Chicago, the self-described “Rock and Roll Band with Horns”, once again brought their powerhouse act to the Broadview Stage at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center on Sunday, August 10 to the delight of their fans.
The feeling of nostalgia ran deep through the audience as the band played many of their hit songs from the 70’s and 80’s. These songs, for many in attendance, served as the soundtrack for the formative years of their lives. Couples slow danced in the aisles as guitarist Tony Obrohta donned a Gibson 12 string for “If You Leave Me Now”.
Every 1970’s wedding band worth its salt had “Colour My World” as part of its repertoire. The bands performance of this song had couples looking into each other’s eyes and groups swaying arm-in-arm in their seats.
Following a 20-minute intermission, the second set highlighted many of the bands 1980’s hits including “You’re the Inspiration” & “Hard Habit to Break”.
Original member and trumpet player Lee Loughnane reminisced about the band’s early days playing clubs in the Chicago area, explaining that club owners wanted them to only play covers of popular songs and threatened to fire them if they played their own original music. This reminiscence provided the intro to the band then performing covers of Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” and “I’m a Man” by the Spencer Davis Group. The latter featured a smokin’ hot percussion solo/duel performed by Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and Ramon “Ray” Yslas to the appropriate backdrop of a stage in flames.
The band finished off the second set with “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day”, a seeming nod to the fact that this band is still going strong over 50 years after they started playing those cover songs in 1960’s Chicago nightclubs.
Much to the delight of the audience, the encore finished off with Tony Obrohta performing the instantly recognizable opening guitar riff to “25 or 6 to 4” launching the band into this fan favorite.
Band members included: Lee Loughnane, James Pankow & Ray Herrmann on horns; Walfredo Reyes, Jr. and Ramon “Ray” Yslas on percussion; Tony Obrohta on lead guitar; bassist Eric Baines; keyboardists Loren Gold and Carlos Murguia; and Neil Donell on vocals and guitar.
Set 1: Introduction, Dialogue (Part I & II), Questions 67 & 68, Call on Me, (I’ve Been) Searching So Long, Mogonucleosis, If You Leave Me Now, Make Me Smile, So Much to Say So Much to Give, Anxiety’s Moment, West Virginia Fantasies, Colour My World, To Be Free, Now More Than Ever
Set 2: Alive Again, Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?, Old Days, Hard Habit to Break, You’re the Inspriation, Beginings, (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson cover), I’m a Man (Spencer Davis Group cover), Just You ‘n’ Me, Hard to Say I’m Sorry/Get Away, Saturday in the Park, Feelin’ Stronger Every Day
Encore: Free, 25 or 6 to 4
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