Chicago performs to delight of 24,000 at SPAC
by Dan Collins, The Saratogian
Chicago gave a near-frenzied crowd of about 24,000 and Saratoga Performing Arts Center officials a lesson in concert last night, performing for two and a half hours before returning for a triumphant encore.
The heavy brass-sounding eight-member group walked on the SPAC stage shortly after 7 p.m. and proceeded to completely captivate the overflow crowd with a medley of their past and present hits until almost 9:30 p.m. The magic spell the group seemed to hold over the audience broke briefly for about 20 minutes during an intermission, but it was again built to a crescendo as they led up to what is probably one of their more popular hits and concert-ending sound of “25 or 6 to 4.”
Unlike most rock groups which invade the SPAC stage with half-hour delays in starting and then “warming up the crowd” with a preliminary group, followed by another lengthy pause while musical equipment is rearranged and changed, Chicago bursts forth with its own unique music, quickly winning over any skeptics. SPAC officials could take a lesson in concert from last night’s performance when they evaluate their season this fall.
The unmistakable sound of “Chicago” combined with a unique lighting system, including a large golden illuminated “Chicago,” slowly built the crowd to a climax with such quickly identified hits as “Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?” “Count on Me,” “It’s Only the Beginning,” “Saturday in the Park,” and several renditions of “Colour My World.”
Each hit was masterfully arranged amid several “jam” tunes and a variety of lesser-known sounds. Late in the second half of their show, the group introduced a new hit, “Once or Twice,” and the crowd from the lawn began filtering down throughout the auditorium, filling the aisles.
Only one disappointing note was found in Chicago’s performance as they appeared to be moving steadily toward a heavy Latin beat. The success of the group and their immense popularity across the country is built upon their heavy brass sound woven into contemporary rock. Several times during the performance, they relied upon conga player Laudir de Oliveira and broke into music similar to “Santana” and “Malo.”
Chicago opened their encore with one of their more successful sounds, “Old Days,” and followed with cuts from several of their early albums.
It appears, however, that any major rock concert at SPAC this year has to include some disturbance to be successful. Most in the crowd were unaware of any problems, save the mayhem created by about 35 persons as they broke through a restraining line and flooded the west aisle, knocking over unprepared onlookers and ushers.
However, SPAC officials reported several incidents outside the center grounds as youths hurled broken bottles and other objects at police and security personnel by persons allegedly angered at a $4 charge for lawn admission.
Several youths were caught trying to scale the SPAC fence, and about 29 persons were arrested in relation to the brief disturbance.
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