There’s something about classic rock shows that just seem to go with the Fourth of July holiday, and the D.C. area is welcoming two classic rock bands on one ticket — the Doobie Brothers and Chicago.
If you go
Chicago and The Doobie Brothers
Where: Jiffy Lube Live (formerly Nissan Pavilion), 7800 Cellar Door Drive, Bristow, Va.
When: 7:30 p.m. Wednesday
Info: $10 to $91; ticketmaster.com
With Chicago bringing a set that includes many of its classic songs including “Saturday in the Park,” and the Doobie Brothers’ set list including such well-known tunes as “Takin’ It to the Streets,” fans are apparently in for a great evening of classic sounds. “From the time they hit the stage the audience was on [its] feet having a great time,” wrote one fan on the Chicago fan board referring to the Doobie Brothers-Chicago concert in Dallas earlier this week. “Their musicianship was superb as always. …”
It seems the band and their friends are also soaking up the summertime attitude including many old-fashioned rock jams in their shows. At the Dallas show Joe Walsh — famously of the Eagles — joined the Doobies on stage and according to fan reports his addition “brought the house down.” Other major musician sightings have included Drew Hester, drummer of the Foo Fighters, who has filled in as the drummer for Chicago during this tour.
But even if such high-placed friends don’t make cameo appearances, the standard shows on this tour have been rollicking. Fans’ posts are especially enthusiastic about the encores that include members of the Doobie Brothers and Chicago performing together for more than 30 minutes.
Although fans’ comments talk about the incredible musicianship on the tour, the musicians say there are imperfections — which actually add to the live concert experience.
“The way that we do it is we try to play the songs as perfectly as we possibly can, and it never comes out that way,” Robert Lamm, singer-songwriter and founding Chicago keyboardist told the Tahoe (Calif.) Daily Tribune. “It always comes out with a slight imperfection, which I think is the whole point of live performance — to see something that you’ve never heard quite the same before. I think the audience enjoys that.”
If fan board posts are any indication, they certainly do.
“Went to the concert last night and what a huge, great, unbelievable show it was,” another fan wrote on the Chicago fan site. “The boys sounded great, put on an exciting performance. After all these years, the group still knows how to entertain and blow you away with greatness.”
