Photos by Andy Argyrakis

As the original guitarist and frequent songwriter for The Doors, Robby Krieger could easily rest on his laurels, but even at 78-years-old, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, who revolutionized the counterculture of the 1960s, continues challenging himself while collaborating with other envelope-pushing musicians.

“Robby Krieger & The Soul Savages,” featuring the psychedelic rock meets jazzy backers of the same name, follows the fellow instrumental swinger, “The Ritual Begins At Sundown,” which alongside the memoir “Set The Night On Fire: Living, Dying, And Playing Guitar With The Doors,” sure has kept the artist/author active as of late.

The Windy City’s upscale City Winery was one of the venue’s several locations that got an up close and personal opportunity to experience the axe-slinger’s everlasting innovations, though of course, The Doors were the centerpiece.

Rather than merely painting by numbers, the Robby Krieger Band was fully immersed in every moment of the two-hour night, expanding and improvising across the iconic likes of “Break On Through (To The Other Side)” or “Love Her Madly,” plus giving a shout out to Chicago during “Peace Frog.”

The headliner and company carried on alternating between unforeseen deeper cuts, such as “Wild Child” and “The Soft Parade,” in honor of that very album’s 55th anniversary, accompanied by additional classics “Love Me Two Times,” “Touch Me” and “People Are Strange.”

Outside of Krieger occasionally singing, producer Paul Rothchild’s son Dan Rothchild, (formerly of alternative rockers Tonic), subbed entirely for Robbie’s son Waylon Krieger, wisely focusing on flexing his assertive vocal chops, rather than attempting to replicate the late and absolutely irreplaceable Jim Morrison.

Despite being down a man, the foursome nonetheless flowed flawlessly, especially when honoring a request for “Love Street” shouted out by a fan, followed by “L.A. Woman” letting loose with more psychedelic musings of the moment.

Beyond everyone’s soulful or bluesy swagger, the atmospheric “Riders On The Storm” rained endlessly trippy tones and demonstrated yet another adventurous angle of The Doors, while “Light My Fire” was so incendiary, chances are everyone departing the City Winery wearing the widest of smiles and clutching an autograph Krieger unexpectedly signed from the tip of the stage couldn’t get much higher if they tried.

For additional information on Robby Krieger, visit RobbyKrieger.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include Vernard (Jun. 25); Zo! And Tall Black Guy (Jun. 26); Kevin Nealon (Jun. 27-28); Soul Brunch (Jun. 29); Terisa Griffin (Jun. 29); Jazz Brunch (Jun. 30); Joyce Hurley (Jun. 30); David Samson (Jul. 1); Chandra Currelley (Jul. 2); The Voices: Motown And R&B Tribute (Jul. 4); J. Holiday (Jul. 5); Goapele (Jul. 6); Sa’Rayah (Jul. 7); Damon Williams (Jul. 9); Jordan Rainer (Jul. 10); Just Fine: A Tribute To Mary J. Blige (Jul. 11); Loose Ends featuring Jane Eugene (Jul. 12); David Cook (Jul. 13); Phil Angotti & Friends Brunch (Jul. 14); Goran Ivanovic & Fareed Haque (Jul. 14); Alysha Monique & The Family Divine (Jul. 16); Acoustic Alchemy (Jul. 17); Oddisee (Jul. 18); Oleta Adams (Jul. 19); Cassandra Wilson (Jul. 21); Malina Moye (Jul. 23); Aniba & The Sol Starz (Jul. 24); Kevin McDonald (Jul. 25); Cousin Tiera (Jul. 26); Kids Brunch (Jul. 27); Demola (Jul. 28); Sons Of The Silent Age (Jul. 29) and AJ Ghent & His Singing Guitar (Jul. 31). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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