WE ARE FINALLY HAPPY TOGETHER IN CONNECTICUT!
I
have read and listened to all your comments about your own Happy
Together experiences. Now it is time for me to give mine.
I remind us
that each concert is its own, in its entirety, and can vary, but there
can also be found a commonality from venue to venue. Much of what I saw
and heard, you saw and heard as well - in the same order, in the same
whelp of entertainment. Happy Together is a fast paced,
multi-dimensional presentation, tightly formed to give each observer the
same possibility of consistency and experience.
The
couple who sit next to me are at odds with each other. HE wants to be
here. SHE came only because he wanted to, and he promised a Santana
concert if she came with him tonight. She says to me, "I wish I had your
number. He could have brought you." Remember her reluctance as we
"concert" together.
With an
all-star cast, you open strong ... no matter who starts. The Cowsills
have been the opening act since they started their participation in the
tours. Paul and Bob in their early 70s and Susan who has hit 64 (when I
get older ... ). I only make a point of this because Paul keeps repeating
it over and over, until Susan says, "Just HOW OLD are you?" Paul is
still able to jump and leap around the stage and when Susan removes her
guitar from her shoulder, she joins in with a tambourine and gypsy dance
movements. Bob is saddled at the mic with a guitar, but somebody has to
be lead singer. I marvel at the ways Paul and Susan fly over hurdles to
make it back to their mics just in time to add harmonies. We will see
them at the finale. I wonder if they keep bouncing backstage until then
or if they crash and take a nap.
1. The Rain, The Park and Other Things
2. We Can Fly
3. Indian Lake
4. Love American Style
5. Hair
'Love
American Style' was totally forgotten by these siblings for "decades"
until fans brought it to their attention. "You know you sang that theme
song?!" "Oh, yeah. We did."
'Hair'
is performed with an original video of The Cowsills in long wigs acting
it out and peppered with 60s hair ads for Dippity-Do and Hair Spray
Clips. So fun to see again. GREAT harmonies, and The Happy Together Band
is on point.
The next two
acts will fill in my romantic needs. Even the woman next to me (remember
she doesn't want to be here) goes "Oooooh!" and sings along with both
groups.
The Classics IV are
represented by lead singer Tom Garrett and saxophonist Kevin Lloyd. OH
WOW! Those sax solos are so strong played live! Kevin's interpretation
is mellow, rich and very accomplished musically. To remember each song
and just who you were with at the time is the past flooding over you.
1. Every Day with You Girl
2. Stormy
3.Traces of Love
4. Spooky
'Traces
of Love' never made it past the #2 mark on the charts. So what was this
song that kept it from moving up? One would think it would be another
passionate love song that battled it out. Weeeeellll .... it was 'Dizzy'
by Tommy Roe. Love song? Yes. A younger type of love song that
represented the younger teen-set. I have to admit that at the time, I
would have related better to 'Dizzy' than 'Traces.' Now, 'Traces' has me
hands down.
The Vogues
open with 'Five O'Clock World.' They have spoken that the music is fun
and people used it for their weddings, proms, special events and have
pleasant memories surrounding each of them. Watching the audience melt
into each other's arms or go misty-eyed and smile gives them the rush
that their harmonies give us.
1. Five O'Clock World
2. My Special Angel
3. Turn Around, Look at Me
4. You're the One
No
matter where or when I hear 'Turn Around, Look at Me' (even if I am the
one playing it) I stop, smile and fall into a world of romantic fantasy.
I am a calm smiling happy camper as the Intermission begins.
Gary
Puckett is heading out to open the second act. 'Lady Willpower' is his
opener and as he sings it to the women in front, I see them reach out
and swoon. It is even more interesting when he removes the Union Jacket a
few songs later. They scream! "It happens every time! Do they think I'm
undressing?" I don't know, Gary. Maybe they think you are nude
underneath? I am not condemning them. I remember the time Carl
Giammarese sang 'Worst That Could Happen' to me from the stage of the
Wolf Den. My friend said I looked "Gob-smacked"
1. Lady Willpower
2. Over You
3.This Girl Is A Woman Now
4. Woman, Woman
5. Young Girl
When
Gary went into Studio A to record 'This Girl is a Woman Now,' the rich
piano intro began and then the orchestra came in with a billowing
crescendo and ... Gary did NOT come in with lyrics. He was too mesmerized
by the beauty of the instrumentals and froze listening. This audience
thinks that was funny. Gary thought it was funny at the time, too. Gary
put his lyrics on later. The producer? Well, his sense of humor was not
as sharp as ours.
