Steve Winwood opens for The Doobie Brothers
I had the wonderful opportunity to see Steve Winwood in concert again. This was my third time. This time, he opened for The Doobie Brothers in their fiftieth anniversary tour.
As for Winwood, he hasn't aged a bit since I saw him in 2015. He started things off with Glad, then jumped to Can't Find My Way Home, then went to I'm a Man, then surprised with his 2003 cover of "Why Can't We Live Together?" from his 2003 album About Time.
Lily Winwood, his daughter, did a tremendous job singing back up on Can't Find My Way Home. I knew that she would be singning back-up for Winwood in this concert, from having checked the Instagram page. But what a commanding voice she has. This wasn't just a case of nepotism that she ended up getting picked to back up. I've checked out some more of her songs on Spotify in the weeks since the concert. She holds her own. And she was absolutely beautiful when called upon to be, then could also belt out blue-eyed soul with the best of them.
What delighted me so absolutely was the inclusion of 40,000 Headmen, Back in the Highlife, and Roll With It. He then reached Dear Mr. Fantasy, Higher Love, and Gimme Some Lovin.
The concert was at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park, Illinois. I made the trip up there on Sunday morning, August 25th, right after swinging by Christ the King for a 7:45 am mass.
I took Interstate 80 to Morris, got checked into my room at the Quality Inn there, and then headed for Chicago. Ian and I had some lunch at the AO Hawaiian Hideout.
As for the Doobie Brothers, founding members Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons welcomed back Michael McDonald. They did "Minute By Minute," "Rocking Down the Highway," "China Grove," "It Keeps You Running," and for that one they brought on Lilly Winwood to sing the Michael McDonald Part, again with her keeping up with the boys in playing blue-eyed soul; and they finished off with Black Water and Taking It to the Streets." The great part of that ending was Winwood joined The Doobie Brothers for Taking It to the Streets," and he and Michael McDonald did some kind of gospel worship song as well, playing the piano against the B3 Hammond. I'd need to check the set list to see exactly what number they played, but no matter, it was brilliant. It was just what I needed.
I was upset in August. My camera broke when it flew off my car. I lost two memory sticks, permanently, and although nearly all of the images had beenbacked up to my laptop, thank God, I still lost a few very important pictures. That and you have the stress of being back at school with all new students in Spanish 1 and 3, the young freshman girls growing up and getting boyfriends, and me watching helplessly. Helplessly hoping that they are treated well, taken care of, and aren't subjugated to worse social anxiety.
I get off topic. The Winwood concert was a mental health trip. It was great. It was absolutely great. The Doobie Brothers performing with them was a lucky strike extra.
Yes, I splurged on a tall boy can of Michelob Ultra. Yes, I splurged on a Concert Tee. It was worth it.
I got to make friends from the Chicago area sitting on both sides of me. Alright, yes, I'll grant you that when I go to these concerts, I'm on the younger end. But I'm in my element. I'm with other fans of Steve Winwood, and in this case, the Doobie Brothers. But this is where I go out into the world and discover that there are other people like me. There are other people who know that Winwood finishes his sets with Gimme Some Loving. And I'm in the peculiar spot of telling people in their 60's and 70's information they didn't know about Steve Winwood.
But the shoe was on the other foot once The Doobie Brothers' set began. I was there to learn.
This was a transformative experience for me. It reinvigorated my interest in Winwood, it reinvigorated my interest in The Doobie Brothers.
Seeing Steve Winwood open for The Doobie Brothers, including his daughter Lilly for both sides of the bill, constituted the single best concert I have attended in my life.
As for Winwood, he hasn't aged a bit since I saw him in 2015. He started things off with Glad, then jumped to Can't Find My Way Home, then went to I'm a Man, then surprised with his 2003 cover of "Why Can't We Live Together?" from his 2003 album About Time.
Lily Winwood, his daughter, did a tremendous job singing back up on Can't Find My Way Home. I knew that she would be singning back-up for Winwood in this concert, from having checked the Instagram page. But what a commanding voice she has. This wasn't just a case of nepotism that she ended up getting picked to back up. I've checked out some more of her songs on Spotify in the weeks since the concert. She holds her own. And she was absolutely beautiful when called upon to be, then could also belt out blue-eyed soul with the best of them.
What delighted me so absolutely was the inclusion of 40,000 Headmen, Back in the Highlife, and Roll With It. He then reached Dear Mr. Fantasy, Higher Love, and Gimme Some Lovin.
The concert was at the Credit Union 1 Amphitheater in Tinley Park, Illinois. I made the trip up there on Sunday morning, August 25th, right after swinging by Christ the King for a 7:45 am mass.
I took Interstate 80 to Morris, got checked into my room at the Quality Inn there, and then headed for Chicago. Ian and I had some lunch at the AO Hawaiian Hideout.
As for the Doobie Brothers, founding members Tom Johnston and Pat Simmons welcomed back Michael McDonald. They did "Minute By Minute," "Rocking Down the Highway," "China Grove," "It Keeps You Running," and for that one they brought on Lilly Winwood to sing the Michael McDonald Part, again with her keeping up with the boys in playing blue-eyed soul; and they finished off with Black Water and Taking It to the Streets." The great part of that ending was Winwood joined The Doobie Brothers for Taking It to the Streets," and he and Michael McDonald did some kind of gospel worship song as well, playing the piano against the B3 Hammond. I'd need to check the set list to see exactly what number they played, but no matter, it was brilliant. It was just what I needed.
I was upset in August. My camera broke when it flew off my car. I lost two memory sticks, permanently, and although nearly all of the images had beenbacked up to my laptop, thank God, I still lost a few very important pictures. That and you have the stress of being back at school with all new students in Spanish 1 and 3, the young freshman girls growing up and getting boyfriends, and me watching helplessly. Helplessly hoping that they are treated well, taken care of, and aren't subjugated to worse social anxiety.
I get off topic. The Winwood concert was a mental health trip. It was great. It was absolutely great. The Doobie Brothers performing with them was a lucky strike extra.
Yes, I splurged on a tall boy can of Michelob Ultra. Yes, I splurged on a Concert Tee. It was worth it.
I got to make friends from the Chicago area sitting on both sides of me. Alright, yes, I'll grant you that when I go to these concerts, I'm on the younger end. But I'm in my element. I'm with other fans of Steve Winwood, and in this case, the Doobie Brothers. But this is where I go out into the world and discover that there are other people like me. There are other people who know that Winwood finishes his sets with Gimme Some Loving. And I'm in the peculiar spot of telling people in their 60's and 70's information they didn't know about Steve Winwood.
But the shoe was on the other foot once The Doobie Brothers' set began. I was there to learn.
This was a transformative experience for me. It reinvigorated my interest in Winwood, it reinvigorated my interest in The Doobie Brothers.
Seeing Steve Winwood open for The Doobie Brothers, including his daughter Lilly for both sides of the bill, constituted the single best concert I have attended in my life.