Yes, I said I would return to
The Kate to see Gary Lewis and the Playboys. And I did! Saturday night, August
22nd, finds me back in the audience at The Katherine Hepburn
Cultural Center. Tonight, the people sitting next to me have just pulled their
sailboat into port and decided to walk to The Kate to see tonight's show. There
were nine tickets left. They got two and they could not sit together. The woman
sat next to me and has given me a new outlook on music. She does not know any
of the groups appearing this summer at The Kate, including tonight. She is
unaware that Gary is Jerry Lewis' son, in what decade they recorded, (her
husband knew this) nor what songs they are famous for. HOWEVER, she recognizes
and can sing along with some of them as they are performed. She asks me who
Herman's Hermits, Lovin' Spoonful, Jay and the Americans, Gary Puckett and the
Union Gap, Firefall, Orleans, The Cowsills, The Nelsons and several others are.
When I mention song titles, she can relate though. I never thought about this,
but why wouldn't there be fans who group together by songs only, never paying
attention to the artists. Of course, this opens up problems when you like a
particular song, done in a particular manner and the song has been covered by
several others. Gary, himself, does songs tonight that have been recorded by
others. On the other hand, she seems to be here to hear the music, not caring
as much about the groups. Hmmmm.
Palisades Park
Count Me In
I'm A Believer - sung by Jamie
Hilboldt, keyboards, also of The Union Gap
Sure Gonna Miss Her - last song
released before Gary's draft into the Army
Love Potion #9
Little Miss Go-Go
Wooly Bully
This Diamond Ring
Tequila
California Sun - sung by Todd
Bradley, drums
Sealed With A Kiss
Without A Word Of Warning
Intermission
Runaway - sung by Mike
Gladstone, lead guitar
Save Your Heart For Me
Let's Dance - sung by Nick
Rather, bass player
Everybody Loves A Clown
Mustang Sally - Mike singing
Green Grass
Brown Eyed Girl - Nick singing
My Heart’s Symphony
I've Just Seen A Face - Mike
singing
She's Just My Style
Encore:
Slow Down
This is the first time at The
Kate for Gary and his band. This is not unusual this year. MANY MANY
first-timers are appearing. The House tells me that because there are so many
summer residents in beach houses in Old Saybrook, they wanted to capitalize on
the numbers, giving them what they wanted to see. (NO! I did not tell them I
owned ten beach houses on the shore. I didn't have to fictionalize anything ...
this time) As I have whined before, the only bad thing is that I cannot go to
all the concerts I want to. What will happen when summer is over? I don't know.
Working toward year-round influences to keep the music perking.
Gary and his band were jumping!
Literally. They laughed and joked and kept the energy high. The musicianship
was excellent. Gary chose not to play guitar. Maybe that is his choice for the
whole tour. I missed it because I know he plays. He was also the original
drummer and has not taken that position in decades. This, however, gave him the
chance to move and groove and play the tambourine. Mike covers the stage while
playing guitar, and taking the lead, works up some awesome riffs and solos.
They were all tight, and I thoroughly enjoyed hearing cover songs from them
that I haven't heard before.
Great night, beautiful evening
outdoors as I leave, and now ... tomorrow, on to Firefall.
[you'll find THAT review on Sunday, 9/6 - kk]
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
9/2/66 – Actress Salma Hayek (who just became a grandmother!!!) is born
(Hmmm … Ol’ Blue Eyes was right! … 1966 was a
very good year!)
Lionel Richie has been hospitalized again (in the ICU this time!) after
his concert in St. Louis Saturday Night (8/29)Richie previously cancelled shows at the beginning of the tour after
becoming dizzy on stage and having to abort his performance.Meanwhile, Earth Wind and Fire’s drummer also
had to cancel some gigs due to health issues on a tour that just seems
doomed for both acts!(They are scheduled to appear
here in Chicago on September 30th … which is alreadya rescheduled date!)
On the plus side, there are no new shows scheduled until September
26th … so hopefully this will allow enough time for everybody to get
healthy again … although in the back of MY mind I’d have to be thinking “Getting knocked
out three times already during this new tour might mean this gig was just never meant
to be!”)kk
kk …
I GOT ANOTHER DOLLY FACT THAT I
DON’T THINK YOU KNOW …
So I'm Listening To Cousin
Brucie Interview Felix Cavaliere.
The Interview Is Just About To
End – And Felix Tells Brucie, "You Know I Recorded A Song With Dolly
Parton."
Cousin Brucie Says "I Never
Heard That Before."
