August 10th gig at The Palms

OK, lemme go right to some shots this time, then fill in some copy...

Above, props to our brother Jeff Ray for again opening the show to cover for Jerry. He ripped up "Brother to Brother," and Dave's "Salvation."

Below, Glenn Colby and Tom Delibero came in to sub the trumpet section for Danny and Gil. I could not get a clean shot of Tom.

Once again Abe LaMarca came to cover to Tyriq. They then did a thundering duet on "I Feel Good," replete with splits at the end, LOL!

Jamie is back from Boston. While he was there he got to see Paul McCartney at Fenway Park, from ten rows back. He showed me some phone cam video. Awesome.

Jamie came out front to do his original "This Time" (which will be on the new CD).

Above, Michito Sanchez in the House!

Below, our friend and fan the incredible Fred Ross of the Strokeland Superband. Jerry made sure he sat in, singing "Use Me." Cat is a Serious Bad Boy on vocals, and a totally nice dude. I loved hearing and seeing that.

Above, scattin' it up at the end of "System of Survival." Below, a totally wild-assed finish (Jeff Ray came back up to take it out on guitar). What a night.

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CNN REPORTING: OUR BRO' BILL CHAMPLIN HAS LEFT CHICAGO

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- Classic pop rock band Chicago and Grammy-Award-winning songwriter Bill Champlin have parted ways after nearly three decades together.

"Bill Champlin is no longer in Chicago. He was a long-time band member and we wish him all the best as he embarks on his new solo project, for which he's worked long and hard," a statement from Chicago's management said Monday

"After 28 years with Chicago, singer-songwriter-keyboardist Bill Champlin is parting ways with the classic jazz/rock band to focus once again on his solo career," Champlin's publicist Judi Kerr said of the split.

"This music is callin' me," said Champlin, whose new solo album "No Place Left to Fall" was released last week on the DreamMakers label. "I'm really looking forward to playing more intimate venues and hearing what fans think of the new music. I can't wait to spend some one-on-one time with my old and new fans!"

Champlin has scheduled a string of concerts along the West Coast in November to promote the new album.

Champlin joined Chicago in 1981 at a pivotal point in the band's history. After a string of 12 platinum and multiplatinum albums, Chicago was struggling for direction in the years after the death of original guitarist Terry Kath in 1978.

The appearance of the new vocalist/keyboardist/guitarist on "Chicago 16," along with the production skills of David Foster, marked a new era of chart success for the band.

Champlin was most prominently featured on "Chicago 19," where he sang lead on three of the album's four hit singles, including the chart-topping "Look Away," which ranked No. 1 on Billboard's 1989 year-end Hot 100.

Before joining Chicago, Champlin picked up a pair of Grammy Awards for tunes he penned for other artists: "After the Love is Gone" for Earth, Wind & Fire and "Turn Your Love Around" for George Benson.

Champlin also occasionally performs with the Sons of Champlin, a horn-heavy band he helped found during the late-1960s San Francisco, California, psychedelic scene.

Chicago is on a co-headlining tour with Earth, Wind & Fire this summer, with the next show scheduled for August 21 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Lou Pardini, a Grammy-nominated keyboardist who has played with Stevie Wonder and Santana, will replace Champlin, according to Chicago's management...
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I will be working to try to nail down a November 4th pre-tour opening show for Bill and the cats here in Vegas. The response to my initial call for interest last week has been disappointing, in all candor.