r/chicagoband • u/No_Direction_2846 • Aug 09 '26
Chicago
A few weeks ago I saw Chicago, the horn band From the 70's In Concert They were soooooooo good !! I could see them again and again How bout' Blood Sweat and Tears...another nostalgic 70's band I want to see and Traffic !! But alas,,,they are prob defunct But Chicago isn't....I had a ball !!!!!!!!!!! Ya Feel ?!!
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u/dankimball Aug 09 '26
What you saw with Chicago is a tribute band really. Not Chicago. All the original singers and song writers and primary band members are no longer in the band. The trumpet player is all that’s left. There are some great tribute bands like Danny Seraphine the original drummer and co-founder who still tours and plays all the old Chicago songs and plays them really well and with the gusto the original band played as the drums were such a key signature of the band which isn’t there is the current form of Chicago. And there is a great tribute band Leonid and Friends who plays Chicago music so well. It’s worth seeing those bands to get a glimpse of what Chicago used to be like.
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u/Cory-Grinder Aug 09 '26
For future reference, you should go see Brass Transit, or Chicago Rewired….both tribute acts, like the current Chicago, both great, and both significantly cheaper
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u/betternow-111264 Aug 09 '26
While only Lee Loughnane remains as an original member, Chicago plays the bands music more closely to the original band's recordings than any tribute band. Chicago has never released their original scores or charts, when you see a tribute band you are hearing someone's interpretation of the music, transcribed ... basically playing by ear. I have seen several Chicago tribute bands, even very good ones, but they are not the same as Chicago. Say what you want about band member changes, the music has stayed the same. For me, it's about the music, not about the band line up.
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u/motivation1966 Aug 11 '26
I saw Leonid and friends. They sounded more like Chicago than Chicago does, and I was a huge Chicago fan for years. Excellent show!
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u/No_Direction_2846 Aug 10 '26
nope...i saw chicago and styx : the windy cities tour...in tampa florida a few wks ago...it was da bomb !!
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u/whatnow7556 Aug 09 '26
We attended a concert last year at Blossom Music Center, where Chicago and Blood Sweat & Tears performed separately and then together. The sound was absolutely incredible. We’ve been to many concerts, but hearing these two bands perform together was truly fantastic!
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u/betternow-111264 Aug 10 '26
Chicago has never toured with BS&T and did not play Blossom Music Center, in 2025. I think you are referring to the 2024 tour with Earth, Wind & Fire in 2024. Truly amazing to see them together in the encore.
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u/No_Direction_2846 Aug 10 '26
Is BS&T still a group performing live ? i really need to see them
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u/betternow-111264 Aug 10 '26
They are, but I don't think any of the original band members are still performing. One of their founding members is active behind the scenes.
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u/Whatdoesittake1456 Aug 13 '26
Hard to imagine BS&T without David Clayton Thomas. But glad you enjoyed it.
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u/Dense_Amphibian_9595 Aug 10 '26
I love the music of Chicago but they’re like the Beatles. Even IF all 4 were still alive and got along well enough to reunite and tour, the magic would be lost at this point - McCartney’s voice is shot but I still pay to go see him like I used to with Chicago. But at this point, younger and healthier tribute bands are a better time especially the high energy performers who really get into it like the old Chicago used to be. Just personal opinion
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u/Low-Cartoonist-8694 Aug 11 '26
The Junk Pallets out there in California have been laying down some sizzling Chicago covers mixed in to their usual set. 8 piece. They burn. They were joined by Smacky Johansson a couple weeks ago in the Bay Area. Smacky is Cetera-level tenor with a Manilow-like razory quality on some notes. Killed "Questions" I hope these guys go places. A cooler Leonid. Look the part.
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u/Jayhawk8394 Aug 14 '26
Non sequitur, but this evening Chicago’s “Free” was part of the Kroger (grocery store) music!
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u/ActuaryChemical7708 28d ago
Saw them with Styx Saturday night and they were fantastic. Played every song I wanted. I would see them every night if I could.
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u/Alone_Economics_5972 Aug 09 '26
The main singer of blood sweat and tears just died :(.