The Players describe themselves as “not a tribute band,” and the lineup backs them up. Keith Howland put in 27 years as Chicago’s lead guitarist, the longest tenure in the band’s history, and was on stage for Chicago’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction. Jeff Coffey joined Chicago in 2016 as bassist and lead vocalist, stepping in after Jason Scheff. When Howland and Coffey formed The Players, they recruited Rob Arthur (Peter Frampton’s bandleader for more than 20 years, currently working with Kenny Loggins) on keys and vocals, Ed Toth from the Doobie Brothers on drums, and a three-piece horn section. What they’re offering is not a reconstruction of Chicago but the musicians who were inside it.
About the Show
The Players bring their show to Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs on Friday, April 2. The set pulls from Chicago’s catalog and stretches into Earth Wind & Fire, Toto (including “Rosanna”), Foreigner, REO Speedwagon, and STYX, covering a wide range of FM staples from that era. The horn section earns its spot; this music was built for brass. The band has sold out rooms including the Alabama Theater in North Myrtle Beach, 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, and the Suffolk Theater on Long Island, and past shows have drawn guest appearances from Michael Bluestein of Foreigner and Tom Brechtlein of Kenny Loggins. Their schedule also includes the 70s Rock & Romance Cruise and Flower Power Cruise, appearances that suggest an audience that actively travels for this music. No support act is listed for the Saratoga Springs date.
Venue & Logistics
Universal Preservation Hall, at 25 Washington St in Saratoga Springs, is a theater in the capital region. April is a solid window for the trip: Saratoga’s summer racing season is months away, which means easier parking, shorter lines, and a city that still has room to breathe. Box office hours run Tuesday through Saturday, noon to 6 p.m., at (518) 346-6204. The Players play the Ridgefield Playhouse in Connecticut on April 1 and Carteret Performing Arts Center in New Jersey on April 3, making the Saratoga Springs show a proper mid-run stop on an active East Coast stretch.
Tickets
No ticket price was available from sources at the time of publication. Tickets are available through atuph.org, by phone at (518) 346-6204 (Tuesday–Saturday, noon–6 p.m.), or in person at the Proctors Box Office. For group rates (10 or more), call (518) 382-3884 x139.