While our "out and about" time has been severely compromised these past several years, East Coast Correspondent Shelley Sweet-Tufano is making up time for both of us.
Here's her latest review, spotlighting a recent concert she saw featuring our FH Buddy Mark Dawson and The Grass Roots!
Synchronicity!
I don't believe in coincidence, but
synchronicities are happening to me more and more these days.
A memory
popped up on my Facebook from April 25, 2017. It was Mark Dawson singing
'Temptation Eyes' at a concert I was attending. VERY CURIOUS, as I had
taken a leap of faith and purchased a ticket for April 28, 2023,
featuring The Grass Roots and Herman's Hermits Starring Peter Noone on Staten Island, not knowing if
indeed, I would be able to attend it.
I re-posted the memory and
commented that it was surprising that I must have been at a Grass Roots
concert then and I would be again this Friday. A friend of mine added
the comment "See you there, Shelley".
I had decided to make a go of this
concert, taking personal time off from school, booking a hotel and
filling my car's gas tank. As I sat in the theatre Friday night, I
wondered if I would run into my friend Stephanie and her husband Ernie
while I was here, and maybe I should go looking for them. I was coming
from CT, they were coming from VA. It made sense to make sure we saw
each other when ... I turn and see that the hostess is telling Steph and
Ernie that the two seats next to mine are their seats. "I DON'T BELIEVE
IT!" comes out of my mouth, followed by Steph's "OH I'm not sitting next
to her!" (Brat - I think the hostess bought it for a second).
Yep - SYNCHRONICITY ALL AROUND. Unbelievable that we will now enjoy the
concert AND time together.
As
The Grass Roots take the stage, a wave of applause rises, even though the
stage is dark. Mark Dawson, Dusty Hanvey, Larry Nelson and Joe
Dougherty smile as they plug in guitars and move toward mics. 'Wait A
Million Years' begins and the entire audience erupts in song. As I sing
along, I think, "Oh my goodness! It has been so long since I have been
able to see them in person that I can't remember the names of their
songs!" I can sing them, but just what are the titles? Not every song
title follows the lyrics. I think I cracked my song block and should be
fine for the rest of this review.
"THANK
YOU AND GOOD NIGHT!" The humorous comment from Larry Nelson brings me
back to the St George Theatre reality and I smile as 'Don't Pull Your
Love' begins (OK ... I had to check this title, but all research seems to
believe that those words are the only ones used in the title of this
song). 'Heaven Knows' is next and then Mark reminds us that this is Rock
N Roll's version of the Senior Tour. Well, this is a senior tour I can
win!
'Sooner Or Later'
'Things I Should Have Said Today'
'Love Grows' (Where My Rosemary Goes ... just so you know)
'Let's Live For Today'
'Where Were You When I Needed You'
I
am so thrilled to be hearing these songs again and the jokes are flying
between these guys. A serious moment evolves when they dedicate 'Let's
Live For Today' to the Veterans who are in tonight's audience as well as
all over this nation. And just what song was released on July 20, 1969?
Well, while Neil Armstrong is taking a giant leap for mankind on the
moon, we hear 'The River Is Wide' for the first time. I wonder just how
many times I have heard it since then? Not enough. I am still enjoying
this one and all the others.
Joe
gets to pick a song now and a woman in the balcony tries to help by
yelling, 'Midnight Confessions' over and over. It's ok, Ma'am. They have
a set list. We're good!
After
Joe's pick of 'Two Divided By Love', they announce 'Glory Bound' and
seemingly talk as if they are ending the show. I'm not
fooled ... 'TEMPTATION EYES' sparks up the stage in lights and sound,
followed by 'Midnight Confessions.' The balcony has been satisfied.
My
friends and I have had so much fun and stand in appreciation to the
four men who came from the east coast, west coast and middle America to
entertain us tonight. THANK YOU!
INTERMISSION
For
the second act, I wrote an acrostic poem. I wanted to use 'End Of The
World,' as it is one of my favorites, but even though lyrically and
melodically it is beautiful, the title is rather sobering. So, I go with
'There's A Kind of Hush'.
T heatre is gorgeous
H erman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
E rnie is so understanding of we girls
R ich wails the keyboards on 'Sea Cruise'
E nd of the World' is a favorite
'S ullivan gets stuck playing a long guitar intro which is finally interrupted
A udience gets visits from the stage
K icking Vance still able to dance
I am so glad I traveled
N oone never disappoints
D ave Ferraro has a giggling fit
O pulence is in the theatre decor
F erraro played drums on this tour
H enry is always a crowd pleaser
U nsettled weather outside doesn't matter
S tephanie and I rocked our audience roles
H ush' left the audience standing for more
Well,
I will be back in June. I have no concerts in May ... strange, but true.
However, I have a wedding for which I need to buy boxes of tissues: My
daughter's.
NE Correspondent
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
Thanks, Shelley!!! And Congratulations on your daughter's wedding! (kk)
