Chicago area concerts are in full swing... grab your can of "Off" and a blanket and check these acts out! Before you head out the door however, give yourself a swift kick in the ass when you think about the $29.95 you spent to see these guys a few years ago. Yes ladies and gents, these groups may have passed their prime and have had (or still have) their share of problems but you too can have a front row seat for a "fin" or for free! This year brings out a boatload of reunions that you may want to hum along with.
- The Gin Blossoms: Hey, remember these guys from way back in the early 90's? They were from Arizona and had a big list of hits. Their first album went PLATINUM and had those types of catchy hooks that had pencil pushers dancing in their cubicles at the office. These guys were nominated for Grammys, one of which was for "Best New Artist" (a moniker that usually spells "sudden death" for anybody.). Second album? Huh? Where was it? the cutout bin for $1.99 at Best Buy. Don't get me wrong now, a few of these CD's make for dirt cheap pizza cutters or coasters for your drink. Several years later, this musical group called it a day and blew away with the tumbleweeds in the Arizona desert. Now, THEY'RE BACK! Sort of. Only a few days into a reunion tour last week, old demons resurfaced at a County Fair out west. The drummer, who was either high on dope or drunk OR both, made a mockery out of their performance and passed out during the set. With a shocked crowd waiting in limbo, a roadie with no drumming experience grabbed the sticks and aided the remaining group for their encore. No word yet on the group's future.
- Sugar Ray: These guys were all over the music charts as recently as a few years ago. What happened? Lead singer Mark McGrath swerved off course to play "Rock and Roll Jeoprady" on VH-1, and soon after got a job as "correspondant" on the tabloid gossip show "Extra". McGrath thought he was doing a good thing by leaving the group to chase after Anna Nicole Smith's overdoses and hospital stays. Now, in 2008, this one time "Headliner" has travelled back in time to become the opening act for groups that used to open FOR THEM! McGrath may be a smart cookie when it comes to trivia nut, his business sense got the band a bunch of gigs to perform for free or close to it. Anyway, check these guys out. The beer garden will cost you more than a ticket to their show. Coming to a fair/carnival near you soon!
- Blues Traveller: Scored big in the mid 90's with their hit "Runaround". They were sizzling hot for a while there and hit the road with big groups such as The Black Crowes. Before too long, the music was pushed to the back while marijuana took front and center. Lead Singer John Popper tipped over the scales at nearly 400 lbs and suffered a few heart attacks before a dramatic weight loss. Imagine a Blues act with a skinny John Popper...it's like imagining an anorexic Chris Farley in "Beverly Hills Ninja". It's not entertainment. None the less, these guys have decided to try again. Instead of playing the "House of Blues" for $30 a ticket, you can see them for free in Indiana.
- The Ides of March: These guys hit it big in the early 1970's with the hit, "Vehicle". You may bot know the name of the song, but you'll know it when you hear it. Irony here is that like the froup, "Chicago" they had horns and a lot of people in the group. It also helped that they were from Chicago as well. The leader was, and still is, Jim Peterik who you may or may not know, was the man behind the group "Survivor". While Survivor lives on somewhere with a bunch of replacements, Peterik cut ties with the group not long after the hit single "Eye of the Tiger". It was a dispute over copyright issues, royalties, etc. While reluctant to ponder on his Survivor days, Peterik gets in full swing with "The Ides" and is currently hitting the area with the horn section blowing full steam. Check these guys out, and enjoy with the parents if you please..
