Ivanhoe, Chicago, IL
Notes
Two shows.
Verification
Chicago Daily News 06-01-77, Chicago Tribune 77-05-29
Media
The Weather Report Annotated Discography
In-depth description and analysis of Weather Report's albums in the words of the musicians themselves
I had just moved to Chicago. My first job was at The Ivanhoe. I started June 1, 1977 as an usher with this phenomenal band opening a two night stand. I was the lone male usher. The others were real cuties, females who worked days as runners at the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. The Ivanhoe was originally a dinner theatre. So it was a small intimate experience, seating 275 at most.
I had Miles Davis’ albums Bitche’s Brew and Jock Johnson. And a couple John McLaughlin albums. So, I’d read the names Shorter and Zawinul. Weather Report had radio play, but were not a legend to most of us in 1977. To use a popular phrase of the time, “they blew the top of my skull right off my head”. I knew I had seen something incedibly special (I worked both shows), but admittedly did not fully appreciate it at the time. I did, however become a Weather Report and Wayne Shorter fan. That summer had a number of great concerts. I’ve had to look up histories to find out who some of the great musicians were that I saw there. Like, was it Peter Gabriel or Phil Collins with Genesis that summer?
Thanks for the firsthand account, Blake! Sounds like a great night.
I was lucky to be at this incredible show. I knew someone who worked for Jam Productions and I actually got in for free. There weren’t a lot of shows at the Ivanhoe Theatre before it got turned into someone else. Jaco was a chick magnet, and I remember seeing a bunch of women talking to him after the show. When I listened to the audience recording of this show, I could hear myself speak at one point, so I must have been near whoever was taping. The Heavy Weather LP came out in March 1977 and by the time of this show, I had already purchased it, so I knew the show was going to be great.