Songs in the Key of Kike
So today the McCawley clan (Me, Jo, and Maddie - Cam's on vaca) made our way downtown to attend the Taste of Chicago. I love the Taste... for all the crowds and madness, I really love it down there. It's where I gave Jo her ring last summer next to Buckingham Fountain and it's one of the first "Chicago events" I went to after I moved here.
Every night at the Taste they have a different music act. In the past I've seen They Might be Giants, Counting Crows, Old 97s, and Liz Phair. This year they have a decent line up... Bonnie Raitt, Joss Stone, Fantasia, Gomez.... and STEVIE WONDER!
Stevie was tonight so that was the reason we attended on a Saturday, which is basically a suicide mission with how crazy crowded it gets down there. With Stevie Wonder putting on a free show, it was even nuttier than usual.
We got there a couple hours before he went on and grabbed a nice little spot on the lawn. No chance that we'd be able to see the stage from there, but they had a nice video screen that we could see from our spot. We met up with Jen (
yokobnl) and chilled out until Stevie came on at 530p.
Let me just say that I've been dying to see Stevie Wonder play for YEARS. And he didn't disappoint at all. He sounded amazing.The crowd around us was a little annoying, but we expected that. Maddie was charming most of our neighbors and she seemed to have a great time there as well (though she melted down hardcore on the bus ride home).
Stevie played for a solid 2 hours 45 minutes. Crazy!!! The first half of the show was full of newer stuff and songs that I didn't really know. But then in the last half he let loose with the hits. He seriously played just about every song you could think of (no Ebony & Ivory though, thank god.) He did...
Higher Ground, Isn't She Lovely, My Cherie Amour, Ribbons in the Sky, I Just Called to Say I Love You, Superstition, Sunshine of my Life, Sir Duke, Overjoyed, Always, Do I Do, Living for the City, Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing, Signed Sealed Delivered.... and a ton of others. It was crazy awesome.
So anyway, that was fun. Nothing like seeing Stevie Wonder for free w/ the Chicago skyline in the background. It was a gorgeous day as well.... perfect weather. I think the highlight of the day for me was dancing with Maddie while he sang Isn't She Lovely w/ his daughter on stage.
EDITED TO ADD:
I forgot to mention... Jesse Jackson came out and talked a bit mid-concert and then sat next to Stevie at the piano and grooved out during the next song. They showed him a lot on the screen jamming out on the side of the stage too.
Every night at the Taste they have a different music act. In the past I've seen They Might be Giants, Counting Crows, Old 97s, and Liz Phair. This year they have a decent line up... Bonnie Raitt, Joss Stone, Fantasia, Gomez.... and STEVIE WONDER!
Stevie was tonight so that was the reason we attended on a Saturday, which is basically a suicide mission with how crazy crowded it gets down there. With Stevie Wonder putting on a free show, it was even nuttier than usual.
We got there a couple hours before he went on and grabbed a nice little spot on the lawn. No chance that we'd be able to see the stage from there, but they had a nice video screen that we could see from our spot. We met up with Jen (
yokobnl) and chilled out until Stevie came on at 530p.
Let me just say that I've been dying to see Stevie Wonder play for YEARS. And he didn't disappoint at all. He sounded amazing.The crowd around us was a little annoying, but we expected that. Maddie was charming most of our neighbors and she seemed to have a great time there as well (though she melted down hardcore on the bus ride home).
Stevie played for a solid 2 hours 45 minutes. Crazy!!! The first half of the show was full of newer stuff and songs that I didn't really know. But then in the last half he let loose with the hits. He seriously played just about every song you could think of (no Ebony & Ivory though, thank god.) He did...
Higher Ground, Isn't She Lovely, My Cherie Amour, Ribbons in the Sky, I Just Called to Say I Love You, Superstition, Sunshine of my Life, Sir Duke, Overjoyed, Always, Do I Do, Living for the City, Don't Worry 'Bout a Thing, Signed Sealed Delivered.... and a ton of others. It was crazy awesome.
So anyway, that was fun. Nothing like seeing Stevie Wonder for free w/ the Chicago skyline in the background. It was a gorgeous day as well.... perfect weather. I think the highlight of the day for me was dancing with Maddie while he sang Isn't She Lovely w/ his daughter on stage.
EDITED TO ADD:
I forgot to mention... Jesse Jackson came out and talked a bit mid-concert and then sat next to Stevie at the piano and grooved out during the next song. They showed him a lot on the screen jamming out on the side of the stage too.