Chicago Rolls Out The Hits And More During N.Y.C. Tour Stop

Chicago

credit: Blushing Cactus Photography

Despite the moniker, the rock group Chicago has important ties to New York City; it was where the band from the Windy City recorded their now-classic debut album, The Chicago Transit Authority56 years ago. That double record launched a legendary career built on mostly horn-powered rock and pop hits — among them “25 or 6 to 4,” “Make Me Smile,” “Saturday in the Park,” “If You Leave Me Now” and “You’re The Inspiration” — that continues to this day.

Fittingly, Chicago, which is currently led by original members Robert Lamm, Lee Loughnane and James Pankow, returned to New York this past Wednesday for a sold-out show at the Beacon Theatre, where they played two hours’ worth of their hits and more. The concert coincided with the recent reissue of Chicago IX: Chicago’s Greatest Hits on its 50th anniversary, and now includes additional songs from the band’s 1969-1980 period.

The show opened with the aptly named “Introduction,” from 1969’s The Chicago Transit Authority album, which reminded the audience members of Chicago’s early progressive jazz-rock roots before they evolved into Top 40 hitmakers. After that, it was an evening of wall-to-wall favorites such as “Dialogue (Part I & II),” “Old Days,” “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”, “Beginnings,” “Hard to Say I’m Sorry/Get Away” and “Hard Habit to Break.”

They also performed the entire “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon” suite (originally from the 1970 album Chicagoalso known as Chicago II), which featured “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World,” and unveiled a deep cut, Mongonucleosis,” from Chicago VII. The band’s encore ended the show on an exuberant note with raucous “Free” and, of course, the blistering rocker “25 or 6 to 4.”

Though the die-hard fans at the Beacon might have wished Chicago had played an additional favorite or two of theirs, they would be very hard-pressed to complain about this satisfactory overview of the band’s catalog. Each member from Chicago’s present lineup shone through during those two hours—among them trumpeter Loughane, trombonist Pankow and woodwinds player Ray Herrmann; lead singer Neil Donell, especially on “You’re the Inspiration”; drummer Walfredo Reyes Jr. and percussionist Ramon Yslas for their solos on “I’m a Man”; and guitarist Tony Obrohta, who delivered some fiery riffng on “25 or 6 to 4.”

Just before the concert began, a giant video screen behind the stage showed every Chicago album the band has released in reverse chronological order, featuring the famed logo (at last count, it was 40 album). It’s a testament to the band’s longevity and decades’ worth of hit songs — all of which were on full display at the Beacon show.

Chicago’s current tour continues through November.

Setlist:

Set I:

Introduction

Dialogue (Part I & II)

Questions 67 & 68

Call on Me

(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long

Mongonucleosis

If You Leave Me Now

Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon: 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 II:

Alive Again

Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

Old Days

Hard Habit to Break

You’re the Inspiration

Beginnings

(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher (Jackie Wilson cover)

I’m a Man (The 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