Events

[ROCK] REO Speedwagon began making music in the mid-1960’s, and their initial output had a harder edge than the sound casual listeners would normally associate with the name. It wasn’t until they took a tempered, soft-rock approach that they scored big, in 1980 with Hi Fidelity, which began a string of radio hits that kept them in the Top 40 through most of the decade. Hi Fidelity has sold a staggering 10 million copies. For the last decade or so, REO has teamed up for successful summer runs with Pat Benatar, Styx, Tesla and others, reasserting themselves as a staple on the summer package circuit. And this isn’t the first time they’ve teamed up with Chicago, another band that scored big with a softer sound in the 1980’s. This year, Chicago is dividing their set into three parts, beginning with their “Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon” suite, followed by the remainder of Chicago II (from which “…Buchannon” is taken), and then a generous set of hits. REO will precede them with a hit-packed dozen song set that leaves no room for filler. Both bands do contain original members:  Robert Lamm, Jimmy Pankow and Lee Loughnane for Chicago and Neal Doughty for REO. Kevin Cronin, REO’s best  known lead vocalist, is still in the band – but contrary to popular belief, he isn’t an original member. Tuesday, August 7 at Darien Lake.