strength to get back up eleven. It was a powerful reminder of just how much resilience it’s taken to get her to this point in her career.

This was the fifth time I’ve seen Taylor Acorn perform — from opening slots to now headlining — and while she’s always been vocally talented, the notes she was hitting this night were beyond impressive. Watching her growth over the years has been incredibly special, especially since I was first introduced to her through TikTok when she was posting covers of artists like The Maine and Mayday Parade. Seeing her headlining her own tour now truly feels like a full-circle moment.

By the end of the night, even the security guard at the front of the room had been won over. At one point, he encouraged the crowd to put their lights up using his own flashlight — a small but perfect detail that added to the joy filling Lincoln Hall.

As the final stretch of the set approached, Taylor introduced “Birds Still Sing” as the perfect way to end the night. She shared that she spent a lot of time deciding which song should close the show while planning the tour setlist. Before singing, she once again thanked the crowd, her gratitude clear not only in her words but in the way she treated the audience all night long.

When she exited the stage, the crowd refused to let the night end. Cheers filled Lincoln Hall long after the band had walked off, making it clear that no one was ready to leave just yet. Eventually, Ricky returned to hype the room back up, getting everyone clapping as the band made their way back out for the encore.

Taylor closed the show with “Shapeshifting” and “Psycho,” delivering some of the most explosive moments of the entire set. During “Psycho,” she leaned into one of the loudest call-and-response moments of the night:

“Chicago, for you I’ll be what?” The crowd screamed the answer back without hesitation.

“Chicago, thank you so much for being here tonight,” she said as the final notes rang out, continuing to express her gratitude until the very last second she left the stage.

On one of the coldest weeks Chicago has seen this winter, Taylor Acorn still managed to make Lincoln Hall feel warm and full of energy. Between her powerful vocals, heartfelt storytelling, and endless appreciation for her fans, her debut at the venue was more than just another tour stop — it was a reminder of how far she’s come and the community she continues to build every time she steps on stage.