Featured Live Music Artist of the Week - The Ides Of March

The Ides Of March featuring Jim Peterik is a band that was founded right around 1970 and scored big with the hit "Vehicle", which has since been covered by every band with a horn section, bands without a horn section, and used in many commercial ventures.  The band reunited in the 1990s and has since been touring at events ranging from opening for current-era bands, private parties, headlining concerts, festivals, and everything in between.

The focus of the setlist is on music by The Ides Of March.  But not only their 1970s material but also songs recorded more recently.  Of course, many people recognize the name Jim Peterik, or if they don't, they certainly recognize songs he penned when a member of Survivor: Eye Of The Tiger, The Search Is Over, Moment of Truth, Burning Heart, to name just a few.  The Ides setlist includes many of these great songs as well.  In addition to The Ides of March and Survivor, Jim Peterik has also penned songs for Sammy Hagar, .38 Special, Cheap Trick, REO Speedwagon, and The Beach Boys (and many others).  The setlist also includes songs from this catalog too.

The Ides Of March are from Chicagoland, so any set containing songs by Illinois alumni, The Ides of March, Survivor, REO Speedwagon, and Cheap Trick is sure to be a hit.  But it's not just the music - it's the stage presentation that makes the evening more spectacular.

Imagine thoughtfully adding horns to selections by these bands - it creates a new unique full sound to already great songs.  Now, the horns don't participate in all songs, this isn't just a night of horns recreating hits, but they are used in the right manner throughout the evening.  The band traditionally performs with an 8-piece band featuring drums, keyboards, bass, vocals, trumpets, saxophones, trombones, Hammond organ, and percussion.  With such a complete band, any song is reproducible to the level expected of professional musicians.

But, it's not just the great songs, the great musicianship, it's also the show itself.  The band, usually available before and/or after the gig are easily approachable and quite friendly.  Always interested in sharing stories or listening to stories or just signing autographs.  Most of the concerts are set up in a way which allows direct interaction with the crowd, including band members moving into the audience while performing.  And then, there is the "fun" aspect.  Lots of stories between songs, all of which are either fun or funny.  I recall the first time I saw them, "South Park" was really all the rage - and the keyboardist was a fan - at some point between songs he launched into a whole "Mr. Hanky" routine, to the delight of the crowd - and bandmates.  In another instance, the keyboardist plays a traditional style keyboard (not that key-guitar thing used in the 70s) - and just to be funny during a jam - he picked it up and played it behind his head.  Again - the show.  Jim Peterik often heads out into the crowd while playing guitar and allowing people and up-close view of his fingers.  At one show, I recall a brief game of "trivia" with the audience.

The Ides of March is a live show.  It's not just musicians playing music live, but it is a live show, with a selection of songs that seems to span the genres and contains an infinite number of songs.  For Chicagoans, it's an even better show, because the Ides are constantly referencing pieces of Chicago history and pop-culture throughout the show, being that they are all Chicagoans themselves.

The Ides Of March happen to be opening up Steger Days of Music on July 16, with opening band The Shift.  Information on that show available here : https://www.facebook.com/events/448299415321167/