B.B. King - Merrillville, IN

04/07/2007
B.B. King
Star Plaza
Merrillville, IN

We wound up having very good seats...4th row, right next to the stage. It was a very good show!

Dave Matthews Band - Las Vegas, NV

03/24/2007
Dave Matthews Band
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, NV

Opening Band: The Fray

We're absolutely exhausted, but had a blast. It was Bryon's birthday last week, and when we heard that Dave Matthews Band was going to be playing in Las Vegas the weekend of his birthday, we decided to enter the fan club lottery for tickets. We got great seats, so off we went!

After working all day on Thursday, we had a 9:00 PM flight out of Chicago Midway. Thunderstorms to the west shut down all westbound departures, so we had to sit in the plane at the gate for an hour until they re-routed us around the storms. By 2:00 AM CST, we were in Vegas and finally got to the hotel around 3:00 AM. The weather was great, and the shows were incredible...and another two very late nights by the time the shows were over and we made it back to the hotel! It was back to Chicago yesterday, and back to work today. It was a whirlwind trip, but a lot of fun!

Summary of the shows from the DMB website:
"Not having played a show since October, DMB just pulled off a couple amazing evenings in Vegas. Last night, Dave described a time many years ago when he worked in bar where many musicians performed on a small stage in the window. He prepared a tape of songs he'd written and passed it on to Carter and LeRoi, eluding to the forming of the band. The tape included the song I'll Back You Up, which the band proceeded to play for the first time in years. The shows here saw the return of some of the best cover tunes the band has played, including The Maker, Down By The River, Time Of The Season and Sweet Caroline. Dave also sang the lyrics to Lanois' Still Water over the intro to Don't Drink The Water. A very cool moment. We now have about a month off before we head to Australia for a short, four city tour. See y'all down under.

The DMB Crew
Sunday, March 25
1:33 AM PDT"

Saturday night set list:

Crash Into Me
You Might Die Trying *
Grey Street *
Sweet Caroline *
What Would You Say *
The Idea Of You *
Seek Up *
Still Water ...> *
Don’t Drink the Water *
Dancing Nancies *
Where Are You Going
The Maker *
Louisiana Bayou *
Stolen Away On 55th & 3rd *
Down By The River *
Too Much *
Tripping Billies *

Encore:
Gravedigger +
American Baby Intro *
Halloween *

Notes:
* Rashawn Ross
+ Dave Solo

It was announced shortly after the show that both Las Vegas shows will be released (in their entirety) as Live Trax 9!!

Dave Matthews Band - Las Vegas, NV

03/23/2007
Dave Matthews Band
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, NV

Opening Band: The Fray

Friday night set list:

Pantala Naga Pampa
Rapunzel
Satellite
When The World Ends
Time Of The Season
Hunger For The Great Light
Dream Girl
Say Goodbye
The Idea Of You
Louisiana Bayou
I’ll Back You Up +
Down By The River
Crush
The Maker
Jimi Thing
Stay [Wasting Time]

Encore:
Sister *
Everyday
What You Are


Show Notes:
* Dave Solo
+ Dave, Carter, Stefan, Rashawn

Buddy Guy - Joliet, IL

03/10/2007
Buddy Guy
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL

Opening Band: Koko Taylor

It is always so cool when you can see legends like this in concert!

Rick Springfield - Joliet, IL

10/21/2006
Rick Springfield
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL

Opening Band: None

The ticket says October 14th, because that was the date that the show was originally scheduled for. About a month ago, they announced a reschedule for some reason.

Rick really was rocking last night, starting off with a new song...I can't remember the name, but I really liked it! He played a really great mix of old and newer songs, and it was awesome!

Here are a few pics from the show. Overall, I wasn't too pleased with how my pics turned out. We were just outside the optical zoom range of my camera, and most of the pics turned out grainy. So, these are the best of the bunch...

Pride of Lions - Palos Hills, IL

10/07/2006
Pride of Lions
Moraine Valley Community College
Palos Hills, IL

The genius behind the songs is Jim Peterik (from Ides of March and Survivor), and the incredible vocals are provided by Toby Hitchcock. We're lucky enough to claim both of them as being "from the area".

We first saw this duo perform a few years back as part of the annual World Stage extravaganza that we are so priviledged to have in the Chicago area. After performing extensively in Europe, this was their first U.S. performance. Duo is probably a serious misstatement, because they are backed by an awesomely tight band!

Let me tell you, I have never seen so much talent and raw emotion up for grabs on a stage. And, these guys are as humble and down to earth as they come. You really had to be there to experience it, and it was something special.

The song "Gone" has given me chills every time I have heard it, and it definately did not disappoint this time!

Set List was:

It's Criminal
Gone
Sound of Home
Man Behind the Mask
The Search is Over
Music and Me
Burning Heart
Above the Storm (Jim & Chuck)
Live Life (with Lisa McClowry)
In the Days We Have (with Lisa McClowry)
Heaven on Earth
Unbreakable
I Can't Hold Back
Gift of Song
Eye of The Tiger
Heavy Metal

Bon Jovi - Chicago, IL

07/22/2006
Bon Jovi
Soldier Field
Chicago, IL

Opening Band: Nickelback

Dave Matthews Band - East Troy, WI

07/01/2006
Dave Matthews Band
Alpine Valley
East Troy, WI

Opening Band: Umphrey's McGee

Dave always says that Alpine is one of the band's favorite places to play, and the energy that they exude really backs that up. Boyd went nuts on the violin during several songs throughout the show, dancing and twirling across the stage as he fiddled up a storm. Carter and Stefan provided one heck of a rhythym section (as usual), and a new guest trumpet player supplemented Leroy on the sax. Dave was exceptionally talkative and energetic, and led the band through a nearly 3 hour set of incredible music! There were a couple of lulls when they tried out a few new songs, but overall was AWESOME!!

Then it was back to the parking lot to hang out until traffic cleared up enough to move. It was 1:30 AM by that point in time, and we were back at the hotel...exhausted...by 2:00 AM. Although DMB was also playing on Sunday night, we are getting too darn old to do this more than one day in a row!! So, it was back home by Sunday afternoon. I tried doing some stitching yesterday when we got home, but was so tired that I couldn't see straight. I checked the set list from last night's show, and there was not one duplication from the night before. So, it would have been incredible...but I never would have been able to make it through it!!

Here's the set list for Saturday's show:

One Sweet World
When The World Ends
Hunger For The Great Light
What Would You Say
Rhyme & Reason
Seek Up
Grey Street
Pay For What You Get
So Much To Say
Too Much
Jimi Thing
Crash Into Me
Kill The King
Where Are You Going
Break Free
Louisiana Bayou

Encore:
Sister [Dave Solo]
Cant Stop
Crush
Ants Marching

Jim Peterik & World Stage - Glen Ellyn, IL

02/18/2006
Jim Peterik & World Stage
College of DuPage

Among those sharing the stage with Jim were Don Barnes (.38 Special), Rik Emmett (Triumph), Kevin Chalfant (Storm), Anthony Gomes, Henry Paul (Blackhawk), Ides of March, and Toby Hitchcock (Pride of Lions). Jim also coaxed his teenage son, Colin, to the stage to join the Ides on Vehicle, and he did an excellent job!

B.B. King - Joliet, IL

02/10/2006
B.B. King
Rialto Square Theatre
Joliet, IL

Opening Band: Anthony Gomes