Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Following a successful navigation of social distancing, City Winery finally returned to full capacity crowds and wound up with an immediate sell out thanks to Grammy-winning singer/songwriter Howard Hewett.

Besides kicking off the intimate and refined Chicago venue’s new “vax up or mask up” campaign, it also marked the first real-life concert since lockdown by the one-time Shalamar singer turned solo star and the extra energy was just as apparent for the artist as it was the audience.

Accompanied by a sole keyboard/piano player, the soulful crooner eased in on the newer note of “U R The One,” then dipped back to “Stay” and “I’m For Real” from when he initially broke out of the famed funk/disco/pop band that simultaneously birthed the careers of Jody Watley and Jeffrey Daniel.

Hewett also bounced between a jazz and steppers’ set, which naturally prompted several couples to dance in the aisles and the smartphones to come flying out, though the veteran happily obliged all those who aimed in his direction.

After a silky rendition of “Show Me,” he soon scored an up close view of everyone on his own, leaving the stage during Shalamar’s “The Second Time Around” and grooving “Soul Train”-style alongside the group’s “Make That Move” and “A Night To Remember” atop a chair.

He stayed in the center of the venue for the smash R&B ballad “This Is For The Lover In You” (also revived by Babyface) and transitioned towards the gospel praises of “Say Amen,” thanking God for the blessing of being able to gather again and weather so many storms thus far.

It all translated to a transcendent evening that finally angled the compass another degree towards normalcy with both Hewett and the City Winery once again paving the way for a desperately needed concert revival.

Click here for more photos of Howard Hewett at the City Winery.

For additional information on Howard Hewett, visit HowardHewettMusic.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include The Verve Pipe (Jul. 10); Rhett Miller (Jul. 11); Jocelyn & Chris (Jul. 12); Mike Phillips (Jul. 13); Thunderstorm Artis (Jul. 14); Davina And The Vagabonds (Jul. 15); The Cactus Blossoms (Jul. 16); Marc Broussard (Jul. 18-19); Ferguson, Carbone & Peck (Jul. 20); The Box Tops (Jul. 21); The Shades (Jul. 22); The Way Down Wanderers (Jul. 23); Keith Washington (Jul. 24); Whograss! (Jul. 25); Miki Howard (Jul. 26-27); The Mavericks’ Raul Malo (Jul. 29); Lynne Jordan & The Shivers (Jul. 30) and The Smithereens featuring Marshall Crenshaw (Jul. 31). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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