Neither Did I.
For Charit,y They Recorded
"MY HAWAII" To Help Maui Wildfires That Killed Over 100 People.
It’s On You Tube If You Want To
Check It Out. The Rascals Were Very Popular In Hawaii.
FB
I remember when Felix did the “My Hawaii” recording because
we talked about it here in Forgotten Hits … but I don’t remember Dolly being
part of it.VERY cool that she was …
Dolly was ALWAYS giving and trying to help others.(kk)
Here’s the clip:
In other Dolly news, thanks to an increase of over 2000% in streams since her death,
Dolly Parton is back on Billboard’s Top 50 Pop Singles Chart with FIVE of her
previous hits, including two that never made The Top 40 the first time around.
“Jolene” premiered at #16 this week … it previously peaked
at #60 back in 1974.“9 to 5,” a
previous #1 Hit, debuted just behind it at #18.“Islands In The Stream,” her former #1 duet
with Kenny Rogers, bows at #26 while Dolly’s original version of“I Will Always Love You” comes in right
behind it at #27.This one never made the
pop charts at all when it was first released in 1974 (although a remake by
Dolly did creep up to #53 in 1982..) “Here You Come Again” becomes Dolly’s fifth song to crack this week’s
Top 50, coming in at #44.It originally
peaked at #3 when it was first released in 1977 and is considered her first big
breakthrough crossover hit into the pop arena.
Even more impressive, on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales Chart, Dolly placed 15 songs
in the Top 25, including ALL of the top six spots:“I Will Always Love You” (#1), “Jolene” (#2), “9 to 5” (#3), “Islands in
the Stream” (#4), “Here You Come Again” (#5), and “Coat Of Many Colors” (#6) blew out all of the competition. Even her Christmas Hit “Hard Candy Christmas”
made the chart, coming in #12.All 15 of
Dolly’s digital charted hits made The Top 20!Dolly was laid to rest on Friday, the 28th, in a private
family funeral ceremony in Nashville.She was
buried next to her husband of 59 years, Carl Dean.(kk)
The hot new Micky Dolenz EP “Timeless” is out this Friday … it
contains six brand new tracks:"Terri," "Any Way You Want Me To," "Something Happened," "Waiting For Day" "Where Do The Tears
Come From" and "In The Center Of My Heart (There Is A Force Commonly Known As Love)." I've had the chance to listen to the whole CD and Micky is sounding really good.
From the original press release:
MICKY DOLENZ ANNOUNCES NEW EP TIMELESS, ARRIVING SEPTEMBER
4th ON FRIDAY MUSIC
The first single "Terri," written by Paul
Westerberg, arrives June 26th
New six-song collection features songs by Paul Westerberg,
Andy Partridge, Adam Schlesinger, Vicki Peterson, Sam Hollander, Shelby Lynne,
Pete Donnelly, and Jonny Polonsky
Dolenz continues his 60 Years of The Monkees tour as the
landmark television series approaches its 60th anniversary
Micky Dolenz, the celebrated vocalist, actor, director,
producer and forever-beloved voice of The Monkees, has announced the release of
his new EP, TIMELESS, arriving September 4, 2026 on Friday Music.
The announcement arrives as Dolenz continues his acclaimed
MICKY DOLENZ CELEBRATES 60 YEARS OF THE MONKEES tour across the country,
celebrating six decades of music, television, comedy and pop culture history.
TIMELESS will be released just ahead of the 60th anniversary of the premiere of
The Monkees television series, which debuted on NBC on September 12, 1966 and
went on to become one of the most influential and enduring pop culture
phenomena of the decade.
The first track from the EP, "Terri," will be
released on June 26. Written by Paul Westerberg, the song finds Dolenz bringing
his unmistakable pop power, warmth and emotional clarity to a piece that feels
both intimate and instantly classic.
The “Terri” single will be accompanied by an official
music video, also premiering June 26. Filmed at the legendary Church Studio in
Tulsa, Oklahoma, and directed by John Hughes, the video captures Dolenz and his
band in a loose, intimate performance setting that lets the song’s warmth and
charm take center stage. The “Terri” music video can be viewed here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tRYDb7W8-Ic&list=RDtRYDb7W8-Ic&start_radio=1
"Paul Westerberg wrote such a beautiful, heartfelt
song with 'Terri,' and I'm very grateful I had the chance to sing it and bring
my own little Micky twist to it," says Dolenz.
