Andrew Salgado

While two of the most popular athletes in professional sports—Dwyane Wade and Devin Hester—gathered in the Lincoln-Way Central field house Friday amid a flurry of media attention, with hundreds of kids in their sports camps and many parents hanging on their every word (and dunk), music lovers gathered in the performing arts theater for an intimate discussion of the music industry from four successful artists.

The music camp was led by Grammy-winning songwriter Jim Peterik, best known for his Eye of the Tiger fame in the band Survivor. He shared his love of music, his need for singing and songwriting and he shared his songs.

The small group of about 30 campers shared the stage with Peterik, as did Leslie Hunt (American Idol finalist), Andrew Salgado, (three semi-finalist awards won from Billboard Magazine's World Songwriter Contest) and Bo Bice, the Season 4 Idol runner-up to Carrie Underwood.

The artists have worked together on various projects and Peterik has mentored and been a friend to all of them. At 60 years old, he has no intention of slowing down anytime soon.

"I write and sing because I need to," Peterik said.

As a child, the world was a scary place to him. Any illness or tragedy that he saw on television was something he believed could soon happen to him. When he began writing and performing, he realized that the fears were kept at bay and he felt safe. He's continued ever since. He said that the words from Eye of a Tiger still counsel him to this day and keep him strong.

Bice spoke of his humble beginnings as a musician. At just 3 years old, he would sing Charlie Daniels' songs for family and friends and charge them a quarter to hear him sing. One afternoon, a neighbor down the street gave him a dollar to sing. He told the campers that he learned about contract negotiation that day and began charging a dollar. Bo Bice also shared a lesson about the word "no"

"You need to learn to love the word no in this business," he said. "Because you will hear the word no a thousand times for every time you hear yes."

He went on to share that it doesn't mean the kids aren't talented, it just means that they weren't right for that audition. Salgado, a soulful country music performer and songwriter, encouraged the kids to stay in school and go to college. He could be earning a living as a pharmacist right now, but is able to work as a professional musician. He also said it's important to have a back-up plan to support yourself while pursuing your dream.

Two local teens, Danny Provis and Lanie Kap, asked if they could sing a duet for the artists and the campers. Peterik and the others played music and even sand a little back-up for the two as they performed Living on a Prayer by Bon Jovie. Bo Bice encouraged them from the crowd and gave them a thumbs up on their performance. For music lovers, it was an incredible opportunity to gain insight into the industry from successful artists who worked their way up. The artists were humble, kind and warm and a pleasure to hear. - Darien Patch

Darien Musician Finds Good Fortune with The Ides of March

Andrew Salgado opened for the classic rockers Saturday at the Montrose Room in Rosemont.
By Lauren Williamson


The opening act was performing his first official concert; the main band will celebrate their 48th anniversary this fall.

Each performer, however, brought the same energy and vivacity to the stage Saturday at the Montrose Room in the InterContinental O’Hare in Rosemont.

Darien’s own Andrew Salgado, opened for The Ides of March featuring Jim Peterik, who has mentored Salgado for the past 18 months and is now producing him as he writes his first album.

“Andrew is an amazing songwriter,” Peterik said in an interview after the show. “That’s what hooked me first because it’s really hard to find a good songwriter.”

The day the two met, Salgado played a song he wrote called “Cooties to Kisses,” which he described during the concert as “by far the cutest song in the world.”

“I go, ‘You wrote that?’” Peterik said. “He played six more, and every one was great.”

It didn’t take long for Salgado to win over Saturday’s audience, either. By the second song, the standing-room only crowd was clapping along and gamely interacting with his amiable stage banter. (It didn’t hurt that the ladies found him easy on the eyes: “He’s so cute!” one woman stage-whispered to another.)

Salgado played mostly original country/pop songs during the half-hour acoustic set, a departure from the covers he’s known for during gigs at pubs such as Ballydoyle’s in Downers Grove. Many of the songs will appear on his upcoming album, which will likely be released sometime this spring.

“I’m feeling really good,” Salgado said after the show. “The night stayed high the whole two hours.”

The Ides of March came on stage within minutes after Salgado finished, maintaining the momentum he set in motion. The band, founded in Berwyn in the mid 60s, played a mix of their own songs as well as other Peterik-penned tunes, including tracks made famous by Survivor, of which he was a member during the 1980s, and southern rockers .38 Special.

The group opened with “Live Life,” a rousing track from their 2010 release Still 19, followed by the Survivor classic “High on You.” Peterik explained the song wasn’t about drugs but rather getting high on the collective experience of listening to music.

The tight, exuberant performance was like watching a master class in rock, from their first hit, “You Wouldn’t Listen," to the unmistakable horn riff that opens “Vehicle,” to perhaps Peterik’s most famous song, Survivor’s “Eye of the Tiger.”

Just as the audience lit up while they danced and sang along to the songs they know so well, Peterik said he and his band mates still get the same thrill from performing.

“To me, it’s all about the audience,” he said. “If I’ve got an audience responding to what I do, it keeps me going like a circle back and forth. I love what I do.”

Like a proud father, Peterik said he sees an energy and star quality in Salgado that he predicts will bring the same longevity. Peterik said he immediately felt a chemistry with Salgado that convinced him to welcome the young musician into the small stable of artists he produces.

“I liked his ideas, he liked my ideas,” Peterik said. “It was like magic."

From the line of fans who crowded in for Salgado’s autograph after the show, it was clear they felt the magic, too.

- The Darien Patch