Chicago at Humphreys by the Bay

Chicago performed at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego. The horn rock pioneers, with a career spanning five decades, brought their extensive catalog of hits to the intimate waterfront venue.

The Horn Rock Pioneers

Chicago started in the late 1960s as Chicago Transit Authority, pioneering the blend of rock and jazz with a full horn section. Their early albums were ambitious jazz-rock explorations. By the 1970s and especially the 1980s, they'd evolved into a hit-making machine producing power ballads and pop-rock.

This evolution sometimes creates tension with purist fans who prefer the early jazz-rock experimentation. But Chicago's later pop success kept them touring and introduced their music to new generations.

The Horn Section

What distinguishes Chicago is the horns - trumpet, trombone, saxophone providing the signature sound. The horn arrangements are sophisticated, drawing on big band jazz traditions while serving rock songs.

Watching a rock band with a full horn section is different from standard guitar-bass-drums lineups. The visual and sonic presence of the horns gives Chicago a distinctive identity that's endured across decades and style shifts.

The Performance

Chicago's setlist spans their career, inevitably focusing on the hits. "25 or 6 to 4" with its iconic horn riff and enigmatic title (it's about the time - 25 or 26 minutes to 4 AM - when songwriter Robert Lamm was struggling to write lyrics) showcases their jazz-rock roots.

"Saturday in the Park" captures their ability to write songs about everyday joy. The horns provide punctuation and color, and the melody is instantly memorable.

"Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" is early Chicago at their most philosophical and musically interesting. The song questions modern life's obsession with time, and the horn arrangement is intricate and jazzy.

The '80s power ballads like "Hard to Say I'm Sorry" and "You're the Inspiration" showed Chicago's later commercial peak. These songs are slick, professional, and designed for maximum radio appeal. Some fans lament this shift from jazz-rock exploration to ballad craftsmanship, but the songs work.

The Voice Question

Chicago's lead vocals have been handled by multiple members over the decades. Peter Cetera sang many of their biggest hits before leaving in 1985. Seeing Chicago without Cetera means different voices on familiar songs, which some fans find jarring.

But the band has continued successfully for decades without him, proving that Chicago is bigger than any single member. The horns, the arrangements, and the songs are what endure.

Humphreys Setting

Humphreys' intimate waterfront setting creates interesting contrast for a band that's played arenas and stadiums. But the smaller venue allows you to appreciate the musicianship - the horn players' technique, the tight rhythm section, the vocal harmonies.

The venue's demographics skew older, which fits Chicago's audience. These are people who've been listening to Chicago for decades, who remember when these songs were on the radio, who appreciate veteran professionals delivering familiar material skillfully.

The Legacy Question

How do we evaluate Chicago's legacy? Their early albums were genuinely innovative jazz-rock explorations that influenced countless bands. Their later work was slick pop-rock that sold millions but disappointed purists.

Perhaps both can be true - they were innovators who evolved into hitmakers, and there's value in both phases. The early work matters to music history; the later work matters to millions of fans who love those ballads.

Professional Musicianship

What Chicago represents, regardless of era, is professional musicianship. These are skilled players who can execute complex arrangements, tight harmonies, and polished performances. The horn section requires reading charts and playing precise parts. The rhythm section keeps everything locked. The vocals require control and harmony skills.

This professionalism might lack punk rock's rawness or indie rock's authenticity, but it demonstrates a different kind of musical value - craft, precision, and consistency.

The Verdict

Chicago at Humphreys delivered exactly what veteran rock bands should - skilled performances of familiar songs, professional musicianship, and respect for the material that made them famous. The horn section still sounds great, the arrangements are still tight, and the hits still work.

If you love horn rock, if you appreciate the songs that were on the radio throughout the '70s and '80s, if you want to see veteran musicians who still have the skills to deliver, Chicago brings it.

They may not be the jazz-rock innovators of their early years, but they're professionals who've sustained careers across five decades. That longevity requires skill, adaptability, and giving audiences what they want. Chicago does all three.

Thank you, Chicago, for proving that horn sections belong in rock and roll and for decades of professional musicianship.