TIMELESS features six new songs that connect Dolenz with
an extraordinary group of writers across generations of pop, rock and
songcraft. In addition to Westerberg, the EP includes special contributions
from Andy Partridge, Shelby Lynne, Pete Donnelly, Sam Hollander, Adam
Schlesinger, Vicki Peterson, and Jonny Polonsky. The EP was produced by Sam
Hollander (Gym Class Heroes, Katy Perry, Ringo Starr), John Hughes (The
Monkees’ GOOD TIMES & CHRISTMAS PARTY), and Pete Donnelly (The Figgs,
NRBQ).
The full track listing is:
1. Terri
2. Any Way You Want Me To
3. Something Happened
4. Waiting For Day
5. Where Do The Tears Come From
6. In The Center Of My Heart, Is A Force Commonly Known As
Love
For Dolenz, TIMELESS is not simply a new studio project.
It is a continuation of a musical life that began before The Monkees became a
household name and has carried through six decades of recording, touring and
reinvention.
Before becoming one of television and music's most
recognizable figures, Dolenz first came to national attention as a child actor
starring in the series *Circus Boy*. By the mid-1960s, he had already been
playing guitar and singing in his own band, Micky and the All-Nighters, when he
was cast as one of The Monkees alongside Davy Jones, Michael Nesmith and Peter
Tork.
What followed was a cultural explosion. The Monkees
television series captured the energy, absurdity and restlessness of a new
generation, while the records became a phenomenon of their own. Dolenz's voice
helped define many of the group's most enduring songs, including "Last
Train to Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," "Pleasant Valley
Sunday," "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone," "Randy Scouse
Git" and many more.
The Monkees became one of the defining acts of the 1960s,
earning critical and commercial success while bringing a new kind of speed,
comedy and surreal visual language to television. Their influence continues to
echo through music video, pop television, comedy and generations of fans who
discovered the group in real time, through reruns, on records, and now through
streaming.
Dolenz has never stopped moving forward. In addition to
his work with The Monkees, he has enjoyed a wide-ranging solo career, appeared
on stage and screen, directed and produced for television, performed in musical
theater, and continued to record and tour to enthusiastic audiences around the
world.
TIMELESS also arrives as Dolenz celebrates the 10th
anniversary of GOOD TIMES!, the 2016 Monkees studio album that reunited the
group with a remarkable cast of contemporary and classic songwriters. That
album introduced new favorites including "Me & Magdalena," which
has become one of the most beloved later-period Monkees recordings.
"With the 60th anniversary tour in full swing, I
found myself surrounded again by these songs, these memories and these
wonderful audiences," says Dolenz. "Then these terrific new songs
came my way, and it just felt like the right moment to get back into the
studio. I've always loved a great song, especially one that gives me a chance
to get inside it, tell the story, and maybe have a little fun while I'm at
it."
The June 26 release of "Terri" will be
accompanied by a new performance video, with an additional video for
"Waiting For Day" to follow.
On "Waiting For Day," Dolenz shares the
spotlight with his sister and tourmate, Coco Dolenz, adding a rich vocal
connection to one of the EP's moodier and more atmospheric tracks.
"Vicki Peterson gave us something wonderfully moody
and melodic with 'Waiting For Day,' and singing it with Coco made it even more
special," says Dolenz. "My thanks to everyone who helped make this
one shine."
TIMELESS stands as both a celebration and a statement: a
legendary performer still choosing great songs, still singing with power and
heart, and still finding new ways to connect the past, present and future, much
like the EP’s title indicates.
Micky Dolenz's TIMELESS will be released September 4, 2026
on Friday Music on CD, 180-gram vinyl, and on digital and streaming platforms.
"Terri" will be available June 26 on all digital
platforms.
