Marrakesh Express ⁓ a CSNY experience

“Great show!”

“Best concert ever at the Beverly Arts Center!!!”

These were statements from many of the patrons of the Beverly Arts Center in Chicago. Everyone enjoyed it. Anyone could tell by the smiles on their faces, the dancing in their seats, the clapping, the singing along, the banter between the band and the people. It did not take long before all became family and Marrakesh Express were the ones responsible. Marrakesh Express is not your typical cover band.

This was the second in a row sold out show this year for Marrakesh Express. Our favored NWI band had a full house at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, Michigan (seats 260), and another full house this evening at the Beverly Arts Center (seats 395). That is impressive for an enclosed venue. Last year, celebrating the 50^th anniversary of Woodstock, Lansing, IL drew in 3,000 people during the day at their Fox Pointe open venue on the opening night of the weekend (so states the Lansing Journal), and Marrakesh Express was the closing band for that evening.

I stated in my not often updated “219 Music Live” blog (1/22/2020) that Marrakesh Express “are individuals working toward perfection, wanting to raise the bar of enjoyment and entertainment”. Well they have this evening, and they will again. Now is the much needed break from society, and we need this band to remember why we exist.

A good band is not about playing music like a bunch of stiff monkey’s on a stage, going from one song to another like clockwork. It is not about dressing and acting like the original band, as if you were at their concerts back in the day. However, it is about showing how human the band is and how they also enjoy times past. It is about showing their passion for the original music, and their pride how they choose to represent that music. Marrakesh Express took time between songs to reset, to talk with the audience, to discuss what the next song means to the band, connecting us to them.

I walked away this evening very proud, as if the band is my family, my children. It is very pleasing to see them do so well to spark life into all who are there to see and listen to them. They are humble, they make mistakes, they are cordial, they are musical, and they can make you laugh. They will even make you cry by the connection they have to a song that you cannot help but connect to as well. All because of the band. They are Marrakesh Express ~ a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young experience.

Here are some photographs of the evening. I would have liked some crowd shots as well. I did not bring my wider lens. Enjoy!

Daryl Grady - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Greg Ashby - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Harmonica

David Varella - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar

Rick Hemphill - Keyboards, Vocal

Mike Flannery - Bass Guitar

Glenn Miller - Drums

Pete Calacci - Electric Guitar

Joe Williams - Electric / Acoustic Guitar

 

 

Jump'n Joe . . .

The Beverly Arts Center is a very nice venue. Please check out their website for upcoming events.

Beverly Arts Center

2407 W. 111th St.

Chicago, IL

773.445.3838

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And of course please go see Marrakesh Express ⁓ a CSNY experience on Facebook. Here is a link to their Events page.

For more on what is upcoming in the NWI music scene check out NWI Jam.

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