Photos by Andy Argyrakis

Masterful musicianship has always defined The Yardbirds, from the days when future guitar gods Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page honed were honing their chops throughout the 1960s, to original beat keeper Jim McCarty leading the latest line-up.

Alongside longtime singer/rhythm guitarist John Idan, who was featured on the “Birdland” album, lead guitarist Godfrey Townsend, bassist Kenny Aaronson and harmonica player Myke Scavone, the British blues band turned psychedelic/rave up rockers treated the Des Plaines Theatre to six decades of experimentation on the final night of the “Mind The Gap” Tour.

Rather than merely running through the songs, McCarty narrated an all-new, multimedia media-styled show, which dove deep into The Yardbirds’ storied history by the sole man who’s been their since the very beginning, supplemented with vintage photographs and footage.

Besides getting a kick out of seeing strangely-paired concert advertisements and sometimes questionable fashion statements of their younger years, it provided a chance to trace not only their bold artistic evolution, but obvious influence on the likes of Jimi Hendrix, Aerosmith and Queen.

All anyone had to do was listen to the Graham Gouldman-penned “Heart Full Of Soul,” the Ernie K-Doe cover “A Certain Girl” or “Evil Hearted You,” “You’re A Better Man And I,” “Shapes Of Things” and “Over Under Sideways Down,” all of which were performed aggressively and impeccably.

The Yardbirds soon channeled Page’s instrumental “White Summer,” blasted out Howlin’ Wolf’s “Smokestack Lightning,” jazzed up the poppy bursts of “For Your Love” and leaned progressive come “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago.”

Although the trippy “Dazed And Confused” is often associated with Led Zeppelin, McCarty reminded everyone it was actually The Yardbirds who cut and completely rearranged the folksy Jake Holmes tune first.

They were also the earliest to popularize Tiny Bradshaw’s “The Train Kept A-Rollin’” and bring Bo Diddley’s “I’m A Man” to an even wider audience, aptly closing out the two-hour adventure in the Windy City’s rich Checker/Chess Records tradition.

For additional information on The Yardbirds, visit TheYardbirds.com.

Upcoming shows at the Des Plaines Theatre include “Treasure Island” (Apr. 19): Sabbath (Apr. 19); Thunderstruck (Apr. 24); Jon Anderson And The Band Geeks (Apr. 25); Infinity (Apr. 26); The Cryan’ Shames (Apr. 27); Our House (May 1); Dweezil Zappa (May 2); George Michael Reborn (May 3); Spyro Gyra (May 4); Feels Like The First Time (May 9); Sanremo Giovani (May 11); Laurel Canyon Folkies (May 16); Big Bam Boom (May 17); Sincerely Sinatra (May 18); Boy Band Review (May 23); Freebyrd (May 24); The 1985 (May 30); Voices Of Rock Radio (May 31); Marshall Charloff & The Purple xPeRIeNCE (Jun. 6); Chris Duarte, Alastair Greene and Kris Lager Band (Jun. 7); The Uncle Louie Variety Show (Jun. 8); Sabbath Knights (Jun. 12); Big Country, Tommy Tutone, Gene Loves Jezebel and Bow Wow Wow (Jun. 13); The Rush Tribute Project (Jun. 14); David Brighton’s Space Oddity (Jun. 20) and Boogie Wonder Band (Jun. 26). For additional details, visit DesPlainesTheatre.com.

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