Chicago's sports fans gathered at Thalia Hall on Saturday night to watch Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers take the stage by storm. But instead of the band performing live, the crowd was treated to a unique twist: a large projection screen broadcasting the nail-biter of a Chicago Bears game, which had many in attendance dressed in Bears jerseys, singing along to the anthem with Murray.
When Jimmy Carpenter's jam band took the stage as an opener, they kept the energy high, playing blues classics and originals, including "Soul Doctor" and "My Babe." However, it wasn't long before the main event kicked off – Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers. The eight-member ensemble delivered a thunderous sound that dug deep into Chicago and Delta blues traditions.
Murray's vocals were remarkably on par with the rest of the band, as he slid in behind the drums to play maracas, congas, and cowbell (prompting "more cowbell!" chants from the crowd). The setlist featured covers of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" and Prince's "Little Red Corvette," alongside original tracks and blues staples.
But what made this show truly special was Murray's ability to blend seamlessly with his bandmates, making it clear he wasn't just a guest star but an integral part of the group. As the night drew to a close with a rollicking rendition of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone," Murray led the crowd in a sing-along, prompting them to snap their fingers together and declare "This is going to be a much better year."
Zito summed up the evening, saying it was "a lot more memorable than any other show" – and with Murray on board, it's likely this collaboration will become a regular occurrence. As for Murray himself, he proved once again why he's one of the most beloved actors in the business: he's got a knack for bringing people together and making them feel like they're part of something special.
When asked about the performance, Murray simply said "we had fun" – but it was clear that this impromptu show at Thalia Hall was more than just a fun night out. It was an epic celebration that brought music, sports, and community all together in one unforgettable evening.
When Jimmy Carpenter's jam band took the stage as an opener, they kept the energy high, playing blues classics and originals, including "Soul Doctor" and "My Babe." However, it wasn't long before the main event kicked off – Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers. The eight-member ensemble delivered a thunderous sound that dug deep into Chicago and Delta blues traditions.
Murray's vocals were remarkably on par with the rest of the band, as he slid in behind the drums to play maracas, congas, and cowbell (prompting "more cowbell!" chants from the crowd). The setlist featured covers of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London" and Prince's "Little Red Corvette," alongside original tracks and blues staples.
But what made this show truly special was Murray's ability to blend seamlessly with his bandmates, making it clear he wasn't just a guest star but an integral part of the group. As the night drew to a close with a rollicking rendition of Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone," Murray led the crowd in a sing-along, prompting them to snap their fingers together and declare "This is going to be a much better year."
Zito summed up the evening, saying it was "a lot more memorable than any other show" – and with Murray on board, it's likely this collaboration will become a regular occurrence. As for Murray himself, he proved once again why he's one of the most beloved actors in the business: he's got a knack for bringing people together and making them feel like they're part of something special.
When asked about the performance, Murray simply said "we had fun" – but it was clear that this impromptu show at Thalia Hall was more than just a fun night out. It was an epic celebration that brought music, sports, and community all together in one unforgettable evening.
he did seem to know his stuff on the drums tho 
but what really got me was how many people were singing along to the bears game 
meanwhile, jimmy carpenter's band was actually pretty fire 
anyway, glad ppl had a good time at thalia hall 
. The way he effortlessly blended with the band was pure magic 
. And that sports angle? Genius 
. It's not every day you see a jam session turned into a live game-day party 
. Can't wait to see what other surprises this collaboration has in store for us!
I've got sources telling me Bill Murray has been working on his Blood Brothers project for ages, and he's finally finding the right rhythm with this new band. The energy at Thalia Hall was ELECTRIC – who knew singing along to Bears anthems would bring out the blues enthusiast in people? 
It just goes to show you how much Chicago loves their sports teams (who doesn't love a good game, am I right?) and how music can bring everyone together. Murray's got that special touch – he's not just an actor, he's a master of creating unforgettable experiences 
It's not every day you see a Hollywood starlet rock out like that on stage. The energy of the crowd was electric, and Murray just fed off it. I'm so stoked for this collaboration to happen again, and I hope we get more shows like this in the future!
! I love how Bill Murray just rolled up with his band and brought the house down 
. It's clear that Bill is a total team player, slapping down cowbell and playing maracas like a pro 
anywayz, i guess its cool that he can just jump on stage and play w/ his band. makes you wonder if other celebs would do the same... maybe we'll see Kanye West show up to a Jay-Z concert anytime soon? 
Total perfection! I loved how he even took turns playing maracas & cowbell - more cowbell, indeed 
! And can we talk about the energy of the crowd? Everyone was vibin' like they were at a Bears game, singing along to the anthem 
#BillMurray #BloodBrothers #ChicagoMusic #SportsMeetsMusic
. And that sing-along at the end... pure magic 
also i love how the crowd was singing along to the anthem with him, it was such a cool moment. and can we talk about the cowbell?? 
. It's not about bein' the star, it's about sharIN' the love and spreadin' that energy to everyone around him 
. but seriously, it was awesome to see the crowd singing along to the anthem while bill murray jammed out on maracas 
.
Those Bears jerseys were EVERYTHING 
and the "more cowbell" chants? GENIUS 
Can you imagine Bill Murray playing maracas with those drummers? 
when life gives you lemons, make lemonade... but when life gives you the Chicago Bears game, bring Bill Murray and his Blood Brothers to the stage 
️, I mean who doesn't love "more cowbell!" chants?