This post is for my Mother who passed away today.
Back in 1988 my parents and I went to see Chicago at the Garden State Arts Center, which is now the PNC Bank Arts Center. It was the only "rock" concert I believe they ever went to.Not that they did not like rock music, but they grew up in the jazz age and initially felt most rock bands were not good musicians. This is something which they both seemed to have a changed attitude about, the more they heard. I even remember watching a Dexy's Midnight Runners concert with them on MTV one night and my father saying how he hated to admit it, but he really liked them.
Chicago was one band which they both did like. Good songs, great horn arrangement and top notch musicianship. It seemed like Chicago played every summer at the Arts Center in the 80's, so after having seen them a few times, I told them we should go see them together, and they were up for it.
The tour was for the 19 album which had a few great songs on it, including one of my all time favorites, Heart in Pieces.
We got our lawn seats and got there early. Henry Lee Summer opened the show with Hands on the Radio and closed with a cover of Bob Dylan's Knockin' on Heavens Door". They though he was really good. I was actually surprised they liked him. Just a straight forward rock band, but they saw how good he was live and how tight he and his band were.
Chicago did a strong set with a few songs from the new album, a bunch of classics and a couple deep cuts. The sound mix started off a little rocky, but was pretty much rectified by about the fourth song.
They were great. They did many of their popular ballads, which I actually like, but the set consisted of many of their classics with the great horn arrangements they loved. By the end of the show they were standing with the rest of the audience and clapping along to Dancing in the Street.
They loved the show and wanted to talk about it long after we were home. They told me how much a good time they, but i think the night meant so much more to me. My parents meant so much to me and getting to go with them meant more to me than they could ever know.
Here is the setlist from that show.
Getaway
25 or 6 to 4
Stay the Night
I Don't Wanna Live Without Your Love
Heart in Pieces
Saturday in the Park
Just You N Me
Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
You're the Inspiration
I Stand Up
Will You Still Love Me
Beginnings
We Can Stop the Hurting
Dialogue
It's Alright
Hard Habit To Break
Hard To Say I'm Sorry / Getaway
I'm a Man
Dancing in the Street(Martha Reeves & The Vandella's cover)
Can't Turn You Loose(Otis Redding cover) / Feeling Stronger Everyday
