Photos provided by Dan Boshart

Armed with an impressive new solo album and six decades of smashes as singer/songwriter for The Guess Who, Burton Cummings brought many more than “A Few Good Moments” to the North Shore Center’s sold out George Van Dusen Theatre.

In fact, for 100 minutes, one of Canada’s finest global exports almost exclusively delivered nothing but smash singles, alongside a few already on their way, sounding pretty much as anyone would remember while charismatically crooning behind the keyboard, plus occasionally turning to guitar or flute.

He was backed by a hearty five-piece band, who also created a crisp wall of harmonies, ensuring the radio regulars “Bus Rider,” “Clap For The Wolfman,” “Hand Me Down World” and “Laughing” came across like a rock and roll freight train. 

The Guess Who certainly had its fair share of ballads as well, such as the jazzy “Undone” and the gentle “These Eyes,” which Cummings just about conquered, in spite of the sky high ranges from his younger years.

Outside of the band, there was a flashback to “My Own Way To Rock,” the notable newcomer “Blackjack Fever” and the solo debut “Stand Tall,” each accompanied by warm and witty stories of their creations.

The psychedelic scene was further represented by The Guess Who’s “Star Baby,” and of course, the immortal “American Woman,” beginning with a bluesy introduction before kicking into full gear.

That track alone would’ve been significant enough to close a show, but the headliner kept climbing and crushing “No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature,” followed by “No Time” and a shout-out to Chicago as the location several of these selections were recorded.

An encore of the hippie anthem “Share The Land” was excellent and especially appropriate even now, uniting the crowd as a choir to sing yet another legendary Cummings chorus, still chock full of potential remedies capable of changing the world for the better.

For additional information on Burton Cummings, visit BurtonCummings.com.

Upcoming shows at the North Shore Center For The Performing Arts’ George Van Dusen Theatre include Steve Solomon (Jul. 19); “Sundari” (Jul. 20); Benise (Jul. 25); Chicago Korean Dance Company (Jul. 27); “Fiddler On The Roof” (Aug. 7); Red Hot Chili Pipers (Sept. 3); Caroline Rhea (Sept. 6); Roger McGuinn (Sept. 10); Vitamin String Quartet (Sept. 12); Monkeys On A String (Sept. 13); Leonid & Friends (Sept. 19); Leslie Jones (Sept. 20); Svyatoslav Vakarchuk (Sept. 21); Martin Sexton (Sept. 26); Paula Poundstone (Sept. 27); Joss Stone (Sept. 28); Classic Seger (Oct. 3); A.J. Croce (Oct. 9); Orleans and Firefall (Oct. 10); “Not The Same World” (Oct. 17); Giordano Dance Chicago (Oct. 18-19); Tab Benoit (Oct. 21); Kindred The Family Soul (Oct. 25); Aaron Diehl Trio (Oct. 30); Jay White (Nov. 1); Hot Tuna (Nov. 5); “The Sleeping Beauty” (Nov. 9); “Drive Your Plow Over The Bones Of The Dead” (Nov. 13); “Frank” (Nov. 21); Jim Brickman (Nov. 29) and “Annie” (Dec. 18). For additional details, visit NorthShoreCenter.org.

Related Articles

Guess Who’s heading to the North Shore Center? Canada’s legendary Burton Cummings Genesee strikes Canadian gold with The Guess Who’s Burton Cummings City Winery enjoys The Guess Who and BTO’s greatest tunes, tales by Randy Bachman No-nonsense ZZ Top, Creedence-focused John Fogerty link up for “Blues & Bayous” at Ravinia A bluesy, rootsy Robert Plant & Alison Krauss “Raise The Roof,” plus a little Led Zeppelin “Alone Together, Again,” Dave Mason causes City Winery to reach a full capacity Traffic jam Blood, Sweat & Tears, guest Jason Scheff’s Chicago moments made Genesee Theatre “So Very Happy” Burton Cummings (The Guess Who): “Up Close” Tour at Genesee Theatre