Dave Mason @ HCA

ilentertainer | August 16, 2016

Journey / Doobie Brothers / Dave Mason
Hollywood Casino Amphitheatre – Tinley Park, IL – Aug 13, 2016

It was ’70s night at the former New World Theatre and the FM rock triple bill hit its target demo with classic material. IE’s Ed Spinelli recapped and captured the action.

Dave Mason yolked his chart topping solo songs with classic Traffic tracks, ending his set covering the Dylan/Hendrix anthem, “All Along the Watchtower”.

The Doobie Brothers launched their set with “Taking It To The Streets” with original Michael McDonald vocals handled ably by Patrick Simmons. “Black Water” brought the crowd back to the Gerald Ford-era with spot-on vocals after 40 years. Wrapping up their set with “Listen to the Music” shows the Doobie’s aim to please with the hits.

Journey went for the jugular straight-away, launching into “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” with four legacy members onstage (with the return of Steve Smith on drums). Vocalist Arnel Pineda almost made fans forget Steve Perry after eight years at center stage. Rolling through a setlist of hits – the band ended their songfest with the AM Radio/White Sox 2005/Glee hit “Don’t Stop Believin’” filling the pavilion with a confetti storm before the band raced off the stage. The San Francisco rockers returned to the stage one more time with “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’,” warranting the swaying arms up in the air, while some patrons were slipping out the back to beat the HCA’s legendary traffic jams.