In 2018, Cowboy Choir had the honor to play next to the world-famous Picasso sculpture in Chicago’s Daley Plaza.
On the morning of our show, the weather forecast warned that Chicago could break the heat index record for that day. That was a significant prediction for a day in June! We heard that the city no longer allowed canopies on stage in case of strong winds, but we hoped they would make an exception if we secured it properly. I grabbed the tools we needed. The band quickly maneuvered through the crowded downtown streets, carrying our equipment. We surreptitiously placed our canopy on the stage. With a band member on each leg, we pulled it open, anchoring the front legs to the edge of the stage with metal C-camps and weighing the back legs down with 25-pound weights. We had it up in about one minute. The stage manager was impressed with our effort and gave us a pass. Whew! The band’s teamwork paid off.
The temperature reached 96°F, and the heat index was 109°F that day. It was “Food-Truck Friday,” and we played to the roar of the many truck engines. By the end of the hour, we were definitely ready to quit playing. A few friends and downtown office workers braved the heat. Our friends Meiya and Jason made video recordings, coincidentally of the same song (Mama Said). A charming couple caught some of the show, which led to a Christmas booking later that year.
Thank you to the City of Chicago and the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events for this splendid opportunity and a delightful memory.