IC3PEAK Concert - Park West Theatre – Chicago, IL – 11/11/25

Photos and Review by Nicholas Stevens

https://www.ic3peak.world/

IC3PEAK’s return to Chicago was nothing short of surreal. As a longtime fan of the Russian Electronic goth duo, stepping up to Park West around 5 p.m. for an 8:30 p.m. show already had my nerves buzzing. By the time doors opened, the entire theatre was swallowed in thick fog—so much that it felt like walking straight into their world. Conversations in Russian echoed throughout the room, with fans excitedly sharing how they learned the language just to follow IC3PEAK by studying, watching cartoons, and immersing themselves in the culture.

Then suddenly, the lights cut.

Anastasia Kreslina and Nikolay Kostylev entered with zero expression, Nick quietly wheeling Nastya to her position in a wheelchair. She has been ill throughout the tour, yet still performing—something the crowd clearly respected as they erupted with applause. I’ve been at countless barricades for countless shows, but seeing Nick and Nastya this close hit me with a kind of awe I wasn’t prepared for. Even though I wanted to lose myself in the moment, I had three songs to photograph, so I got to work.

Those three songs came rapid-fire. At the end, Nastya slowly stood, staring out at the crowd with a sharp, unnerving presence while Nick hammered between keys and drums. Their dynamic was dark, furious, and entirely commanding.

After the opening assault, Nick wheeled her off briefly before they returned for a stark contrast: angel wings, stools, and a request for complete silence. The room obeyed, and the duo delivered a haunting acoustic set. Nastya then rose and performed one of the most beautiful renditions of Ave Maria I’ve ever heard. I didn’t record it—something I immediately regretted when I noticed a woman beside me capturing the audio on her phone.

Another break.

And then—chaos.

IC3PEAK blasted into their heavier, high-energy catalog. The entire venue transformed. You almost forgot Nastya was ill with how powerfully she sang, while Nick switched between keys, drums, and electric guitar like a one-man storm. The pit erupted into moshing as strobes and deep red lights swallowed the room. It was sensory overload in the best possible way.

They closed the night with heartfelt thanks. There was no encore, understandably, but the crowd left buzzing—some wiping away tears, others debating their favorite moments, while staff cleaned up the roses fans had thrown onto the stage for Nick and Nastya.

IC3PEAK isn’t just a band—they’re a vital pulse in the Russian rock scene, in political music, in goth culture, and in modern experimental art as a whole. I’m grateful I was able to witness it, let alone document it.

Special thanks to Artemy, Alex Hall, Cadie, and Cat at Park West—and of course, to Anastasia Kreslina and Nikolay Kostylev.

IC3PEAK Concert at Park West Theatre – Chicago, IL – 11/11/25 photos;