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THACKERVILLE, OK -- On my weekly radio gig -- heard every Friday morning on WBAP 820 AM and 96.7 FM with Hal Jay and Brian Estridge -- Brian was quick to point out that Hal's iPhone was full of music of the soft rock variety and that he was excited about this week's big concert featuring Peter Cetera and Richard Marx.
"These are the types of songs that a real man will roll up his window and sing along with," Hal confidently countered as Marx's Hold On to the Nights played in the background.
Not sure about how many men rolled up the windows to sing along on the hour trip north of DFW to WinStar World Casino for Saturday night's show, but the huge crowd did have its share of beautiful women. And from my aisle seat in the VIP section, I did notice plenty of guys who were trying to act like their wives/girlfriends had dragged them along then proceed to enjoy the show.
Perhaps you remember the Peter Cetera-themed Heineken commercial where the young man at an assisted living home asks one of the residents if he likes Peter Cetera? The man replies, "No. But the ladies do and if you love the ladies, by default, you love Cetera."
Richard Marx took the stage shortly after 8:00 p.m. beginning his acoustic set with Endless Summer Nights and Don't Mean Nothin. Marx, having sold over 30 million albums and written thirteen No. 1 hits, had some playful interaction with the crowd including bringing up the houselights and calling out a female fan who requested he play Freebird. "Ask for anything else, even Tiny Dancer!" Marx said.
He continued with more of his hits including Hazard, Hold Onto the Nights, Now and Forever and Should Have Known Better. He paused to talk about his sons that he dubbed the 'Marx Brothers' and performed their collaboration Save Me. Marx finished off with the No. 1 hit single Right Here Waiting before leaving to a standing ovation.
There was enough of an intermission prior to Cetera taking the stage for me to pop my head out into the casino and get caught up on the NFL playoffs action with the New Orleans Saints in control of their Wild Card game against the Detroit Lions.
The Grammy-winning former Chicago lead singer emerged and began with several solo hits including Restless Heart, One Good Woman and The Glory of Love. Cetera was joined by backup vocalist Kim Keyes to perform After All that he originally recorded with Cher for the Robert Downey, Jr. film Chances Are. Keyes drew a round of applause and laughter as she did an impersonation of Cher for the first few lines of the song.
The already enthusiastic crowd kicked into an extra gear when Cetera turned to the Chicago hits beginning with Stay the Night and If You Leave Me Now. The highlight of the evening was his performance of You're the Inspiration, including the story of how he originally wrote the song for Kenny Rogers who passed on it. He closed with Hard Habit to Break and Hard to Say I'm Sorry before returning for an encore with 25 or 6 to 4 and Save Me (the former theme song from Baywatch).
Like Richard Marx before him, Peter Cetera received a standing ovation from the appreciative fans. And since Chicago was the first concert I saw as a kid, it was a fun evening of people watching that brought back some good memories.
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