City Winery: CATHY RICHARDSON

Around the world, Cathy Richardson is probably best known as the Paul Kantner and Grace Slick approved lead singer for Jefferson Starship, touring and recording with the acclaimed band since 2008. But Chicago music fans know Richardson, not just for her jaw-dropping voice, but a legacy of unforgettable shows with her own band and songs, tearing up local stages for the past 3 decades. Her shows at City Winery are no exception. Richardson and her ever-awesome musical compatriots have repeatedly blown the audience’s minds with epic shows followed by legendary surprise encores. A Pretenders or Fleetwood Mac album side. Sets of songs by The Who or Prince. And, most unbelievably, the Cowbell Medley, wherein Richardson bashed the bejesus out of her bell leading her band through sections of Rock’s most recognizable cowbell songs, culminating with a spirited performance of Grand Funk Railroad’s American Band. After the song was finished, Richardson shot a fireball from a hidden incendiary device in her hand, igniting the cowbell in flames with a burst of flash paper. Yes, this really happened.

Expect nothing less as Richardson and her band take the City Winery stage in 2022. Without giving the super-secret surprise encore away completely, let’s just say, “Hey you” better “run like hell” to get tickets to this show because Cathy and her band are gonna “tear down the wall(s).” If you don’t get a ticket, you can’t go to the show and if you don’t eat your meat, you can’t have any pudding.