Chicago- Legends 2008

Oh my gosh... Last night was so fantastic. If I had ever gone to a Chicago concert before, I would have never been up close like I was last night. When they began playing last night, I asked my daughter to accompany me to the dance floor to take a photo or two..... or a hundred! Yes... she went with me as I shyly took a few photos. The music kept playing... Just You and Me, Simple and Free.... and I went from sophisticated middle-aged woman to an over-the-hill screaming groupie!! No not really... but it did not take long before this calm dressed-up group of men and women who were casually dancing stopped and began singing and clapping with Chicago. The band continued to sing nonstop for over an hour and a half. They were very audience-friendly. I am thinking there were four of the original members in the band- Robert Lamm (keyboard), James Pankow (trombone, and my favorite), Lee Loughnane (trumpet), and Walter Parazaider (saxophone, flute, and other woodwinds). I looked all of this up on the internet before you think I am so smart and remember so well. The other group members are Bill Champlin (guitar), Jason Scheff (bassist who replaced Peter Cetero), Tris Imboden (drummer), and Keith Houland (lead guitarist). After the we thought the group left the stage, and we thought they were finished, everyone "hollered" and clapped for "just one more." I thought to myself, " I don't remember them playing 25 -6-2-4. " And here they came, back on the stage, and completed the concert with this great oldie. Like I said, I was right up front on the dance floor three feet away from the guys the entire time. No... I was not alone, so I did not stand out too much. I have always loved the sound Chicago made with all the horns. This was just one of the most fun nights I have had watching them and listening to them. I had built it up in my mind, and I was not disappointed- it was everything and more that I thought it would be.

I did make a few mistakes though in my earlier post. To correct myself-this was a benefit for St. Paul Medical Foundation and UT Southwestern Heart, Lung, and Vascular Progams. It was called Legends 2008. And the hotel is now the Hilton Anatole Hotel. Alot of the patrons were in the medical community. Most everyone there was dressed in black. There was a cocktail reception at 7:00 with appetizers and open bar, and then you were seated for dinner at 7:40. There were 58 tables of 10. The menu was a portabella mushroom that was looked like a hamburger with the middle part being roasted peppers, buffalo mozzarella, heirloom tomatoes, and modena balsamic vinegar reduction. The main course was filet mignon of beef, crab stuffed mushroom, baby carrots and squash, fingerly potatoes, and port wine sauce with mushrooms that was served with your choice of pecorino rolls, house-made lahvosh, mini jalapeno corn muffins, and herb breadsticks, and sweet butter. The wines for the evening were Geyser Park Savignon Blanc, California, and Deloach Pinot Noir, California. The dessert was a trio of ice creams-cookies and cream, chocolate, and classic vanilla served with warm fudge sauce in a nougatine shell with caramel sauce. They fed 600 people, and they knew how to do it- it was all hot and delicious!! The dessert was fabulous. Now... do you feel like you have been there with me? I will be posting the photos later.