An octet of professional musicians with a love for songs from the band Chicago will play Port Moody next month.
West Coast Chicago will perform at the Inlet Theatre to cover such classics as "Saturday in the Park," "If You Leave Me Now" and "25 or 6 to 4."
Spokesperson Barry Samuels told the Tri-City News the ensemble played four sold-out shows at the Blue Frog Studios in White Rock, before the COVID-19 lockdown, in January 2020, and had a sold-out date last October in Sidney.
This year, with the pandemic easing, West Coast Chicago has four gigs booked:
- June 17 = Port Moody
- Aug. 12 = Langley Ribfest
- Oct. 21 = Sidney
- Oct. 22 = Campbell River
The 90-minute sets include up to 20 tunes.
Samuels said Chicago’s songs appeal to everyone as the group mixed genres with complex musicianship.
"You’ve got to have good players to get it exactly right," he said.
Described as a "Rock & Roll band with horns," the Chicago Transit Authority recorded its first album in 1968 before it changed its name to Chicago.
In 1971, it was the first contemporary musical act to sell out Carnegie Hall, in New York City, for an entire week.
Chicago had 35 Top 40 hits between 1970 and 1989 — 27 of which were Top 20, and 20 in the Top 10.
For West Coast Chicago, the band is made up of:
- Paul Clarke (keyboards, vocals, band music director)
- Mon Gonzales (lead guitar, vocals)
- Scott Driscoll (lead vocals, guitar, percussion)
- Greg Farrugia (trombone, percussion)
- Garth Balint (trumpet, flugelhorn, percussion)
- Bryan Vance (saxophone, flute, percussion)
- Graham Clark (bass)
- Mike Crean (drums)
For tickets to the June 17 show at the Inlet Theatre (inside Port Moody city hall), visit westcoastchicago.eventbrite.ca.
