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Review
7/13/2006
House Of Blues
Chicago, Ill
Review and pictures thanks to Ken Carroll

   Had a great time last night! HOB Chicago isn't set-up to easily facilitate Robin giving autographs from his traveling vehicle. I learned last night that Robin was giving autographs right in the main hall after the show, I think right by the merchandise table. Unfortunately, I learned this after me and the Mrs. had left the main hall and they would not let us back in even after explaining why we wanted back in (and still had our tickets.)
We were waiting outside trying to get an idea where we would catch the guys when we saw Pete, who strolled nonchalantly to the HOB motel and went in. Alas, I was not assertive enough in walking up and getting his attention. I realized I would have to be a bit bolder.
We walked back into the HOB lobby and saw Davey Pattison exit from the lower lounge. We followed after and barely caught him before he walked into the motel! I told him you said hi and he smiled and brightened up and said "He did, did he? Tell him we said hi."  When he saw that Mary had snapped a picture of him signing my LOOT Live cd, he put his arm around me, and looked up so Mary could get another shot of us properly. Thanks Davey for being such a good sport!

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We went back to the lobby where we then caught Dave Bronze coming down from the main hall that we couldn't get back into. I addressed him as "Mr. Bronze" as he stepped over the security ropes to which he smiled and was very nice to both of us. He started signing the cd (and I told him you said hi too) and when he saw Mary with the camera he got my attention with "Picture, picture!" and put his arm on my shoulder for another wonderful shot of me looking "thrilled" with one of my favorite Trower band members!  I finished explaining that I was fond of his "Beyond the Mist" era work with Robin. He smiled, nodded his head, and replied "Did you like tonight's show?" I told him it was
awesome and thanked him for allowing me to stop him. He turned to Mary, smiled, held out his hand, did a slight curtsy bow, and asked her the same thing before he left us. Thanks Dave!
We waited till almost 1:30 for Robin to appear and finally could not wait anymore. But I am as big an admirer of this line-up of Robin's band as I am of the man himself and drove the hour and 15 minute or so ride home very content!
Had I seen Robin, I was going to mention that I had read the recent interview where he said no-one had requested songs from "In City Dreams" and that he liked "Go My Way" and that me and Mary would love to hear "Bluebird" or "Sweet Wine of Love" or for that matter, anything from that album, and I also loved "Go My Way", especially "Into Dust" and "Long Hard Game". That was my after concert adventure Steve, here's the actual review!!!

There was someone letting go of balloons at the beginning. We got there early enough to get my favorite spot on the wooden floor where I had stood the other times in the 90s to see Robin. The floor was very sticky!!  Eric Geraldi hit the stage at about 8:40. HOB Chicago was a full house and afterwards we saw signs in the lobby that the show was sold out. Eric started strong with some great lush guitar chording and strong leads, but his songs following were shallow and he resorted to songs about divorce with a lot of swearing and lost us. He did generate some enthusiasm at first....
Robin came on with the line-up I had seen 4 times in the 80s and was very excited to see again at about 9:50!! Same set list as recently, I was able to name off the songs as they came pretty much, except I forgot that "Go My Way" was on the set list, and got excited when Davey announced that one! I loved the mix! I could hear everything very clearly and I was reminded of how powerful this line-up is together! It brought back fond memories of the shows I saw in the 80s. These guys play well together and are a lot of fun to watch! They all shine together!!
Robin tried very hard to prompt some crowd response to Davey's singing after "Another Time Another Place which Davey stated as a favorite. He pointed at him much the same way Davey points after Robin's longer solos which absolutely shined! I could identify a lot of familiar licks at the end of "Too Rolling Stoned" but there was some fresh stuff in there too. I was SO glad to hear such a drastically different set list this tour and what a great one it is! Mary noticed the harmony stuff on "Victims of the Fury" between Davey and Dave. I have went on record before as saying I prefer to hear more songs and less lengthy solos but I have to say that the longer solos is where Robin really shined. He has
managed to keep the old work horses alive and well!! "Bridge of Sighs" and "Daydream" are STILL awe inspiring. I really enjoyed the inclusion of "Another Time Another Place" and "The Past Untied" (which I also saw him premier with Richard Watts back in 2001). Sweet stuff!
Well, I could go on and on, but its time for me to go to work!