Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Not since the Budweiser Superfest in 1993 has the original line-up of LeVert come to Chicago, and outside of Gerald Levert and LSG periodically performing a few tracks up until his untimely death in 2006, followed by brother Sean passing away a couple years later, there haven’t been many chances to catch the classic catalogue in concert.

However, that relatively silent streak has finally come to an end thanks to fellow co-founder/producer Marc Gordon assembling The LeVert Experience, featuring Rude Boys lead singer Joe Little and Men At Large member Dave Tolliver, each of whom were discovered by Gerald and signed to the creative partners’ Trevel Productions.

The three Cleveland natives’ collective history thankfully translated to collaborative chemistry in front of a full house at the classy City Winery, where for around 80 minutes, they not only left no major LeVert stone unturned, but even touched on the other two Atlantic Records acts backed by three local musicians.

After opening with The O’Jays’ “For The Love Of Money” as a salute to family patriarch Eddie Levert, they included the bounce of originals “Good Ol’ Days” and “Just Coolin,” each from when LeVert was personally writing and producing their projects and especially beefing up the beats.

Ballads were also plentiful, such as “Pop Pop Pop Goes My Mind,” “ABC-123” and “Baby I’m Ready,” which is when the heat really got turned up on everyone’s already seamless harmonies.

Tolliver of course tore through Men At Large’s staple “So Alone,” gaining gusto with every passing minute of the extended slow jam and prompting one of several sing-a-longs.

In terms of the Rude Boys, Little launched into the chart-topping “Are You Lonely For Me,” and a little later, “Written All Over Your Face,” quickly erasing the decades thanks to their enduring soulful sophistication.

Throw in the colossal “Casanova,” and The LeVert Experience was much more than a just tribute to the specific trio, but rather, a full-fledged supergroup that repeatedly filled up the City Winery’s cup.

For additional information on The Levert Experience, visit LevertMusic.net/The-Levert-Experience.

Upcoming concert highlights at City Winery include Soul Brunch (Nov. 2); Dave Alvin & Jimmie Dale Gilmore (Nov. 2); Musiq Soulchild (Nov. 3-4 and 6-7); Norman Brown (Nov. 8); Kurt Elling & Charlie Hunter (Nov. 9); Robin Spielberg (Nov. 10); Eric Benét (Nov. 10); Valerie June (Nov. 11); Ser.Rana (Nov. 12); Joe Torry (Nov. 13); The Spill Canvas (Nov. 14); Dancing Queen (Nov. 16); Shemekia Copeland (Nov. 16); The Bruce Henry Quartet (Nov. 17); The Bad Plus (Nov. 17); The Amy Winehouse Celebration (Nov. 18); TS Madison (Nov. 19); Carminho (Nov. 20); Isaiah Sharkey (Nov. 21); Tiffany Haddish (Nov. 22-23); Soul Brunch (Nov. 24); Vienna Teng (Nov. 24); Marqueal Jordan & The Wachezaji (Nov. 25); Keya Trammell (Nov. 26); BoDeans (Nov. 29-Dec. 1) and Beatles Brunch (Nov. 30). For additional details, visit CityWinery.com/Chicago.

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