Chicago: Four decades later, energy hasn't waned

I didn't know what to expect when I sat there, waiting for the Chicago show (which sold out) to begin. It's not that I dislike the band; it's just that I'm not a fan of its music. Sure, I've heard songs like "Saturday in the Park" and "You're the Inspiration," but to my modern sensibilities these songs don't resonate as strongly as with others from earlier eras.

But on Friday night at the Melody Tent, Chicago pulled from a wide diversity of musical styles and genres to put together a 2?-hour show that embodied the band's career. There were soft moments, there were hard-rocking moments, but the one constant was the band's horn section.

in concert

What: Chicago

When: Friday night

Where: Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis

The horn section features three original members of the band, which launched in 1967. These three men, Lee Loughane, James Pankow and Walter Parazaider, have been the constant breath of life in Chicago's music.

And these three didn't disappoint.

The rest of the nine-man ensemble (which includes the only other remaining original member, Robert Lamm) are percussionist Walfredo Reyes Jr., who joined the band last year; guitarist Keith Howland; bassist Jason Scheff (who had the majority of the vocal duties Friday); drummer Tris Imboden; and keyboardist Lou Pardini.

These nine men put together a show that, as Scheff said, would try to touch upon a key point in every part of the band's career. And on that score it didn't disappoint, as it played songs that ranged from peppy (the previously mentioned "Saturday in the Park") to softer ballads ("Will You Still Love Me") to rockers ("25 or 6 to 4"). Along the way the band played several interludes which incorporated pieces of other songs woven together. This was a dizzying experience for the casual fan, as songs bled into one another.

At one point the band played its cover of the Spencer Davis Group's "I'm A Man," segued into a drum solo between Imboden and Reyes Jr., where the rest of the band left the stage for several minutes and returned after the solo to finish off the song.

There were several times where this happened, adding a jam feel to the performance. Throughout the set Chicago showcased the horns, and the guitar got buried in the mix for most of the night. There was one point where the guitarist got to play an extended solo, and that was late in the show with "Here With Me." The guitar was not the only instrument to sound buried in the mix of horns and loud percussion; the keyboards for most of the night were barely audible as well.

There were exceptions to this, such as the somewhat intimate performance of "It's Another Rainy Day In New York City," where Lamm, guitarist Howland and keyboardist Pardini stayed on set while the other six members left the stage.

Overall, the band gave a strong show and appeared very passionate about what they do still. One example of this is the heartfelt speech that Pankow gave near the end of the show, where he expressed gratitude that the band has lasted over four decades. His energy was unmistakable all night, as he jumped around, playing his horn and pointing to the fans as he sang along. At one point during the first interlude, Pankow joined Reyes Jr. as the third drummer for a song.

The energy was up all night, and this band that has successfully leap-frogged from one decade to the next executed its songs with mathematical precision. While I'm still not a big fan of Chicago, I can't deny that its members can play their hearts out, and that's what they did this night.

Source: http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130630/NEWS/306300354/-1/rss10

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