Monday night was a treat for Midwest rock fans, as the great Bachman-Turner Overdrive rolled through the Bloomington Center For The Performing Arts in Bloomington, IL. as part of their Roll On Down The Highway tour. Led by the legendary Canadian rocker Randy Bachman, guitarist and vocalist of The Guess Who and BTO, the band broke out many hits that were the soundtracks to our lives.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Bloomington Center For The Performing Arts, Illinois – 28 July 2025
Words And Photography: Ben Tschetter
Bachman-Turner Overdrive enthralled Illinois with an excellent set of pure rock ‘n’ roll. No frills or fluff, just an incredible block of raw rock energy, songs, and riffs.
They took the stage promptly, with no opening act. Randy Bachman recently revived his iconic band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, with a new cast of musicians, following the retirement of co-founder Fred Turner.
Bachman is now accompanied by a great cast of musicians, including his son Tal Bachman on keys, guitar, and vocals and Koko Bachman, wife of Tal, on drums. Brent Howard covers guitar and backing vocals, with Lance Lapointe on bass and vocals.
For the powerful, energetic anthems Bachman-Turner Overdrive produced throughout the ’70s, this extraordinary band of musicians packs a powerful punch, not missing a beat and delivering justice to BTO’s vast library with the energy each track deserves.
Randy Bachman’s legacy is no joke. Since the formation of The Guess Who in 1965, Bachman has not only been heavily involved in two highly successful rock bands, he has also written more iconic songs and riffs than most people can take credit for.
While the band is billed as Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the show as a whole is very clearly a tribute to Bachman’s historic and influential legacy.
Bachman-Turner Overdrive began their set with several rockin’, but lesser-known, tracks that the true BTO fans loved. The stage setup was clean and minimalistic, only featuring a large screen, surrounded by dancing spotlights.
Throughout the show, the screen displayed vintage footage of the band over the years, performing the same songs as the band was playing live onstage. 
Following several BTO classics, including Take It Like A Man, Not Fragile, and more, the band shifted gears and took a dive into the hits of The Guess Who, including No Time, No Sugar Tonight, and of course, American Woman.
One surprise in the set, if people did not put two and two together, was Bachman’s son Tal, who introduced his 1999 power-pop smash hit She’s So High. The catchy ’90s hit was nothing like his father Randy’s music, but even many of the oldest attendees were singing along.
Tal’s vocals and guitar tones have not changed a bit in 26 years, and the 56-year-old’s vocals soared as he delivered his classic song, which first brought his career to life.
After a rockin’ segment of The Guess Who songs, performed beautifully by all (and well loved by the crowd), BTO brought out all the big guns back-to-back, including You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet, Let It Ride, Roll On Down The Highway, and Takin’ Care Of Business, which had the entire theater moving and singing to their life’s soundtrack.
They also included a rock ‘n’ roll medley, celebrating many of their favourite artists, including songs by AC/DC, The Rolling Stones, Steve Miller Band, T. Rex, and more.
Although it was an unexpected surprise hearing Randy Bachman singing AC/DC and T. Rex, it was an awesome treat, and a party that had everyone singing along.
Even on the oldest songs, the 81-year-old Bachman absolutely nailed both the vocals and riffs he has been playing for the past six decades, like he was still in his 20s.
Apart from health problems, which confined him to a chair for the evening, Randy Bachman’s performance showed no signs of ageing, as his familiar and distinct voice rang through the theatre during his array of iconic songs.
Hearing those crisp guitar licks we have enjoyed our whole lives was a treat, delivered by the master himself. On top of a masterful performance, Bachman also performed a sublime guitar solo, showing Illinois why he is one of the all-time greats.
Classic rock fans should rejoice, as Bachman-Turner Overdrive rolls across the United States this summer. Randy Bachman is one of the classics we still have, and this show is truly not one to be missed.
With his proficient backing band, Bachman captures the definitive BTO and The Guess Who sound, and packs 60 years of unforgettable music into one night, which will surely leave you ready for more.
