Awesome concert
Went to see Chicago with the Doobie Brothers Tuesday night (6/24) at Chastain Park. Great show that went from 7:30 p.m. right to 11 (the latest it can go due to the local noise ordinance), though there was a break between the bands and one before the Doobies went on as the opening act was an Italian singer named Niko (Or Nico? Nicco? Not sure). He was pretty good too, and he would show up later in the show.
I'd post the set list for the Doobies if I knew everything they played. But if you're the casual Doobies fan (as I'd consider myself), then you know their standards, and they seemed to play them all - Jesus is Just Alright, Take Me in Your Arms, Black Water, China Grove and Long Train Running (which had a great sax solo and awesome jamming). Their set also had a cover of Little Bitty Pretty One, which I thought was an interesting selection - maybe they covered it on an album before?
Chicago began their set, appropriately, with Introduction, appropriate not only because it's the first song of the set but also because it's the first song of their first album, "Chicago Transit Authority." From my experience, they usually open with Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon because it opens and ends very energetically, but Introduction is a good opener and also energetic.
From Introduction they went into Questions 67 and 68, then Dialogue. I liked Dialogue's dynamic with the older Bill Champlin singing with the younger Jason Scheff (the song is seemingly about an older person questioning someone younger). One of the two I think repeated one of the lines, but being in front of a crowd will do that to you.
Their fourth song was a shorter version of Ballet -- essentially just the first and second parts of Make Me Smile sandwiching Colour My World, but since it was a full show, I understand why it was shortened.
The rest of the set:
5. If You Leave Me Now (with a neat arrangement and sung by Niko mentioned earlier)
6. Call On Me
7. Alive Again
8. You're Not Alone (Bill was great on vocals and guitar)
9. Hard Habit to Break going into You're the Inspiration
10. Beginnings
11. Just You 'n' Me (with an excellent flute solo by Walt Parazaider)
12. Saturday in the Park
13. Hard to Say I'm Sorry
14. Feelin' Stronger Everyday
Then Chicago stepped away before both bands came out for an encore together, alternating between their songs:
15. Rockin' Down the Highway
16. Free (An American flag background usually drops down when the song starts, but didn't this time around)
17. Takin' It to the Streets
18. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
19. Listen to the Music
20. 25 or 6 to 4
Listen to the Music seemingly felt like a better song to go home on because it felt a little more energetic and had more people singing and dancing to it ... 25 or 6 to 4 was energetic but it's more of a guitar showcase than one that allows for more participating.
All in all, a great show, but Chicago with Earth, Wind and Fire seemed to be a slightly more energetic double show a few years ago. Chicago is geting up there but can still pull it off. Hope to see them next year either on their own or with another great band.
I'd post the set list for the Doobies if I knew everything they played. But if you're the casual Doobies fan (as I'd consider myself), then you know their standards, and they seemed to play them all - Jesus is Just Alright, Take Me in Your Arms, Black Water, China Grove and Long Train Running (which had a great sax solo and awesome jamming). Their set also had a cover of Little Bitty Pretty One, which I thought was an interesting selection - maybe they covered it on an album before?
Chicago began their set, appropriately, with Introduction, appropriate not only because it's the first song of the set but also because it's the first song of their first album, "Chicago Transit Authority." From my experience, they usually open with Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon because it opens and ends very energetically, but Introduction is a good opener and also energetic.
From Introduction they went into Questions 67 and 68, then Dialogue. I liked Dialogue's dynamic with the older Bill Champlin singing with the younger Jason Scheff (the song is seemingly about an older person questioning someone younger). One of the two I think repeated one of the lines, but being in front of a crowd will do that to you.
Their fourth song was a shorter version of Ballet -- essentially just the first and second parts of Make Me Smile sandwiching Colour My World, but since it was a full show, I understand why it was shortened.
The rest of the set:
5. If You Leave Me Now (with a neat arrangement and sung by Niko mentioned earlier)
6. Call On Me
7. Alive Again
8. You're Not Alone (Bill was great on vocals and guitar)
9. Hard Habit to Break going into You're the Inspiration
10. Beginnings
11. Just You 'n' Me (with an excellent flute solo by Walt Parazaider)
12. Saturday in the Park
13. Hard to Say I'm Sorry
14. Feelin' Stronger Everyday
Then Chicago stepped away before both bands came out for an encore together, alternating between their songs:
15. Rockin' Down the Highway
16. Free (An American flag background usually drops down when the song starts, but didn't this time around)
17. Takin' It to the Streets
18. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
19. Listen to the Music
20. 25 or 6 to 4
Listen to the Music seemingly felt like a better song to go home on because it felt a little more energetic and had more people singing and dancing to it ... 25 or 6 to 4 was energetic but it's more of a guitar showcase than one that allows for more participating.
All in all, a great show, but Chicago with Earth, Wind and Fire seemed to be a slightly more energetic double show a few years ago. Chicago is geting up there but can still pull it off. Hope to see them next year either on their own or with another great band.