The weather was in question with thunderstorms almost certain to blanket Chicago the entire night. Still, the ominous report of storm-like conditions didn’t keep the fans from coming out in droves to see classic rockers Kansas, Foreigner and Styx at the outdoor concert venue, Charter One Pavilion, located between downtown and the lake on Northerly Island. On the way to the venue, the rain was light but threatening. Men, tried hard to keep their dates dry, but were often seen batting their heads in the process of balancing the umbrellas over their heads more so than their own. When arriving at the gate, everyone was told to leave his or her umbrellas behind in which a flimsy poncho was given for protection from the rain. Those umbrellas were not to be seen again by their rightful owners.
Kansas was the first act to play and had to do so during only a light, warm mist. It seemed the weather was beginning to cooperate. Rich Williams patented guitar sound cut through the stadium taking the crowd back to the 1970’s when such a tone was such a familial earful for many and a time traveling expedition for others. Playing such notables as “Point of Know Return” and “Dust in the Wind”, Kansas got the dampened audience in the rock and roll spirit before sending them to the next band up, Foreigner, with their ultra-classic “Carry On My Wayward Son”.
When Foreigner took to the stage to the stage the rain had disappeared and the air was balmy, setting a perfect picture for an evening concert. Kelly Hansen’s vocals were spot on while guitarist Mick Jones went from one song to the other with effortless perfection. The band churned out one favorite after another including “Urgent”, “Hot Blooded”, “Feels Like the First Time”, “Cold As Ice” and “Double Vision” before ending on a triumphant note with a commanding performance of “Juke Box Hero” accompanied by fun animations of a cartoon band on the backdrop.
Styx then followed and began their set with an instrumental medley of their songs including, “Mr. Roboto”. Somewhere in their 7-8 minute opening number, the weather began to shift in which a gentle rain began to fall and light gusts of wind made themselves known from out of nowhere. However, both band and crowd didn’t skip a beat and the concert continued. Styx went into “Grand Illusion” before changing the tempo with the more upbeat “Too Much Time on My Hands” from their Paradise Theater album. In the meantime, the rain would take turns falling heavily until everyone scrambled to put their ponchos on, then, just as they were somewhat secured, almost come to a complete stop. Styx ignored the weather as the temperature suddenly dropped a good 15-20 degrees and the winds picked up. The rain also became steadier as the band played “Lady” and Tommy Shaw went into “High Enough” from his days with Damn Yankees. By the time James Young got to front the vocals for “Miss America” the rain was falling sideways and a crew of three members was trying to hold the swaying overhead speakers in place from the gusting winds. At the same time, the stage lights were also swinging from left to right. Heavy airstreams made it difficult to provide cover from the rain and ponchos were seen flying through the air like kites in failed attempts at putting them on one’s self spread like an epidemic. Just as the song ended, probably about a third through their set, Shaw announced to the crowd that the authorities that be were calling it a night and thanked everyone for sticking around as long as they did.
It was a gutsy performance but the weather finally won. Bottlenecks of people traffic made the mass exodus a very sluggish process, and the non-agreeable climate made the walk to the Red Line even slower.
