Photo of Chicago live at Stifel Theatre by Laura Tucker
A few words come to mind when discussing the band Chicago. Musicianship is one of the first; longevity is soon to follow. In the 58 years that they have been together, they have raised a generation on their music. I remember my dad spinning their albums on the console stereo turntable as I ran around the house in my footed pajamas.
On Friday night, June 27th, at the Stifel Theatre, Chicago brought the magic that we have come to expect through songs that take us back in time, proving they are still a “Hard Habit to Break.” The sound of horns and harmonies is synonymous with the band that shares its name with its hometown. Their special fusion of rock, pop, and jazz is what keeps the fans coming back for more. Much to our delight, there was no opener. The evening belonged to Chicago, and their discography could have easily filled another hour.
Only three of the founding members—Robert Lamm on keyboards and vocals, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, and trombonist James Pankow—are still in the band, and Neil Donell has replaced the original vocals of the band’s frontman, Peter Cetera. I’ll admit, this was a concern at the back of my mind. How can they possibly sound the same? But as with any band that morphs over time, they managed to pull it off. They also have two percussionists—Walfredo Reyes Jr. and Ramon “Ray” Yslas—on congas, Tony Obrohta on lead guitar, Ray Herrmann on saxophone, and Loren Gold on keyboards, and rounding out the lineup is Eric Baines on bass guitar. It takes a lot of instruments to create their full-bodied sound.
The first set included “Questions,” “Searching So Long,” and “If You Leave Me Now,” and was followed by a short intermission.
While the band members have aged, just as the audience has, they show no signs of it. Each song was performed to perfection. Remember, these guys have been at it for over 50 years. It doesn’t get more professional than this.
The crowd was well-mannered and stayed in their seats for most of the performance, but were quick to jump up in a show of rousing support at the end of each number. This was one of those nights where everyone just sang along, and the use of cell phones was noticeably absent. Maybe that speaks to the age of this particular audience. They wanted to soak it in, old school. That was until “Hard For Me To Say I’m Sorry.” Then they lit up the venue and swayed in unison like a bunch of teenagers.
The second set was full of hits like “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “You’re the Inspiration,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Just You and Me,” “Stronger,” and more. Again, they could have played another hour’s worth of hits. One song that I would have enjoyed is “Baby, What a Big Surprise.”
Maybe they will surprise me with it if I get a chance to see them again. | Laura Tucker
