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

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."

Drummer Bryan Hitt of REO Speedwagon

Bruce Hall, Neal Doughty, Kevin Cronin, and Bryan Hitt of REO Speedwagon

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.

Keyboardist and Founding Member Neal Doughty 

Lead Vocalist and Guitarist Kevin Cronin

Lead Vocalist Kevin Cronin

Guitarist Dave Amato of REO Speedwagon

Guitarist Dave Amato

Bassist Bruce Hall of REO Speedwagon

Bruce Hall and Kevin Cronin

Bassist Bruce Hall

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 name was changed to Chicago Transit Authority, which was later shortened to simply Chicago. Chicago is one the 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."

Keith Howland, James Pankow, Lou Pardini, Walter Parazaider, and Tris Imboden

The list of members has changed some since their early days in Chicago, but the band still possess an incredibly strong core of four original group members including keyboardist/vocalist Robert Lamm, trumpeter/vocalist Lee Loughnane, trombonist/vocalist James Pankow, and saxophonist/ woodwindist 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.

Woodwindist and Founding Member Walter Parazaider 

Woodwindist Walter Parazaider

Trumpeter and Founding Member Lee Loughnane 

Trumpeter Lee Loughnane

Trombonist James Pankow and Trumpeter Lee Loughnane

Trombonist and Founding Member James Pankow 

Keyboardist/Vocalist and Founding Member Robert Lamm 

Keyboardist and Vocalist Robert Lamm

Drummer Tris Imboden 

Bassist and Vocalist Jason Scheff 

Guitarist Keith Howland 

Keyboardist Lou Pardini 

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 their 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