Chicago And REO Speedwagon Rock N Roll In The Cedar Park Center

Chicago And REO Speedwagon Rock N Roll In The Cedar Park Center

Photography by Scott Moore/ Limelight Imaging

By Margy Moore

What could be better than an evening listening to one of the greatest rock bands of all time playing the hits you grew up listening to? How about a second legendary band from the same era playing even more great hits during the same show. That was the case on August 27, 2014 as the one and only Chicago was joined on tour by the equally extraordinary REO Speedwagon for an evening of hit after glorious hit performed on the stage of the Cedar Park Center, just outside of Austin, Texas.

REO Speedwagon

REO Speedwagon was formed in 1967 in Champaign, Illinois by keyboardist Neal Doughty and has been fronted by vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972. Over the years, the band has sold more than 40 million records and charted 13 Top 40 hits. Some of their greatest hits have included "Keep On Loving You," Can't Fight This Feeling," "Take It On The Run," and "Don't Let Him Go."

Photography by Scott Moore/ Limelight Imaging

While the band members have varied quite a bit over the years, the sound and songs are still pure REO Speedwagon and the decidedly baby-boomer-aged audience at the Cedar Park was happily transported back to their younger years as they sang along to a great assortment of songs. The band currently consists of lead vocalist/guitarist Kevin Cronin, keyboardist Neal Doughty, guitarist Dave Amato, bassist Bruce Hall, and drummer Bryan Hitt.

SETLIST:
Don't Let Him Go
Music Man
Take It On The Run
Keep Pushing
Can't Fight This Feeling
In Your Letter
That Ain't Love
Tough Guys
Whipping Boy
Time For Me To Fly
Back On The Road Again

Chicago

Chicago was formed in 1967 in Chicago, Illinois by Walter Parazaider, Terry Kath, Danny Seraphine, James Pankow, Lee Loughnane, and Robert Lamm as "The Big Thing." After signing to a label, the band’s name was changed to Chicago Transit Authority, which was later shortened to simply Chicago. Chicago is one of the most successful rock groups of all time and one of the world's best-selling groups, having sold more than 100 million records. During their storied career, Chicago has produced 5 number-one albums and 21 Top 10 singles including "Colour My World," "Saturday In The Park," "You're The Inspiration," "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?," and "25 or 6 to 4."

The list of members has changed some since their early days in Chicago, but the band still possesses an incredibly strong core of four original group members including keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm, trumpeter/vocalist Lee Loughnane, trombonist/vocalist James Pankow, and saxophonist Walter Parazaider. Also performing with Chicago are bassist/vocalist Jason Scheff, guitarist/vocalist Keith Howland, keyboardist Lou Pardini, drummer Tris Imboden, and percussionist Walfredo Reyes, Jr.

The appreciative audience at the Cedar Park Center was privileged to hear a great many of this legendary band's hits during this performance.

SETLIST:
Make Me Smile
So Much To Say, So Much To Give
Anxiety's Moment
Colour My World
West Virginia Fantasies
Question 67 and 68
Dialogue (Part I and II)
Now
You're The Inspiration
Beginnings
I'm A Man
Street Player
Just You 'n' Me
Hard To Say I'm Sorry/Get Away
Saturday In The Park
Feelin' Stronger Every Day

Combined Forces

Chicago and REO Speedwagon were label mates in the 1970s, but had never toured together before this summer. There was no evidence to this fact as the chemistry seemed just right when the bands joined forces for an extraordinary encore performance featuring music from both bands’ catalogs. This special finale thrilled the audience of classic rock music fans as the vocalists and musicians for these two fabled groups mixed their members and sounds on stage to create a magical experience.

ENCORE SETLIST:
REO's  Ridin' The Storm
Chicago's  Free
REO's  Keep On Loving You
Chicago's  Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?
REO's  Roll With The Changes
Chicago's  25 or 6 to 4