GREENVILLE — Energy, life, passion and fire were just a few things concert-goers said they experienced at Sunday night’s Chicago concert at the Great Darke County Fair.
In an earlier interview, trombonist Jimmy Pankow said, “We’re not just going through the motions. We’re performing at as high a level as we ever have.” And that’s just want concert-goers got.
The band played nearly 20 songs throughout the evening spanning the years from “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” from the album Chicago Transit Authority to music from Chicago XXXVI. The group also performed the “Ballet for a Girl from Buchannon” which includes “Make Me Smile” and “Colour My World.”
The horn section of Chicago has always been known to make them stand out from other bands. The work of Pankow, trumpeter Lee Loughnane and woodwinds specialist Ray Herrmann was outstanding. The precision and blend between the three instrumentalists give Chicago its unique and one-of-a-kind sound.
The audience made up two eras of fans. The older fans responded to the early hits of “Saturday in the Park” and “Old Days” from the 70’s. While the 80’s brought the hits “You’re the Inspiration” and “Hard Habit to Break.” This not only showed the longevity of Chicago, but the quality of music that they have been producing for nearly 50 years.
The concert-goers loved it. “Brought back some nice memories,” said Gary Cloyd from Greenville.
“I love that they’re still going strong,” said Brent Cline of Arcanum. “They’re putting everything into it. You can see they enjoy what they are doing. They’re having fun with it. They don’t have to be doing this.”
The closing songs brought the night to a conclusion as the band finished with a kicking version of “Hard Habit to Break,” followed by “Saturday in the Park” and ending with “Feeling Stronger Everyday.” When the crowd cried out for more, Chicago gave an encore of “Free.”
Overall it was a great band that gave a great show.
“Happy 49th Chicago! May you have many more.”
