Coshocton concert series features Beginnings - A Celebration of the Music of Chicago

COSHOCTON − Drummer Chris Millilo said any true tribute act to an established artist should be able to pass the closed eyes test. If you close your eyes, does it sound just like the actual band? Beginnings strives for that with the music of Chicago.

Beginnings - A Celebration of the Music of Chicago will perform for the fourth annual summer concert series at 7:30 p.m. Aug. 3 on the Coshocton Court Square. Playing previously this summer were Pat Benatar tribute Invincible and Def Leppard tribute Adrenalize. Upcoming is the Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers tribute Southern Accents on Sept. 8.

"Our venture is to transport the listener back to a day when Chicago was in their prime and still hungry," Millilo said of Beginnings' goals. "By all indication we come pretty close from the reaction of the audience and the comments they make at the meet and greets after the show."

Chicago was inducted into the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 and has a career spanning more than five decades, with five number one albums and more than 20 singles making the Billboard top 10. Performed songs by Beginnings include the tune they're named for, "Make Me Smile," "25 or 6 to 4," "Saturday in the Park," "Old Days" and many more. While they play songs from across Chicago's history, Millilo said the focus is on the early years from 1968 to 1980. Millilo said his favorite is "Make Me Smile."

Millilo said he always enjoys outdoor shows, like the one upcoming in Coshocton.

"We know we'll get the Chicago fans, but if we can turn a few people onto Chicago and say 'hey, let me check these guys out.' That's something we always feel good about doing," Millilo said. "A lot of people will come to the show and say 'wow, I didn't realize I knew that many Chicago songs' or 'I know that song, but I didn't know it was Chicago.' We feel like we're doing a small part to spread the word and spread the music and hopefully keep it alive much longer."

Beginnings formed in 2002 and is based in New York City. The group is comprised of Millilo, Doug Woolverton on trumpet, flugel horn, percussion and vocals; Lenny LaPinta on saxophone, flute and percussion; Dan Hendrix on trombone and percussion; Scott Chasolen on piano, keyboards and vocals; and Ryan Ball on guitar and backing vocals. They perform in Chicago's classic seven piece configuration.

Millilo joined about seven years ago and said there are no original members. However, the power of Chicago's music is what brings in new members. He believes who they have now is the best lineup ever. Millilo said the original bass player called a saxophonist he knew on starting a Chicago tribute. The sax player transcribed all the horn parts and that horn hook is still used for the band today.

"We all have very fond memories of Chicago being the soundtrack to our lives when we were younger," Millilo said of the band members. "We all, one by one, kind of found our way into the band because there was an opening and someone said 'hey, I'm interested.'

"We're not in competition with Chicago. We're literally paying tribute to them. I've been in the band seven years and it's been the best gig I've ever had. The people love Chicago so much that they pour that love onto us," Millilo said. "I never felt that much love from an audience than when we play this music. My first gig with the band, the crowd reaction when we finished one of the first songs of the night, the crowd reaction, I literally shed a tear. It was like 'oh my God, I've never felt this.'"

For more on Beginning, visit their website , Facebook page or Instagram . The band is currently working on a live album that should be out in the fall featuring performances from shows this summer and could include tracks from the Coshocton concert, per Millilo.

This article originally appeared on Coshocton Tribune: Coshocton concert series features Beginnings - A Celebration of the Music of Chicago