You know that feeling when you hear a brass section hit a perfectly synced chord and it feels like your ribcage is vibrating? That’s the specific magic of Chicago. But let's be real for a second. If you want to hear those iconic hits live today, you have two choices: hope the current touring lineup of the original band hits your city, or find a group of musicians who actually respect the source material enough to play it right. That’s where Beginnings Chicago tribute band comes into the picture. They aren’t just a bunch of guys in matching shirts playing a wedding gig.
They’re a powerhouse.
Born in 2002 out of the vibrant New York City music scene, Beginnings was fueled by a very simple, albeit difficult, mission. They wanted to replicate the massive, wall-of-sound experience of "The Rock and Roll Band with Horns." It’s not easy music to play. You can’t just "fake" a James Pankow trombone chart or Terry Kath’s blistering guitar work. If the rhythm section is a microsecond off, the whole thing collapses like a house of cards.
What Sets This Tribute Apart From The Rest
Honestly, the tribute band world is crowded. You’ve got "soft rock" versions of Chicago that focus entirely on the Peter Cetera power ballad era of the 1980s, and then you’ve got the purists who only care about the 1969-1977 run. Beginnings manages to bridge that gap without losing their soul. The band is comprised of world-class musicians who have performed with the likes of Aretha Franklin, The Temptations, and even members of the actual Chicago lineup. That’s a heavy pedigree.
When you see them live, the first thing you notice is the horn section. In many local cover bands, the "horns" are just a guy on a Yamaha keyboard hitting a "brass" preset. It sounds thin. It sounds fake. Beginnings Chicago tribute band brings the real deal—trumpet, trombone, and sax. They capture that specific "Chicago Transit Authority" grit. They play the notes, sure, but they also play the attitude.
Most fans don’t realize how complex the vocal arrangements are in this catalog. You have the soulful, gravelly baritone of Robert Lamm, the soaring tenor of Peter Cetera, and the rough-edged rock vocals of Terry Kath. Most bands have one guy trying to do all three. Beginnings splits the duties. It’s a team effort. This allows them to tackle "25 or 6 to 4" with the same authenticity as "Hard to Say I'm Sorry." It’s basically a masterclass in 70s and 80s arrangement.
The Setlist: More Than Just The Hits
If you’re going to a show, you obviously want to hear "Saturday in the Park." It’s a requirement. It’s the law of the land. But what makes this group stand out to the "die-hard" fans—the ones who own the original vinyl of Chicago VII—is their willingness to go into the deep cuts.
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Think about the structure of a song like "Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?" It starts with that strange, dissonant piano intro. Most tribute acts skip it because it’s hard to play and it might bore a casual audience. Beginnings leans into it. They understand that the "jazz" in "jazz-rock" is just as important as the "rock."
- The Early Years: Expect plenty of love for the CTA album.
- The Golden Era: "Make Me Smile" and the "Ballet for a Girl in Buchannon" suite are usually highlights.
- The Ballad Reign: Yes, they do the David Foster-produced hits that dominated 1980s radio.
The energy on stage is infectious. You can tell these guys aren't just punching a clock. There’s a specific kind of joy that comes from hitting those high notes in "Questions 67 and 68." You see it in the way the lead guitarist tackles the solo in "Old Days"—it’s respectful of the original but has enough live energy to keep it from feeling like a museum piece.
Why the "Tribute" Tag Matters in 2026
We live in a weird time for live music. Tickets for legacy acts are hitting five hundred dollars a pop for "nosebleed" seats. Plus, as our musical heroes age, the performances naturally change. Some voices drop an octave. Some tempos slow down. Beginnings Chicago tribute band offers a version of this music that feels "frozen in time" in the best way possible. They play the songs at the original tempos with the original energy.
It’s about accessibility.
You can catch them at performing arts centers, summer concert series, and high-end clubs like NYC’s Cutting Room or the various City Winery locations. You're twenty feet away from the band instead of three hundred feet away staring at a Jumbotron. That intimacy changes the music. You can hear the spit in the trumpets. You can hear the pick hitting the bass strings. It’s visceral.
