Review and Photos by Fred Kuhlman
Promoter: Danny Zelisko Presents (https://dzplive.com/ )
Venue: Celebrity Theatre (https://celebritytheatre.com/ )
Date: March 4th, 2025
There are just some bands that make you feel really happy and you love singing along with their music. For me, Chicago is one of those bands. Growing up in the 60s and 70s, I got to hear a lot of the music from the golden age of Rock & Roll. I always believed that adding a horn section to the music added depth. Whether it was Bruce Springsteen with Clarence Clemons (The Big Man), Bob Seger Silver Bullet Band or Miami Sound Machine, the horns moved the music to the next level. One of the greatest was Chicago with their 3-person horn section.
The late 60s were a time of great US bands coming on the music seen. I remember seeing a band at the Ohio State Fair in the mid-60s called Blood Sweat and Tears. They were amazing with their horn section. A couple of years later I heard this amazing song “Beginnings” and thought it was from them. I later discovered it has this band from Chicago called Chicago Transit Authority. I was blown away by their self-titled debut album, Chicago Transit Authority. It contained these amazing songs, “Beginnings”, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is” and “Question 67 & 68”. They shortened their name to just Chicago the next year. But for me the real breakout album was their 4th album, Chicago at Carnegie Hall (or Chicago IV). It was a 4 LP release and contained all of their great hits. For me, I love live albums because they show what the band is really capable of and usually are not over dubbed.
Chicago is a rock and roll band with an outstanding horn section. They combine rock & roll with the Chicago jazz influence. Over the years Chicago has produced 26 studio albums and 3 live albums. They were also one of the few bands that produced a number of the albums in the quadriphonic format. They have won 5 Grammy Awards, 2 American Music Awards and been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Chicago is renowned for their amazing horn section. It currently consists of Lee Loughnane on trumpet, James Pankow on trombone and Ray Herrmann on saxophones and flute. The percussion section features Ramon “Ray” Yslas on multiple percussions and Walfredo Reyes Jr. on drums. On keyboards are Loren Gold and Carlos Murguia. Tony Obrohta is on guitar and Eric Baines is on bass. Featured singers are Robert Lamm and Neil Donell with backing vocals provided by other members of the band. Overall, at times there were 11 members on the stage.
I have seen Chicago a number of times. Last year they toured with Earth, Wind & Fire and played at large arenas. That show was amazing with all of the lighting and video effects, but with 17,000 people it lost something. Tonight’s show at the Celebrity Theatre was more of an intimate affair. It was a sold-out show but with only 2500 people. There was not the light show or videos, but just phenomenal music by really talented musicians.
The thing I really like about Chicago is that the musicians seem to have a fun time on stage and it transfers to the audience. Also, the fans seemed to know the music and would sing along with the band. At first it just sounded like a reverb of the singer but I understood it was the fans singing along.
They broke the night into 2 sets. The setlist is below. With so many great songs, it must be hard to decide on a set list. They only have so long on stage and will omit some song that fans would love to hear. But the 22 songs they did perform were definitely ones that the fans loved. They started with “Introduction” and the party continue for the rest of the night. Their song selection covered a number of their albums. The first set might seem short with only 6 songs, but the last song, “Ballet For A Girl in Buchannon” is really a combination of many songs running over 15 minutes including “Make Me Smile”, “Colour My World” and “Now More Than Ever”. After a short intermission, they came back to play for over an hour again.
For me, my favorite songs included “Introduction”, “Ballet”, “Beginnings”, “I’m A Man” and “25 Or 6 To 4”. Many times, they got a standing ovation. Starting with “Saturday In The Park”, everyone was standing and singing along for the rest of the songs.
I highly recommend seeing Chicago. If you love classic rock & roll, then you will love seeing Chicago. In these days of strange events, seeing and hearing some great music that makes you feel great is a relief. You can see if Chicago is coming to a city near you on their social media pages.
Chicago Social Media sites:
Website: https://chicagotheband.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Chicago.Official/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chicagotheband/
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ChicagotheBand
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/discover/chicago-band
Chicago
Photos © Fred Kuhlman 2024, All Rights Reserved
Chicago Setlist: (Album)
Introduction (Chicago Transit Authority)
Dialogue (Chicago V)
Questions 67 & 68 (Chicago Transit Authority)
Call On Me (Chicago VII)
(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long / Mongonucleosis (Chicago VII)
If You Leave Me Now (Chicago X)
Ballet For A Girl in Buchannon (Chicago)
Set 2:
Alive Again (Hot Streets)
Does Anyone Really Know What Time It Is (Chicago Transit Authority)
Old Days (Chicago VIII)
Hard Habit to Break (Chicago 17)
You’re the Inspiration (Chicago 17)
Beginnings (Chicago Transit Authority)
I’m A Man / Percussion Duet (Chicago Transit Authority)
Just U & Me (Chicago VI)
Hard To Say I’m Sorry / Get Away (Chicago 16)
Saturday In The Park (Chicago V)
Feelin’ Stronger Every Day (Chicago VI)
Encore:
Free (Chicago III)
25 Or 6 To 4 (Chicago)
