REO Speedwagon still rolling with the changes, to play Genesee, Rialto
It's been more than 40 years since REO Speedwagon played Dex Card's Wild Goose in Waukegan, an underage club for younger WLS-AM radio listeners inside the old Belvidere Lanes Bowling Alley.
Singer Terry Lutrell and guitarist Gary Richrath are no longer in the band, which formed in Champaign in 1967. However, the "new guy" since 1972, lead singer-guitarist Kevin Cronin, does an admirable job in keeping the REO flame alive. And he brings their high-octane performance style to Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre 8 p.m. Friday, and Waukegan's Genesee Theatre 8 p.m. Saturday.
"I remember the Wild Goose, there were many locations and we played a lot of them," said Cronin, during a phone conversation. "I still can't explain to you the charge I get from standing on a stage in front of a few thousand people, singing our songs, and the audience sings along ... it's uplifting for us and the fans, reminding us we're not old, but like fine wine."
The weekend shows are make-up dates from last March, when Cronin's dental surgery and guitarist Dave Amato's flu complications forced a postponement. "I was ready to go, but Dave had a seriously high fever ... so, it just wasn't possible," he said. "Fans had made arrangements, gotten baby sitters for the evening, so you never want to cancel a show ... and regretfully, we had to."
Cronin is aware of personal obligations, raising a family with three grade school-age children, and splitting his time between home and the road. Despite living in California, the "Land of Lincoln" remains in his soul with plenty of memories and a homeward call.
"I'm an Illinois boy, born and bred, and I still have family in the Chicago area. Illinois is what made us as a band, traveling all around from Champaign, Springfield and Carbondale in the early days ... the music and family are my two priorities, it's such a blessing to be at that point."
The current lineup of Cronin, keyboard player and founding member Neal Doughty, bass player Bruce Hall, lead guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt play their anthem songs like "Can't Fight This Feeling," "Keep On Loving You," "Roll With The Changes," "Time for Me To Fly" and "Ridin' The Storm Out" in concert, while also presenting new material. Cronin intends to debut a song newly penned three weeks ago, during the band's acoustic set at both shows.
One specific band project moving at full tilt is next year's 30th anniversary release of "Hi-Infidelity," which sold 10 million units and spawned 13 Top-40 singles, as a box set. "We're very excited, and a mutual friend contacted Gary (Richrath), making him excited enough to search his archives for photos and tapes," Cronin said. "We'd dearly love for Gary to be involved with this, and we want him to be there for it."
Their record label, Columbia-Epic, has also announced a series of releases called "Setlists," using live recordings spanning various years for its roster of artists including REO and Willie Nelson.
"Our shows aren't a nostalgia thing, we're still writing and doing new things, so it's an affirmation," he said. "I work hard at staying young and renewing myself, and that's the dynamic we share with our audiences - we're all still young, and we should feel good about it."
REO Speedwagonbull; 8 p.m. Friday, May 21, at the Rialto Square Theatre, 15 E. Van Buren Street, Joliet. Tickets $38-$55. Call (815)726-6600 or go to www.rialtosquare.com.bull; 8 p.m. Saturday, May 22, at Genesee Theatre, 203 N. Genesee St., Waukegan. Tickets $42.50-$75. Call (847)263-6300 or go to www.geneseetheatre.com.