Remember
the changes/restrictions Ed Sullivan put on several performers? Elvis
had to be photographed from the waist up. The Rolling Stones and The
Doors were told to change their lyrics. He got 50% compliance from that
one. What I did not know was that Gary Puckett and the Union Gap were
told to change the lyrics of 'Young Girl'.
"Cause I'm afraid we'll go too far"
Gary had to change it to: "How can this love of ours go on?"
Oh
man,, I had to confirm this. I brought up the video and WHALLA! It is
true. Also, Gary starts to smirk just before he delivers the line,
catches himself and continues on. Mr. Sullivan, the times they have
a'changed!
I have heard how
many of you have relished in Little Anthony's performances on The Happy
Together Tour. And the reason is that he is back to being his Mr.
Showman and entertaining self. No pretenses, all honesty.
Before Covid,
Anthony was having leg issues and was suffering from intense allergy
problems that were physically miserable. He performed, he sang, but he
was in agony ... no smiles. Tonight, the fun and goofiness have returned
to his stage act.
1. Tears On My Pillow
2. Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko-Bop
3. Hurts So Bad
4. Going Out Of My Head
'Going
Out of My Head' sold 4 million records. Listening to Anthony sing this
and all of his songs tonight leaves no question in anybody's mind as to
why. The audience feels his emotions.."You don't remember me, but I
remember you." That is a line that everyone can put in a time and place.
Maybe you never got to say it, but there is a spot inside of you that
feels it.
Anthony hates
'Shimmy Shimmy Ko-Ko Bop'.
No, really.
He appreciates that we bought the
record, but he hates the song. This is where he can play goofy; dancing
and wiggling around to eradicate his disdain. Immediately, he follows it
with his favorite: "Hurts So Bad". It reminds him of his first love
affair. Something is fishy here, as The Happy Together Band starts
snickering behind their hands and making faces at each other.
"I was 12 years old."
OK.
Got it! This "love affair" side-tracked Anthony from his passion of
basketball (in itself a comical sports choice for "LITTLE" Anthony) and
broke his heart with a pre-teen rejection. It was doomed from the
start.
He was amazing tonight. Spot on vocally! Visually active and entertaining. He made himself a crowd favorite.
The
introduction of The Turtles always makes them sound as if they did
everything but invent bottled water. Mark Vollman and Ron Dante move
around in shadow as the voice drones on. Oh mind you, it's all true and
the bored actions from the stage just intensifies the joke.
1. She'd Rather Be with Me
2. You Baby
3. It Ain't Me Babe
4. You Showed Me
5. Sugar Sugar
6. Elenore
7. Happy Together
Yes,
I will address the elephant in the room. But I have a different opinion
than many of you.
Based on previous Happy Together Tours, what I saw
tonight was primarily staged. No matter the health issues, I think the
show would have looked very similar to what was presented tonight.
Friends of mine agreed. No one around me felt anything but fun and
humor. I saw a show filled with hope and joy.
Mark's
portrayal of 'It Ain't Me Babe' sung as the true Dylan song it is, was
hilarious. And he knew it. Ron's vocals were a hit on all the songs. The
Band introduction was a ping pong match of "Keyboardist with lots of
years of experience: Greg!" Bass player raises hand and says, "No, I'm
Greg!" After relating every band he could think of that Godfrey Townsend
ever played in, Godfrey said to Mark, "Are you going to tell them my
name, or should I?"
The Happy Together Band:
Greg Smith - bass
Chris Camilleri - drums
Manny Focarazzo - keyboards
Godfrey Townsend - guitar/musical director
These musicians were onstage all night, and as such are really the backbone of this tour.
And what do we do when we get to the end? ...
Start all over again.
Bring everyone out and just be Happy Together.
This review will end in 5 minutes
4 minutes
3 minutes
2 minutes
1 minute
THIRTY SECONDS
Bye,
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
And here's a quick Happy Together Tour update from Shelley ...
I just
received word from Mark Dawson that The Grass Roots will be added to
the tour for August 5th (Owensboro, KY) and August 6th (Northfield, Ohio)
These are not dates from the original tour schedule, but then neither was CT. More info as I get it.
Shelley
Over the years, they've been pretty good about offering up "substitute" entertainment if and when one of their regular performers had a scheduling conflict. (The Buckinghams have benefited from this situation a number of times in the past.)
If these dates were last-minute adds (on dates that the regular performers thought they were off), this becomes an EXCELLENT way to still give the audience a top notch evening of '60's music entertainment. (kk)