The Technical Mastery Required
Let's nerd out for a second. Chicago’s music is famously difficult because of the time signatures and the way the brass interacts with the lead guitar. In a standard rock band, the guitar is king. In Chicago, the guitar has to fight for space with a trombone and a trumpet.
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The members of Beginnings are essentially musical chameleons. To play this stuff, the drummer has to have the jazz-influenced pocket of Danny Seraphine. If the drums are too "heavy metal," the song loses its swing. If they're too light, the rock fans go home disappointed. It’s a balancing act that this band has perfected over two decades. They’ve had years to internalize the nuances—the little drum fills in "Feeling Stronger Every Day" or the specific way the horns swell in "Beginnings" (the song that gave them their name).
What People Get Wrong About Tribute Acts
Some people think tribute bands are just for people who can't afford "the real thing." That's a massive misconception. In reality, bands like Beginnings are the curators of a specific American art form. They are keeping the "Horn Rock" genre alive for a new generation.
I’ve seen teenagers at these shows who discovered Chicago through a movie soundtrack or a sample in a hip-hop song. They see Beginnings and their minds are blown because they didn't realize humans could make that much sound without a computer. It’s an educational experience disguised as a party.
The band also avoids the "impersonator" trap. They don’t wear wigs. They don’t try to do fake accents or pretend it’s 1974. They show up as themselves—professional musicians who happen to have a deep, abiding love for this specific songbook. This honesty makes the performance better. You aren't distracted by a bad costume; you’re focused on the music.
How to Catch a Show
If you’re looking to see them, your best bet is to check their official tour schedule. They travel extensively, particularly across the East Coast and the Midwest. Because they are a "pro" level outfit, they often headline major festivals.
Pro Tip: If you see them at an outdoor festival, try to get a spot near the soundboard. The mix for a horn band is tricky, and that’s where you’ll get the best balance between the vocals and the brass.
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The Actionable Takeaway for Fans
If you're a fan of Chicago, or just a fan of high-level musicianship, you need to see this group. Don't just take my word for it. Here is how you can actually engage with the Beginnings Chicago tribute band experience right now:
- Check the Official Website: Go to their tour page. They are constantly adding dates for the 2026 season, including stops in Florida, New York, and Jersey.
- Listen to the Arrangements: Before you go, listen to the Chicago IX Greatest Hits album. Then, when you’re at the show, pay attention to how Beginnings handles the transitions. It’ll make you appreciate the skill level involved.
- Support Live Horn Music: These types of ensembles are expensive to run. There are eight or nine people on stage. By buying a ticket, you’re literally helping keep the "big band rock" sound from disappearing.
- Follow Their Socials: They often post "behind the scenes" clips of rehearsals. Seeing them work through a difficult section of "Dialogue (Part I & II)" gives you a huge appreciation for the rehearsal hours they put in.
There is something inherently optimistic about Chicago’s music. It’s bright, it’s loud, and it’s complicated. Beginnings captures that optimism perfectly. Whether you’re a lifelong "Fan of the Windy City" or someone who just likes "Saturday in the Park," this band delivers the goods. They are a reminder that while musicians may retire, the music itself is essentially immortal if it's placed in the right hands.
Go see them. Bring a friend who thinks rock music is just three chords and a bad attitude. Let the brass section prove them wrong.
Next Steps for Chicago Enthusiasts:
If you want to keep the momentum going after a show, look into the history of the original band's founding at DePaul University. Understanding their origins as "The Big Thing" makes the precision of a group like Beginnings even more impressive. You can also check out local jazz-rock workshops if you're a musician yourself; the arrangements used by tribute bands are often the gold standard for learning how to integrate a horn section into a modern band setting. For those looking to book high-end entertainment, contacting their management directly through their official portal is the only way to ensure you're getting the authentic "Beginnings" lineup rather than a regional spin-off.
The legacy of Terry Kath, Robert Lamm, and the rest of the crew is safe as long as bands like this are willing to do the hard work of playing these charts the way they were meant to be played. Loud, proud, and with a whole lot of brass.