Hope you had a chance to go to the Loop's "New Years Eve Rock 'n' Roll Ball" (or at least catch it on ABC7) with Collective Soul and Marty Casey & Lovehammers at the Sheraton. A capacity crowd of 4000 revelers took in the great sights, sounds and libations as we said goodbye to 2006 and welcomed in 2007. Both Collective Soul and Marty Casey & Lovehammers put on spirited, top-shelf performances that whipped the smartly attired crowd into a hell-raisin' frenzy. If you couldn't make it this year, make a special mental note to ensure you are there next year. What a party!

Just a few days prior to the new year, Styx did two shows in the Chicagoland area in support of their excellent new live CD and DVD entitled "One With Everything: Styx With The Cleveland Youth Orchestra." I was able to attend the second show and was asked by the band to MC that night at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan. Besides the terrific renderings of their many classics, Styx rolled out several of their new songs from the CD and performed a rollicking version of "I Feel Good" in tribute to the late James Brown that brought the house down. In the words of my new pal Steve (who is a major Hollywood film producer... and therefore not all that easy to impress)... "Wow! That was a killer show!" I couldn't agree more. Styx still brings it. In abundance.

Lest I forget... GO BEARS!!!