Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Reaching a 50th anniversary milestone finally brought The Doobie Brothers’ core foursome back together, and given the ongoing demand, vocalist/guitarist Tom Johnston, fellow guitarists Patrick Simmons and John McFee, plus singer/keyboard player Michael McDonald keep on “Rockin’ Down The Highway.”

The Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre in Tinley Park was its latest destination, where for 105 minutes, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers focused primarily what made them famous, alongside a slice of the latest long-player “Liberté.”

The Doobie Brothers didn’t waste a moment, walloping with “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me A Little While)” and “Here To Love You,” soon settling into the smoother grooves of “You Belong To Me,” backed by vintage video screen footage and swirling lights.

The current “Cannonball” and somewhat recent “World Gone Crazy” tapped into the group’s southern rock traditions, while “Minute By Minute” put the focus squarely on its soulful side, courtesy of McDonald.

He and Johnston continued to swap leads on the legendary likes of “Jesus Is Just Alright” and “What A Fool Believes,” either of which could’ve closed the show had this not been such a “Long Train Runnin’.”

In fact, the hearty sing-a-longs “China Grove” and “Black Water” were still to come as The Doobie Brothers delivered them all with precision and expertise that can only come from over a half-century together and there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight.

Man of many bands and solo superstar Steve Winwood has stayed in business even longer, yet miraculously retains the signature voice of his youth at 76-years-old and could easily be an honorary English Doobie Brother after sitting in for the fiery finales “Takin’ It To The Streets” and “Listen To The Music.”

Beforehand, it was obviously a challenge to incorporate every era into a little more than an hour, but the multi-instrumentalist managed to touch on Traffic, Blind Faith and The Spencer Davis Group, besides his own “Roll With It” and “Back In The High Life Again,” to bring the burbs a “Higher Love” indeed.

For additional information on The Doobie Brothers and Steve Winwood, visit TheDoobieBrothers.com and SteveWinwood.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at Credit Union 1 Amphitheatre include Pitbull (Aug. 30); Fuerza Regida (Sept. 1); Megadeth (Sept. 3); Willie Nelson, Bob Dylan and John Mellencamp (Sept. 7); Staind and Breaking Benjamin (Sept. 14); Junior H (Sept. 15) and Korn (Sept. 28). For additional details, visit LiveNation.com.

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