By Joe Puccio

There is certainly not a dearth of veteran musicians pounding the pavement, attempting to capture -or recapture – the glory of days gone by. Whether it’s the Rolling Stones, in the midst of their inconceivable seventh decade of performing, Frankie Valli, perhaps the oldest artist, at 90, still active, or the Beach Boys, with well over 7,000 concerts to their credit, the quantity of venerable senior acts always seem to maintain a steady presence in the rock and roll landscape. The present-day quality of these entertainers, however, is often a different discussion.

Chicago and Boston – the bands, not the cities – are two of the most influential musical groups that are still touring, albeit with different levels of frequency. While the former have seemingly never stopped, the latter haven’t been on the road in eight years. As for their respective members, the situations are decidedly different.

Known for an eclectic, multi-layered approach to their sound, Chicago has transcended an array of genres throughout the years, combining elements of jazz, R&B, classical music, and pop. Called a “rock and roll band with horns,” the self-described moniker is indicative of the various styles they’ve mastered since releasing their seminal first album in 1969. But with many experienced units comes the inevitable lineup changes.

While Jason Scheff didn’t join Chicago until the mid-1980s, he has the distinction of being the longest-serving bassist/vocalist in their history. Replacing the legendary Peter Cetera was obviously no easy feat, yet the Southern California-born singer/songwriter stepped into the role beautifully, acting as frontman on popular tracks like “Will You Still Love Me?” and “If She Would Have Been Faithfull…”

Now a solo artist, Scheff is in the middle of a co-headlining trek with a longstanding member of Boston, Tommy DeCarlo. The powerhouse duo brought their prodigious stage show, the straightforward but aptly named “Lead Singers of Classic Rock,” to Tilles Center for the Performing Arts at Long Island University in Brookville, New York on Saturday, April 5.

DeCarlo, who took over the extremely challenging vocal duties of Boston in 2008, following the passing of Brad Delp the year prior, has sublimely exceeded even the most hopeful of expectations. His alluring, melodious range, along with a distinct soulful undertone, has fit like a glove during the band’s several jaunts that the upstate New York native has joined them on.

Scheff led off the evening by going way back to 1973, opening with “Feelin’ Stronger Every Day,” the rousing Top Ten single from Chicago VI. It was soon followed by the poignant “Saturday in the Park,” possibly the group’s most relaxing and jovial composition. Chicago’s first number one hit, the gorgeous yet melancholy “If You Leave Me Now” became a sing-along as the massive crowd mouthed every word that Scheff entrancingly uttered.

While the 1970s were undoubtedly a pivotal decade for the formerly named Chicago Transit Authority, it was only a matter of time before Scheff launched his 1980s arsenal on his adoring fans. “Hard Habit to Break” and “Hard to Say I’m Sorry” sounded just as crisp as they did when they were originally released, and the aforementioned “Will You Still Love Me?” brought those in attendance back to 1986 when they initially heard the wonderfully-produced arrangement of the infectious tune. Founding member Robert Lamm’s exhilarating gem, “25 or 6 to 4,” closed Scheff’s hour-long set with bravado, forcing the mass of attendees to their feet, as he left them yearning for more.

Being that Boston founding member Tom Scholz has opted to cut back on the touring life in recent years, DeCarlo’s decision to take part in shows such as this one is surely an easy one. Delp, one of rock’s most revered vocalists, is a tough act to follow but DeCarlo has risen to the challenge and this night was no exception.

Unsurprisingly, a healthy amount of material in the set was taken from Boston’s 1976 self-titled debut masterpiece. “Rock & Roll Band” was delivered with gusto, while “Peace of Mind,” a hallowed fan favorite and radio staple, was just as relevant as ever. DeCarlo’s one two punch of anthems “Don’t Look Back” and “More Than a Feeling” evoked a passion befitting an up and comer longing for his big break, an impressive trait for someone as accomplished as he is. Power ballad “Amanda” gave DeCarlo the opportunity to slow the pace down a bit, while “Feelin’ Satisfied” did just that to the spent throng of supporters.

In addition to sonically satiating the audience, both talented performers managed to engage with apt quips as well. DeCarlo, the more succinct of the pair, mostly kept the tales brief, sprinkling his set with quick observations. Scheff, conversely, went the Storytellers route, dispensing a plethora of factoids related to his career and family, including the time older brother Todd won Chicago VI on the radio, launching his fandom of the group he’d eventually be a part of, and how father Jerry was a member of Elvis Presley’s TCB Band until the King’s death in 1977.

Although neither were part of the equation when Chicago and Boston were created, Scheff and DeCarlo are unequivocally key components of the legacies of both.