Chicago & The Doobie Brothers

[comfortably numb]

Saw them last night because, well, because I had never seen them and it was something to do.
Can't say I was ever a huge fan of either band but...

The Doobies opened the show and their 4 guitar, two drummer, keyboardist and sax player ensemble produced an incredible sound with clear instrumentation and outstanding harmonies. With the two original members fronting it was a high energy show.

Chicago was just the opposite. Their signature horn section was swallowed by the rest of the group, in particular what passed for a bass player. The mix was so bad you could not tell one of his notes from another and the sound literally vibrated the seats. I thought hip-hoppers cruising past my business were the worst until I heard this guy. Throw in a marriage proposal done on stage by one of the guy's sons---sorry, dude, I am not applauding for your son or future daughter-in-law. Then came the guy who won a charity auction and got to 'sing' a song with them... Add to that that there was no decent lead vocalist and well...

Bottom line---they aren't even a passable 'tribute' band. We left after 20 minutes...

[fasteddy]

I saw the Doobies play at Disney World at a convention, really good. (Never saw any good reason why Michael McDonald joined them.) Never saw Chicago play, and was not really a fan of their music.

[Jamski]

On the plus side for Chicago...Cetera was a pretty fair Legends driver in the mid-90s...used to race with us out at the Fairgrounds with the likes of Ronnie Dunn, Kix Brooks, the Nelson brothers, and John Hiatt...the last of which could easily have been a pro driver had he not been so wrapped up in his "other" business...

[Frank Capua]

The first four or five Chicago albums were pretty decent but by the time they got to... Oh, I don't know, Chicago 105? They had lost all Authority... no matter how transit others might argue that authority might have been in the first place.

That summer in the late 70s when they toured with the Beach Boys was basically the original band's sound saying goodbye.

[Hardscrabble]

Never saw Chicago play, and was not really a fan of their music.

I think I have yet to meet a person from Chicago who likes Chicago...'cept for maybe Joe Mantagna, who was friends with them back in the day when they were the CTA...

His advice to them was: "Lose the horn guys...you'll have less guys splitting up the money at the end of the night"...

[DaveL]

I think I have yet to meet a person from Chicago who likes Chicago...
.

Count one more who doesn't like them.

I saw the Doobie Brothers play with Chicago two years ago. The Doobie Brothers were magnificent. I've heard more exciting bands at weddings than Chicago.

[Hardscrabble]

Count one more who doesn't like them.

I saw the Doobie Brothers play with Chicago two years ago. The Doobie Brothers were magnificent. I've heard more exciting bands at weddings than Chicago.

Obviously a Polish Wedding...Ich Troji rocks...

[Indyknut]

I was a Chicago fan in the early years. Somewhere around Chicago VII, the music really became irrelevant. Terry Kath dying, Cetera quitting and there wasn't much left.

[mclarke]

The first four or five Chicago albums were pretty decent but by the time they got to... Oh, I don't know, Chicago 105? They had lost all Authority... no matter how transit others might argue that authority might have been in the first place.

That summer in the late 70s when they toured with the Beach Boys was basically the original band's sound saying goodbye.

I know it couldn't have been intentional but did you realize that you accidentally included the original band name in your post? Freaky, man, totally freaky !

[Frank Capua]

I was a Chicago fan in the early years. Somewhere around Chicago VII, the music really became irrelevant. Terry Kath dying, Cetera quitting and there wasn't much left.

Some would suggest just before Cetera left.

[racer47201]

I think Chicago live at Carnegie Hall was their best. Saw them liove at Bloomington in November of '71.

[lutesk]

I was a Chicago fan in the early years. Somewhere around Chicago VII, the music really became irrelevant. Terry Kath dying, Cetera quitting and there wasn't much left.

The whole 'Chicago' saga put forth in a single post. Good on ya' Ik.

[Jamski]

The whole 'Chicago' saga put forth in a single post. Good on ya' Ik.

That's pretty much it. VII was the last Chicago album I actually owned...not that it was bad, it definitely had its moments, the entire first side is as much a prog album as it is jazz...and it actually featured some mellotron. Now, I like mellotron, I like it a lot, in fact, but it's not Chicago. Rick Wakeman, maybe.

[Frank Capua]

The early albums had some of the best poster art out there. I know it made dorm decorating a lot easier.

[CARTer]

I belive the early Chicago albums are some of the greatest music of the rock era. Sadly, Chicago died with Terry Kath.

The band should change it's name to Elgin - close to, but not quite, Chicago.