Photos by Rebecca Clark | Review by Renee Clark Quade

Before the band even took the stage, the screen behind the setup cycled through Chicago’s album covers, a quiet reminder of just how deep the catalog runs. When they finally walked out, the arrangement made immediate sense: the band spread across the front of the stage, and it was such a visual reminder of how many members make the band sound so big and alive.

Lee Loughnane, trumpet in hand and the only remaining founding member currently touring, wrapped up the first song and offered a simple, warm “Hello Canandaigua, welcome to Chicago.” From there, they moved into “Dialogue (Part I & II)” and then “Questions 67 & 68,” where their current singer Rudy Cardenas stepped out front and center, one of several moments throughout the night where someone broke from the formation and claimed the spotlight.

The stage setup itself stayed simple, letting the music carry the show. A large digital screen anchored the back, with a smaller one running the length of the risers where the drummers and keyboard players sat. Both got plenty of use throughout the night, cycling through footage of the band from earlier eras, which was a nice thread tying the show’s past and present together.

The fourth song featured keyboardist Justin Avery on lead vocals, and the sixth was “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long,” which hit the way it always does. A photo of Jimmy Pankow appeared on the screen before one of his songs, which was an acknowledgment of his impact on the band.

During “Make Me Smile,” every band member turned to the crowd and motioned for people to get up. The crowd obliged with enthusiasm. It was one of several times the audience and band felt genuinely in sync. The brass players, Lee, their sax/flute player Ray Herrmann, and the trombonist all came out to the front a few times and played facing each other, which was a cool visual and sounded exactly as good as you’d hope.

That closed out the first set. The band took about a 20-minute break.

Set two opened with “Old Days” and rolled straight into “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?”, with Lee stepping front and center for the opening stretch, playing while flying clocks animated across the screen behind him. Then he stopped the momentum for a moment to dedicate the show to Walter Parazaider, who passed away last week. Lee talked about playing alongside him for over 40 years, and you could feel the weight of his loss.

Before moving on he said: “You think it’s never gonna end? But, as my mother used to say, none of us are getting out of this alive, so…We’re gonna keep going. That’s what we’re gonna do, right? You guys are the ones that have kept us in the business; the legacy will continue, and you guys are getting to listen to it again tonight. So thanks for being here, friends.”

From there, they took a turn into the ’80s with “Look Away,” followed by “Along Comes a Woman,” set against a backdrop of rain on a window and the silhouette of a man and woman, which was a nice visual for the song. “Hard Habit to Break” and “Inspiration” kept the momentum going, and by the time they reached “Beginnings,” a good chunk of the crowd was already on its feet and dancing. Trombonist Nick Lane and Lee traded solos in a moment that summed up exactly why people keep coming back to see this band. Lee put it simply: “If you keep coming to see us, we will keep coming to see you.” Every musician on this lineup brought real talent to the stage, and it showed.

The band got everyone standing again for their cover of “Your Love (Higher and Higher)” and the energy held. During “I’m a Man,” the brass section swapped their instruments for handheld percussion, cowbells, shakers, claves, while their drummer, Walfredo Reyes Jr. and Percussionist Ramon “Ray” Yslas launched into a solo with the rest of the band offstage. When it was done, Lee brought them back in with introductions, and the crowd gave them a standing ovation.

The keyboard player took lead on “Street Player” and the whole band did a little choreographed moment during it, the trombonist Lane, sax player Herrmann, and Lee all getting in on it, which was loose and fun. “Hard to Say I’m Sorry / Get Away” brought out the phone lights; the band called for them, the crowd obliged, and then got them up and moving.

They closed with “Saturday in the Park” and “Stronger,” the latter bringing the whole band to the edge of the stage.

For the encore they came back out for “Free,” an American flag behind them alongside war imagery, money, and other visuals. It’s a song that earns its weight at the end of a show like this.

Chicago has been doing this a long time, and Friday night at CMAC felt like a band that still means it.

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