1.Terri (Paul Westerberg) Dry Wood Music / BMG, ASCAP
2.Any Way You Want Me To (Andy Partridge) Copyright Control
Andy Partridge, 2026
3.Something Happened
(Sam Hollander/Adam Schlesinger/Steven Gold) Big In America/Vaguely Familiar
Music/S M Gold Music, ASCAP
4.Waiting For Day
(Vickie Peterson) featuring Coco Dolenz Ultra Vixen Music, BMI
5.Where Do The Tears
Come From (Pete Donnelly/Shelby Lynn) Copyright Control Pete Donnelly,
2026/Swampyblu, BMI
6.In The Center Of
My Heart, There’s A Force Commonly Known As Love (Jonny Polonsky) Spanakopita
Songs, BMI
MUSICIANS:
Pete Donnelly – Bass Guitar,
Acoustic Guitar
Doug Yowell – Drums, Percussion
Ben Butler - Guitars
Wayne Avers – Lead Nylon Guitar
Rich Dart – Percussion
Coco Dolenz - Additional vocals
Alex Jules – Keyboards, Backing
Vocals, and Backing Vocal Arrangements
Emeen Zarookian – 12-string
Guitar and Backing Vocals
Backing vocals on “Terri” – John
Billings, John Hughes, Sam Hollander, JC Santalis
Recorded Jan 28 & 29, 2026
at Raw Recording, Patterson NY
JC Santalis – Engineer
Feb 25-27, 2026 at Farmland
Studios, Nashville TN
Caleb Fisher – Engineer
Additional Recording at
Woodstock Aerie Studio, March, 2026
Alex Jules - Engineer
Mastered by Joe Lambert at Joe
Lambert Mastering
Mastered for Vinyl by Joe
Lambert and Joe Reagoso at Friday Music Studios, Huntington Beach, CA
Produced by Sam Hollander, John
Hughes & Pete Donnelly
Executive Producer: Joe Reagoso
A&R – John Hughes for
NearMint Music
Album cover concept – John
Hughes
Design – Rafael Hughes for
NearMint Music
Micky Dolenz would like to
thank:
Joe Reagoso offers his special
thanks to Micky Dolenz for all the great music and shows over the years.
Micky Dolenz is an actor, singer, director, producer and
author best known as a member of The Monkees, the groundbreaking group and
television phenomenon that helped reshape pop culture in the 1960s. As one of
the group's principal vocalists, Dolenz sang lead on many of The Monkees'
biggest and most enduring hits, including "Last Train to
Clarksville," "I'm a Believer," "Pleasant Valley
Sunday," "I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone" and "Randy Scouse
Git."
Born into a show business family, Dolenz began his career
as a child actor before joining The Monkees in 1965. The group's Emmy
Award-winning television series premiered on NBC in 1966 and quickly became a
defining cultural force, combining music, comedy, quick-cut editing and
countercultural energy in a way that anticipated the music video era.
Following The Monkees' original run, Dolenz continued to
work across music, television, theater and live performance. He has appeared on
Broadway and in London's West End, directed and produced for television,
released solo recordings, and toured extensively as both a solo artist and with
various Monkees reunion projects. In recent years, he has continued to honor
The Monkees' legacy while creating new work that reflects his lifelong love of
great songs, great performances and a good laugh whenever possible.
Playboys Of Edinburg got a fair
amount of play here ... they were from South Texas ... in San Antonio and other
parts of Texas in the 60's.
Their version of the song Bobby
Vee charted with - and the flip side - have long been favorites of mine.(I have 20 or so songs by this band!)
Give a listen if you haven't
heard them.
BRAD
Here's their other charted hit ...
I listened to all
the Rewound Radio Labor Day Spectacular Promos on Forgotten
Hits first thing this morning.
What a Great Trifecta of
"Invites!"
Super Job from all of you!!
CB!
Thanks, Chuck. Kent has been a tremendous supporter
of keeping the music of the Top 40 era alive and well in all of our hearts and
ears.
We are looking forward to another fun weekend of "the
radio days of yesterday". (Is that corny enough for you?")
Thanks for participating this year ... as you do every
year.
Ted
It is gonna be another fun
weekend!!!
Scott Childers
I’m ready!!!Can’t
wait to hear some of the new surprises!
Rewound Radio (rewoundradio.com) – starting at 6 am Eastern
on Saturday, September 5th … and running right past Midnight on
Monday Night, September 7th!ALWAYS a great listen … and now in its FIFTH year!!!(kk)
And don't forget to enter for your chance to win a pair of tickets to see "Michael Jackson Lives" ... an incredible tribute show from Brazil coming to both The Arcada Theatre and The Des Plaines Theatre on September 30th and October 1st!
Just send me an email with MICHAEL JACKSON LIVES in the subject line and you're entered. (If you have a preference as to which show better fits your timeline, please include this information in the body of your email. Good Luck!!! (kk)
******
And now ...
What we've got for you ...
Is a slew ...
Of Shelley Sweet-Tufano reviews!!!
Our calendar's been jam-packed these past couple of weeks due to our prior commitments to run the Al Jardine interview and concert review, the interview with Michael Jackson author Mark Bego and then all of the comments generated by the untimely passing of Dolly Parton ...
So this is really the chance we've had in a while to talk about some of the other things we've been keeping warm for you on the back burner ...
