CHICAGO @ Olympia , Paris June 26 2014

CHICAGO @ Olympia , Paris June 26 2014

Formed in 1967 CHICAGO is still active and touring, a new album "XXXVI" will be out soon and the band is playing a full Olympia tonight. Last time we saw them was at the Casino de Paris in 2008
Of course it's an early start 8:00pm sharp so we've missed the beginning of the the first set...  the band is playing more obscure songs,apart from "If you leave me now" and including "Now" a new one.
Each main band member has a solo spot, playing a song each ending the first set with a 10 min song with multi-part work "ballet for a girl..." which if you're not familiar with their repertoire can be less interesting.

After a 20 min intermission, the band is back at full steam playing all the hits (see setlist below) "I'm a man" incorporating a clash of the titan between the drummer and the percussionist. We also have some nice rendition of "Saturday" and "feeling Stronger"

The band is ending a 2h30 min set with the usual "Free" and a kicking ass version of "24O624" (here on video below)

Great second part

 setlist & Merchandising

Johnny Winter + Edgar Winter + Robben Ford + Johnny Gallagher @ Olympia, Paris April 07 2013

Johnny Winter + Edgar Winter + Robben Ford + Johnny Gallagher @ Olympia, Paris April 07 2013

It was supposed to be a double bill concert featuring Johnny Winter & ALVIN LEE, unfortunately Alvin died a few weeks ago so the promoter turned it into a tribute show with Johnny Winter headlining and adding a few guests.
We arrived too late to see Tommy Emmanuel, gigs @ the Olympia are starting very early on sundays.
Johnny Gallagher was already on stage when we made our way into a packed Olympia. Hard to find anyone below 50.
Cool set with a nice Joe South/Jimi Hendrix cover of "Hey Joe" with Johnny singing through the microphone of his acoustic guitar, that was stuck to his mouth, interesting !

Intermission with Manu Lanvin & the blue devils in the lobby of the Olympia but we perferred to stay down the front in the main hall to get a good spot as Johnny Winter is sitting down to play the guitar.

From what I can remember Edgar Winter started to sing a song (Here's the video, That is NOT on the setlist) with JW's band, then Robben Ford joined for one song, (click for video) Edgar introduced his brother but a roadie came to the rescue by introducing JW's band which played a song before Johnny Winter walked carefully to his microphone, standing up for the first song then sitting down for the rest of the gig.
That was a "Guitar Night", Johnny might be very freil but he can still deliver his share of neat guitar licks. Lots of cover are played (Stones , Ray Charles, blues standards... see setlist below for details).
Hard to see Johnny's face at all for the whole set with his cow-boy's hat on his head but I guess the bright light might be a problem. Edgar Winter remained on stage for most of the gig playing saxophone or piano. Robben Ford was invited back on stage for a couple of songs.
Each song was played with extended guitar soli, real pleasure to see Johnny in such good spirit even though he's not talking that much betwen songs.

The uptempo long version of The Stones' "Jumping Jack Flash" being the hightlight of the show.
For the encore and the last two songs Johnny took his old guitar and we had some crazy slide.
GREAT SET !

Setlist NOT accurate, the intro consisted in 3 songs (edgar Winter singing the first one, Robben Ford on the second on guitar & the JW's band on the 3rd)

Here's a song by Bobby Womack (The Valentino's) made famous by The Rolling Stones