Music lovers who've been searchin' so long for a great concert have clearly found one at Morristown, NJ's MPAC this Saturday, October 26, 2024 evening where the quintessential horn band, Chicago, is set to perform.
Inside the sold-out MPAC auditorium, a large screen behind the bandstand flashes images of multiple album covers as a countdown to the show begins. Whistles, cheers, and applause emanate from the crowd when the announcement is made, “Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Chicago!”
Vocalist/keyboardist Robert Lamm, trumpeter Lee Loughnane, saxophonist Ray Herrmann, trombonist Nick Lane, drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr., percussionist Ramon “Ray” Yslas, guitarist Tony Obrohta, and bassist Eric Baines take the stage.
Opening with “Introduction,” a funky horn-inspired number from the group’s debut album, Chicago Transit Authority, founding member Robert Lamm effortlessly handles the lead with his full and inviting voice.
Vocalist Neil Donnell makes his entrance singing “Dialogue.” Concertgoers clap along on the song’s uplifting “We can make it happen/We can change the world now” coda.
In his soaring tenor, Donell also sings lead on “Questions 67 and 68” crooning, “Can this feeling that we have together/Ooh, suddenly exist between?” to the rhythmic horns.
The audience cheers, and founding member Lee Loughnane greets the crowd saying, “Welcome!” and promising, “You guys keep coming to see us and we’ll keep coming to see you!”
Moving on to the group’s 1974 Top Ten Latin-influenced hit, “Call On Me,” keyboardist Carlos Murguia joins in as tight harmony vocals ring out on the famous “I love you/You know I do/You love me, too” refrain before the arrangement shifts into a cool trumpet/tenor/trombone instrumental break and the song’s infectious “You can count on me, oh/You can count on me” samba coda.
Multi-part vocal harmonies are featured on the group’s 1974 hit, “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long.” Fans nostalgically sing along on the “Good things in life/Take a long time” coda before responding with heartfelt cheers and applause.
Hands clap on “Mongonucleosis,” a Latin-influenced arrangement which features Ray Herrmann on sax and Lee Loughnane on trumpet. As lights flash in time, the pair performs downstage, deftly supported by the rhythm section on this high-energy instrumental.
The mood changes on “If You Leave Me Now” where Neil Donell and Tony Obrohta strum guitars to accompany the song’s well-known “If you leave me now/You’ll take away the biggest part of me” lyric.
To conclude Act I, the band performs “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon,” a song cycle written for the group’s Chicago II album. Opening with the 1970 top ten hit, “Make Me Smile,” the song cycle also includes the band’s popular ballad, “Colour My World,” performed by trumpeter Lee Loughnane.
Following a short intermission, Act II opens with the group launching into “Alive Again,” a rhythmic rocker which features bassist Eric Baines on vocals before Neil Donnell takes over the lead. Segueing into the group’s 1970 Top Ten hit, “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is,” the audience joins Robert Lamm as he expertly croons the song’s well-known “As I was walking down the street one day” lyric. Then, Donell handles the vocal on “Old Days” where he effortlessly sings, “Old days, good times I remember,” while vintage images of Chicago sparkle on the screen.
The crowd cheers as the group sails into its 1984 Top Five hit, “Hard Habit to Break.”
Donell and Baines trade vocals on this compelling number, the music building in intensity before the horns enter on the bridge and transform this slow dance number into an electrifying power ballad.
Fans cheer when they recognize the introduction to the group’s 1984 single, “You’re the Inspiration.” Concertgoers happily sing along on the iconic “You’re the meaning in my life/You’re my inspiration” chorus and Tony Obrohta renders a striking guitar solo which has music lovers roaring for more.
Lamm takes center stage to sing lead on the 1971 Chicago smash, “Beginnings,” where the audience joins him on the scale-like “Wo-o-o-o-o o” refrain. Then, the group segues into a smokin’ rendition of The Spencer Davis Group’s “I’m a Man,” where the horn players play various percussion instruments and the musicians sing in harmony, “I’m a man/Yes I am/And I can’t help but love you so.”
The entire band leaves the stage except for drummer Walfredo Reyes, Jr. who, with percussionist Ramon “Ray” Yslas, dazzles the crowd with an extended percussion duet.
At the conclusion, “Ray” thanks the audience with a heartfelt “#1” hand signal.
Loughnane reveals, “I’m feeling this music more than I ever have. Can you feel that too?” When the crowd responds in the affirmative, the group launches into another audience favorite — the 1974 Top 5 Billboard hit, “Just You ’n’ Me” — which features Carlos Murguia sweetly singing lead while accompanying himself on keyboard.
The mood mellows as Ray Herrmann is spotlighted during the song’s instrumental interlude on a mystical soprano saxophone solo.
Following a well-deserved bow, audience members sway their cellphone lights back and forth to Chicago’s 1982 #1 hit, “Hard to Say I’m Sorry,” and join Neil Donell as he croons the well-known “After all that we’ve been through/I will make it up to you/I promise you” lyric. At the conclusion, the group segues into the rocking “Get Away” where audience members stand and clap while the horns play triumphantly.
Cheers ensue as fans recognize the opening strains of the band’s 1972 million-seller, “Saturday in the Park.” Music lovers stand and sing along as Lamm handles the famous “Saturday in the park/I think it was the Fourth of July” lyric while images of New York City’s Central Park fill the screen.
The audience continues to remain standing as Chicago concludes its line-up of hits with its 1973 Top Ten smash, “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” the music energizing fans who joyfully sing and dance along to the music.
“Thank you, guys! Thank you very much!” exclaims Loughnane as the musicians wave goodnight and exit the stage.
With concertgoers still on their feet cheering, the ensemble returns for an encore of their 1971 Top 20 hit, “Free,” where the group cries, “I just wanna be free!” while playing their hearts out on this stirring rock and roll anthem.
The evening concludes with a rockin’ rendition of Chicago’s 1970 hit, “25 or 6 to 4,” which leaves music lovers standing tall, whistling, and cheering in appreciation of an outstanding performance.
As concertgoers make their way out of the MPAC auditorium, several comment on tonight’s concert by Chicago. Declares Anna from Little Falls, “They were absolutely great — I loved them!”
Paul from Wyckoff agrees, adding, “I thought the show was tremendous — fantastic! I loved the horns and the guitars, and the drum solo in the second act was simply awe-inspiring! The group played with a lot of energy, and the songs brought back lots and lots of memories of my high school days.”
Exclaims Sandi from Warren County, “Chicago was awesome — absolutely incredible! I’ve seen them four or five times and they’re always great,” noting, “I first saw them back in the ’80s and they haven’t skipped a beat!”
Lastly, Jan from Harmony remarks, “I loved this show! It was the first time I’ve seen Chicago. They’ve been on my bucket list for probably 50 years now and they sounded exactly the way I remember hearing them on the radio. It was so beautiful — I can’t wait to see them again!”
To learn more about Chicago, please go to chicagotheband.com. For information on great upcoming programming at MPAC — including Ben Folds on November 13, Josh Turner on November 14, and KC and the Sunshine Band on November 22 — please go to mayoarts.com.
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