By Michael Baginski/ This year’s U.S. travel trade show IPW kicks off in a couple of weeks in Chicago and one of the best perks for attendees will be the city’s vibrant music scene. The city continues to celebrate the 50th anniversary of House music (ok, not my cup of tea, so don’t worry!), but it is equally renowned for its rock, jazz and, especially, blues history.
From Muddy Waters to Cheap Trick and the Smashing Pumpkins there are so many artists that hail from, or made their names in, the Windy City – among them, of course, the namesake band Chicago (originally named Chicago Transit Authority).
For its part, the IPW show also always boasts great musical entertainment at its massive 5,000-person luncheons and past editions have included Ziggy Marley, Counting Crows, Foreigner, Rob Thomas, and the Barenaked Ladies to name a few. Last year, Keanu Reeves’ band Dogstar performed (not bad!).
There’s are also evening event concerts and I’m set to see Darius Rucker of Hootie and the Blowfish fame (perhaps a future Listening In?) courtesy of Travel South.
All that said, Chicago will always mean Chicago to me (musically), and I’m hoping IPW manages to score the legendary band for one of the lunches.
In the meantime, here’s vintage Chicago (can you say guitar solo?) in a 1970 performance of the classic “25 or 6 to 4” (notably when the band was at its peak before the great Terry Kath died).
PS: If you don’t know by now, the cryptic lyric/title refers to staying up all night to write a song (i.e. it was 25 or 26 minutes to 4 a.m.).
Lyrics
Waiting for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Flashing lights against the sky
Giving up I close my eyes
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Twenty-five or six to four
Staring blindly into space
Getting up to splash my face
Wanting just to stay awake
Wond’ring how much I can take
Should I try to do some more
Twenty-five or six to four
Feeling like I ought to sleep
Spinning room is sinking deep
Waiting for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Twenty-five or six to four
Twenty-five or six to four
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