Some people call him the “space cowboy,” others the “gangster of love,” but no matter the moniker, there’s only one Steve Miller, the veteran band leader, classic rock hit maker and probably more of a bluesman at heart.

The Milwaukee native and godson of guitar architect Les Paul might not have recorded in ages, but at least he keeps combing through the archives to compile 2019’s box set, “Welcome To The Vault,” plus the newly unearthed “Live! Breaking Ground: August 3, 1977” concert collection.

Along with everything that came before, he filled much of Ravinia’s acoustically-primed pavilion and perfectly manicured lawn following a mighty string of season openers that included everyone from singer/songwriter Amos Lee, to dueling guitarists Rodrigo y Gabriela, fellow troubadour Jackson Browne and Chicago’s own rapper Common.

Steve Miller Band was arguably the most legendary in that line-up and made its case throughout 90-minutes, beginning in the lane of the leader’s earliest love with Elmore James’ “Stranger Blues” and K.C. Douglas’ “Mercury Blues.”

After those indulgences, which were nonetheless exceptional and deserved to be rediscovered, it was easy to loose count of just how many monstrous radio moments Miller and company accrued since debuting in 1968.

The laundry list included “Jungle Love,” “Abracadabra,” “Living In The U.S.A.,” “Dance Dance Dance,” “Swingtown” and “Jet Airliner,” all finding the 78-year-old front man in ultra-fine singing and slinging form, backed by a well-lubed band that could switch between straight up rock and roll, soul and country on a dime.

A psychedelically-charged extension of “Fly Like An Eagle” especially gave everyone a chance to spread their improvisational wings, while “Take The Money And Run,” “Rock’n Me” and “The Joker” continue to be the quintessential karaoke moments.

Prior to Steve Miller Band, blues rock lifer Jimmie Vaughan, formerly of The Fabulous Thunderbirds and The Vaughan Brothers (alongside the late Stevie Ray), turned in a blazing, hour-long set of band and solo standards.

He’s now 71, but came across like a much younger man, even playing the guitar behind his head, while regularly wowing Ravinia with all the wizardry that ranks right up alongside his brother and all the greats who came before them.

For additional information on Steve Miller Band, visit SteveMillerBand.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Ravinia include Béla Fleck & My Bluegrass Heart, Sam Bush and The Jerry Douglas Band (Jun. 24); Trombone Shorty’s Voodoo Threauxdown (Jun. 26); “The Lion King”: In Concert (Jun. 29); ABBA The Concert (Jul. 1); Dwight Yoakam and Old Crow Medicine Show (Jul. 2); Classical Mystery Tour: A Tribute To The Beatles (Jul. 3); “The Goonies”: In Concert (Jul. 6); Sheryl Crow (Jul. 7); John Fogerty (Jul. 8); Michael Franti & Spearhead (Jul. 9); Lyle Lovett & His Large Band and Chris Isaak (Jul. 10); The Black Crowes (Jul. 12); Little Big Town (Jul. 20); Poi Dog Pondering (Jul. 23); Leslie Odom Jr. with Marian Alsop and the CSO (Jul. 24); Bonnie Raitt (Jul. 27); The Revivalists and Grace Potter (Aug. 6); Dispatch and O.A.R. (Aug. 13); Ziggy Marley (Aug. 14); Gipsy Kings (Aug. 16); A.R. Rahman (Aug. 20); Pitbull (Aug. 25); Culture Club (Aug. 26); Sting (Aug. 27-28); Yacht Rock Revue (Sept. 1); Emmylou Harris and Mary Chapin Carpenter (Sept. 2); Diana Ross (Sept. 4); The Australian Pink Floyd (Sept. 7); Stevie Nicks (Sept. 8 and Sept. 10) and Erykah Badu (Sept. 11). For additional details, visit Ravinia.org.

Related Articles

Alternative rockers Collective Soul, Better Than Ezra and Tonic “Shine” at Ravinia “Drops Of Jupiter” turns 20 on Train’s Ravinia ride, plus Vertical Horizon’s “Everything You Want” Train: “A Girl, A Bottle, A Boat” Tour at United Center Together and apart, Daryl Hall and John Oates, Train turn in United Center sing-a-long A real rock n’ soul revival when Lenny Kravitz raises up Ravinia Tears For Fears: “The Tipping Point” Tour at Hollywood Casino Amp Willie Nelson, Train, Gladys Knight and the real-life return of Ravinia Lenny Kravitz: “Raise Vibration” Tour at Ravinia