Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Many might consider the start of Squeeze to be a self-titled release in 1978, produced by John Cale of The Velvet Underground, the art rock band that inspired its namesake, but the post-punk meets power pop players’ origins actually date back to 1974.

Since co-front men/guitarists Glenn Tilbrook and Chris Difford were there since the very beginning, they kept the latter math in mind to mount the “50th Anniversary” Tour, filling the historic Chicago Theatre to capacity with a little help from their friends in The English Beat.

The headliners and their latest line-up of post 2000s players combed through a vast and vivacious catalogue to pull primarily from the late ‘70s to the end of the ‘80s, coming up with all the major moments and a few welcome curve balls.

No matter if it was the established “Take Me I’m Yours,” “Hourglass” and “Up The Junction” or the entirely fresh “One Beautiful Summer,” Squeeze’s melodic muscle always connected throughout 80 minutes.

The hooks and harmonies continued through such classics as “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Some Fantastic Place” and “Pulling Mussels (From The Shell),” plus Tilbrook even unearthed the previously lost rarity “Trixie’s Hell On Earth,” carrying on in their quirky songwriting tradition.

Squeeze saved the most familiar “Footprints” for the end, including a terrifically stripped down “Tempted,” the Difford-led “Cool For Cats” and a jolt of “Black Coffee In Bed” as a nightcap to a birthday where the audience got all the gifts.

The openers were icing on the cake, thanks in part to Dave Wakeling not only offering the ska and reggae sounds he recorded alongside the late Ranking Roger in The Beat, but a nod to their days leading the new wave-minded General Public.

That meant spirited takes on The Staples Singers’ “I’ll Take You There,” “Tenderness,” “Save It For Later” and “Mirror In The Bathroom,” amongst as many others as they could stuff into 40 minutes, further adding to the festivities with just as much fun and flavor for those who still want their MTV.

For additional information on Squeeze and The English Beat, visit SqueezeOfficial.com and EnglishBeat.net.

For a list of upcoming Live Nation concerts, visit LiveNation.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Chicago Theatre include “RuPaul’s Drag Race” (Sept. 8); Hannah Gadsby (Sept. 12); Bassem Youssef (Sept. 13); Steve Treviño (Sept. 14); Keane (Sept. 18); Kurtis Conner (Sept. 20); Richard Dawkins (Sept. 21); Dane Cook (Sept. 27) and Atsuko Okatsuka (Sept. 28). For additional details, visit TheChicagoTheatre.com.

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