Like Shelley's review today of a Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone concert she saw a few weeks back ...
HERMAN’S HERMITS starring
PETER NOONE Concert Review
The Kate! The Kate! The Kate!
Yes, for sure one of my favorite theatres has now become a hub of 60s/70s
music. The theatre responded so well to pressure (now who would add that?) that
audiences wanted to see these performers. The theatre holds 284 spectators and
has added shows in order to accommodate the number of people who wish to
attend. AND they are selling out these performances. I cannot even attend all
of the shows scheduled. The man sitting next to me asked, "Why aren't you
coming to Atlanta Rhythm Section on Monday?" I wish I could! I should be
attending EVERY concert. I won't be seeing The Lovin' Spoonful this week
either, but I will be back to see Gary Lewis and the Playboys on Saturday and
Firefall, the following Monday. Today, August 16th, I will make both shows for
Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone. The afternoon show I will watch
with my daughter. The evening show I will review based on a first time HHSPN
concert goer.
My daughter informs me that she
was 13 when she first saw Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone. This may have
been prior to the conclusion of the court case which ended with two Herman's
Hermits groups and a division of the world for performances. She is looking at
the stage and noting what physical changes have passed and whether the stage
antics have changed, held up well over the years or been added. Peter states
that when Dave laughs (Dave Ferrara, drummer) you know it's a new joke. We saw
that once, although there were a couple witticisms that were new to us. I
have approached The Kate about supplying souvenirs to their audiences to
enhance the experience: glow sticks, mini flags (American or British) guitar
pics and more. One item per show. They liked the idea, but they don't even pass
out Playbills anymore as they find people leave them behind and it is more work
for the volunteers to clean up. Alas, I had to agree with them. Too many of us
are slobs and believe we are too good to clean up after ourselves. A
shocker at the first show is the woman in front of us, who has taken off her
shoes and places her feet on the shelf in front of her which has been built to
hold drinks you can buy from the theatre. Unless she has a particular medical
reason for this, it stinks ... yes, take that any way you wish.
The show itself is a hit as
usual. No, the songs don't change. They can't and we don't go to these shows
hoping they will. We go to the shows to hear the songs we love staged
professionally and bring us the joy and memories of our past. "Check"
all the above boxes.
Next to us is a young family.
Both children are under 8. My daughter wonders why they paid for four tickets
when we suddenly hear both children singing the words coming from the stage and
as the final four songs are performed jumping up and down while yelling out the
lyrics bold and strong. Yes, that could have been me with my two at the same
age. Or me with my two granddaughters at the same age. I get it. It is
too special to ever go away.
"I've never seen him
before. Have you seen him? I thought, why not? Give it a try." These are
the words coming from the man sitting next to me at the second show. We talk
about the fact that I think he will really enjoy this show and also what he may
think of other shows coming up here at The Kate. We each have tickets for
various shows, but seemingly not the same ones. It isn't till the end of the
night that the thought comes through to me that looking though his eyes, as
someone who has never seen this performance, can revitalize my outlook. It has
been hard for me to accept current situations of some of our favorites ... voices
that are no longer strong, pre-recorded situations where there is lip-syncing,
obvious physical pain, and the absence of some we can no longer see perform. We
can only remember them from past shows. How is tonight going to hold up to
someone who has never seen it and will be looking through an open mind?
The laughter, clapping and
smiles I see confirms he is enjoying tonight. He does not interrupt with
conversation nor any comments. This could mean he is engaged or he doesn't want
to hurt my feelings since I have said I continue to come to their concerts. The
concert ends. He says, "He will come back out, right?" No. There's A
Kind Of Hush is his built-in encore. There were some years when he did leave
the stage after Henry The VIII and return to sing Hush as an obvious encore. At
the afternoon show, he sprinted down through the audience to sign autographs at
the souvenir table. Not tonight. Two shows down. Traveling a few hours from New
York to get here and traveling again tonight to the airport to get home before
heading off to Texas negates more autograph time. The audience begins to relive
the show in conversation and since we are standing from our ovation, a few
begin to leave the theatre.
"You were right! He is
great! The show was great! I'm glad I tried it. I will go again." Yeah. Me,
too.
