CHICAGO – LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA – UNCASVILLE

CHICAGO – LIVE AT MOHEGAN SUN ARENA – UNCASVILLE

By Mia Palazzo

November 07, 2024 – American rock band Chicago returned to Mohegan Sun Arena on their North American tour, bringing their legendary rock energy to a nearly sold-out crowd. Formed in Chicago, Illinois, in 1967, the band has made monumental strides in the world of rock in its 50+ years, selling over 100 million records and becoming one of the best-selling and longest-running musical groups of all time.

Frequent performers at Mohegan Sun Arena, Chicago started their set promptly at 8pm, skipping the openers and launching straight into an instrumental intro that had fans (myself included) grooving immediately. The band opened with a warm welcome to Mohegan Sun, performing “Dialogue Pt. I & Pt. II” and “Questions 67 & 68”—crowd favorites with lyrics many in the audience knew by heart as singer Neil Donell took the stage.

The 10-piece tour lineup includes three original band members: keyboardist and vocalist Robert Lamm, trombonist James Pankow, and trumpeter and flugelhorn Lee Loughnane, my personal favorite live performer. The lineup also includes Ray Herrmann, Walfredo Reyes Jr., Neil Donell, Ramon Yslas, Tony Obrohta, Loren Gold and Eric Baines.

Photos by Mia Palazzo

During the first set, Chicago played several songs from their 1970 hit album Chicago IIincluding “Ballet for a Buchannon Girl”. This track, in particular, electrified the arena as fans clapped and danced along. The band continued with “Make Me Smile”, “So Much to Say, So Much to Give” and “Anxiety's Moment”. As Chicagohis breakthrough album, Chicago II runs over an hour with 25 songs, including some of the band's biggest hits—especially their iconic song “25 or 6 to 4.” This segment ended with “Now More Than Ever”, which led to a short 20-minute intermission after about an hour of performance.

The second set was nothing short of excellent. As the lights dimmed, the arena roared with applause and cheers as the band opened with “Old Days,” a 1975 release that reverberated throughout the crowd. Early in the set, the band's energy inspired fans to wave their phone lenses, flooding the arena with light. Many joked that lighters would be more appropriate, harkening back to the band's heyday.

Midway through the second set, the audience was surprised when Chicago played a cover of “I'm a Man” by The Spencer Davis Group. Although unexpected, the cover was enthusiastically received, with the crowd clapping and singing along to the 1967 classic. The set closed with “Saturday in the Park” and “Feelin' Stronger Every Day”, after which the stage went dark as the band exited.

But the show wasn't over yet. As the lights came back on, fans who had left rushed back to their seats. ChicagoThe two song encore included their iconic tracks “Free” and my personal highlight, “25 or 6 to 4”. The encore provided the perfect conclusion to the two-hour show, with the crowd on their feet, singing, dancing and smiling. Leaving the arena, everyone seemed completely satisfied and excited about the unforgettable experience.

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