“This is just the way we like it. It’s not too crowded!” joked Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Steve Miller on stage Monday afternoon at Wrigley Field in Chicago. “Plenty of room to get up and dance!”
Despite a capacity nearing 42,000, Wrigley Field was approximately 95% empty when Steve Miller Band took the stage Monday afternoon in Chicago at 4:30 PM local time, 90 minutes earlier than the advertised start of 6 PM.
Despite the heightened risk for severe weather well-documented in the days leading up to Monday’s Steve Miller Band, Journey and Def Leppard triple bill, Chicago’s Office of Emergency Management and Communications failed to inform fans of the amended start until 4 PM, as gates were opening at Wrigley, giving fans throughout the city and suburbs just 30 minutes to arrive in time (if they saw the tweet).
While Journey drummer Dean Castronovo did share the news via Facebook, it doesn’t appear the update was ever dispersed by any other official artist social media account, Major League Baseball or the Chicago Cubs. And some concertgoers say they never received word.
“We bought our tickets through the official event website and we haven’t heard anything from the venue or artists,” said paying concertgoers Brandy and Anthony, who live near Wrigley on Chicago’s north side. “We made it - barely. Because we’re close. Feels like this could have been avoidable.”
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While moving up the start time proved to be the right call, allowing all three acts to perform abbreviated sets prior to a severe storm system which reportedly produced dozens of tornadoes throughout the Chicagoland area Monday night, many fans arrived to Wrigley Field shocked to discover that two of the three performers had already taken the stage by the originally advertised 6 PM start time.
“Aww, thanks so much! You guys actually hurried up. And got here!” acknowledged Miller on stage, as temperatures eclipsed 90 degrees on a humid afternoon. “We appreciate you!”
Following “Space Intro,” Miller and company tore into “Fly Like an Eagle,” with bass rumbling early as the five piece group worked up “Swingtown” next.
“Guess who’s back?” sang Miller over the intro to “Abracadabra,” nodding in the direction of rapper Eminem, whom Miller recently lauded for his sampling of the track within his latest single “Houdini.”
“You have been great. It’s been quick and sweet,” said Miller on stage following “The Joker.” “I wanna wish you all a great summer. Be careful tonight!” he said, finishing up with “Jet Airliner.”
While weather impacted the Chicago staging, “The Summer Stadium Tour” is set to resume tonight in Detroit, a North American run set to conclude September 8 in Denver, Colorado.
“Chicago!” screamed Journey singer Arnel Pineda, making his way down the middle of a series of three runways reaching from the stage onto the seated stadium floor during opening cut “Only the Young.”
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Guitarist Neal Schon high fived fans along the front guardrail as Pineda took a lap around the runways, the group making its way quickly into “Stone in Love.”
“It’s good to be back in the city I was born! And in this amazing park,” exclaimed Journey keyboard player Jonathan Cain, seated at a red piano while clad in white pants and a blue shirt, dedicating “Faithfully” to members of America’s armed forces.
Cain was equally dazzling during an extended intro to “Open Arms,” with Pineda slaying the Steve Perry vocal during a poignant, slowed down early moment.
Donning a Cubs jersey in front of the hometown crowd, Cain knocked out the familiar synth-driven intro to “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” as Pineda pointed with his right index finger from the left most ramp.
Exploring the stages furthest left reaches, Schon was on fire during a sped up take on “Any Way You Want It,” with Pineda dropping to his knees as he delivered a stirring lead vocal on “Don’t Stop Believin” to close the shortened set.
“Thank you and good evening, Chicago!” said Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliott on stage at “The Friendly Confines,” with Wrigley Field near capacity by the start of their set at 7:18 PM local time. “Let’s celebrate an album that came out 40 years ago: Pyromania!”
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Combined, Journey and Def Leppard have sold in excess of 200 million records globally. For Def Leppard, both Pyromania and Hysteria are diamond-certified, with nearly all of the songs performed during Monday’s set coming from those two albums.
“Foolin’” gave way to “Armagdeddon It” early as Elliott utilized the intricate ramp system to perform front and center for as many fans as possible. “Vivian Campbell!” screamed the singer, setting up the latter.
The current Def Leppard lineup has performed together for more than three decades, the epitome of a tight ensemble on stage in Chicago.
Guitarist Phil Collen soared during “Love Bites” early while Campbell ripped a solo late.
Following the catchy sing-along chorus of their latest single “Just Like 73,” Pyromania deep cut “Comin’ Under Fire” proved to be an early highlight, the look back continuing next with “Too Late For Love.”
“Rick, you got something to say?” asked Elliott rhetorically with his purple jacket now blowing in the breeze as storms neared.
Drummer Rick Allen readied the patented cowbell introduction to “Rock of Ages” as Monday’s set cruised toward an early finish around 8:30 PM.
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Both Collen and Campbell made their way down the ramps, with screens displaying images captured via a camera hidden in the neck of Collen’s guitar during “Photograph.”
Elliott held his mic stand triumphantly aloft as the group wrapped up early via “Hysteria” and “Pour Some Sugar on Me.”
“Mother Nature has had an influence on this evening’s proceedings,” acknowledged Elliott on stage Monday night. “There’s a little wind blowing and we’ve got to get on with it.”