Thank you, Peter, Vance, Rich,
Billy and Dave. (Yes Kent. I am sure I have these names correct)
2:00 show:
Something Good
Wonderful World
Love Potion #9
THE KATE
Listen People
Leanin' On A Lamppost
Ring of Fire
Sea Cruise
Dandy
She's A Must To Avoid
Daydream Believer
Travelin' Light
No Milk Today
Ferry Across the
Housatonic
Doo Wah Diddy
End Of The World
Just A Little Bit Better
Silhouettes
Jezebel
Start Me Up
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat
Rudolph / Mrs. Brown
Henry VIII
There's A Kind Of Hush
7:00 Show:
Something Good
Wonderful World
Love Potion #9
THE KATE
Daydream Believer
Ring of Fire
Sea Cruise
Dandy
She's A Must To Avoid
Travelin' Light
Ferry Across The Housatonic
Leanin' On A Lamppost
All My Loving
This Door Swings Both Ways
Fish And Chips (Uncle Henry's)
Hold On
Silhouettes
Just A Little Bit Better
End Of The World
Jezebel
Start Me Up
Can't You Hear My Heartbeat
Rudolph / Mrs. Brown
Henry VIII
There's A Kind Of Hush
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
Look for another review from Shelley tomorrow in Forgotten Hits!
I suppose we COULD make this a Herman's Hermits doubleheader... (or even a TRIPLE play if you count what Shelley wrote as being two reviews) ...
Back on August 18th we went to go see Karl Green, original bassist for the group Herman's Hermits, perform in a very coffeehouse-like setting at Ron Onesti's Rock 'n Ravolia in St. Charles, IL ... an absolutely BEAUTIFUL venue located in the lobby of The Arcada Theatre. This was our first time there and we'll definitely be back.
It's hard for me to talk about the concert because that old adage keeps coming back and whispering in my ear, preventing me from saying much about the show. You know the one I mean ... "If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all."
But still I feel I owe our readers SOME explanation as to what we saw and experienced ... as well as present an accurate description (or warning) should anyone out there be considering seeing this show for themselves ... so I will give you a couple of highlights while also making clear the understanding that everything else NOT mentioned would have to rank with some of the worst performances I have ever seen in my life.
Green performed on The Legends Stage along with Mike Bruccoleri, who clearly has the stronger singing voice (and musical chops.) It was Mike who truly helped to carry the show and keep it on point. They were also joined on stage by Taylor Swift impersonator Traci Marie, who was quite good and helped sing the Foundations' hit "Build Me Up Buttercup," making this tune a subtle "highlight" of the performance.(Other highlights included a Green/Bruccoleri duet of The Everly Brothers song "Bye Bye Love." Green also did a creditable version of Joe Cocker's rendition of "The Letter." In fact, that song more than any other, seemed to fit his comfort zone.)
I will say that he was EXTREMELY difficult to hear and understand, mostly due to his thick accent. Bruccoleri did his best to interpret where necessary ... but all that did was slow down the pacing of their act. And as to their act, it reeked of very little rehearsal ... they seemed to be winging it thru most of their set during which, quite honestly, we chose to leave because it was just all so unpleasant.
Now I WILL say that there was a rowdy group of Noonatics and Hermits fans there who sang along with every song and cheered at everything they presented on stage ... they saw Green as the "connection" they needed to stay close to their heroes, The Hermits. And Karl was EXTREMELY complimentary to all that Peter Noone has continued to do with his own career, which makes him one of the top drawing acts on the oldies circuit today. And please don't take my comments to be mean-spirited ... do not think for even one moment that I don't fully believe that a person of Karl Green's stature deserves the right to still pursue some type of musical career. He most certainly does.
But I grew up in the era of the Beef And Barrell, Ground Round, Come Back Inn, Shakey's Pizza restaurants that presented live music from a stage that usually included one or two acoustic performers who sang their songs in front of silent movies being shown on the screen behind them. And despite some pretty limited resources, MOST of these acts were pretty damn good ... they kept the show going, providing listenable and enjoyable songs and entertainment to dine by. I can only say that the duo of Karl Green and Mike Bruccoleri that we saw that Tuesday Night couldn't have even passed the audition to perform at one of these places.
Green did a fair share of story-telling but almost always presented himself as being too drunk at the time to fully engage and participate in whatever event he happened to be talking about. (And even at that we found some falsehoods in some of the tales he told ... so not quite the enlightening "fly on the wall" experience we were hoping for.)
In closing, let me just say that I respect Karl Green's right to go out there and sing his songs and tell his stories ... but I chose not to sit thru them myself ... and cannot in good conscience encourage you to go see this show either. (Go see Peter Noone instead ... you'll have a MUCH better time!!!) kk
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
9/1/66 - The Byrds opened an eleven-night stand at the
Whisky-A-Go-Go in Hollywood, California.
