If you only have one concert for the month of December, it should be a Christmas concert. So, on December 13th, I headed out to Long Island to the famous Westbury Music Fair. Correction: for TODAY, it is named Flagstar at Westbury. This performance center has had almost as many name changes as it has had years in service. I will be watching An Olde English Christmas starring The Buckinghams and Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone.
I have never seen this Christmas show before, so I am anxious to see just what the differences are between this and their usual pop concerts
It turns out ... Not as much as you might think. BUT the differences are major. This review is to convey these differences.
The Buckinghams emerge down the red carpet and onto the rotating stage. Their outfits are what each one traditionally wears with the added colors of red and green shirts and/or ties. Played down festivity maybe but they open with a seasonal song: 'I'll Make Time for Christmas.' This is one of my favorite contemporary Christmas songs and since it was written by Vance Brescia, HHSPN guitarist and kicker extraordinaire, it is not selected by chance, I am sure. Each of the Bucks are highlighted during the show as they perform their winning 60s hits. As I watch drummer Tommy Scheckle, I see a grown version of the kid in school with the perpetual grin who just wanted to have fun and drove the band conductors crazy ripping up his drumheads and breaking his sticks. No damage done here tonight but he certainly is enjoying himself.
The sixth number is 'Have a Little Faith' by Carl Giammarese. I also have this cozy number on cd. How nice to hear contemporary and traditional (coming later) seasonal songs at this show.
From 'Meet Me in St Louis' their eighth song is 'Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas'. The audience is responding loudly to this part of the show with standing ovations, applause and cheers. ‘Tis the season to be jolly.
Which brings me to the moment an "elf" comes down the red carpet, pant legs pulled up, so his contrasting Old Glory and Union Jack socks show clearly and a pair of elf pants on his head. No names will be revealed but Nick Fortuna earned his Christmas stocking this year completing the song 'Expressway to your Heart' before this elfin spectre disappeared.
Part two brings Santa running down the red carpet, Ho-Ho-Ho-ing his way to the stage bringing along a keyboard elf to give us an instrumental of 'Greensleeves.' The final note is rung on a triangle by Dave Ferrara, wearing a Santa hat. This is followed by 'Vindaloo' as another elf comes onstage and all set up with their instruments next to the rotating stage, leaving one mic onstage for the Olde English Christmas Caroler, Peter Noone.
The fifth song is 'Winter Wonderland,' but the romance fades when the singer suggests that they "sit in the fire" rather than "dream by the fire".
The song 'When A Child Is Born' takes over the number 12 slot and from many in the audience I hear the words, "That is now my favorite song."
A ray of hope flickers in the
sky
A tiny star lights up way up high
All across the land, dawns a brand new morn
This comes to pass when a Child is born
'Oh Holy Night' finds all five performers center stage singing acapella harmonies. From what I have read, this used to be their starting song. I am not sure if they have added 'Greensleeves' or if 'Oh Holy Night' came after that. Actually, I would be surprised if they have not changed it up from year to year and venue to venue.
Something that has not changed over the years is their rendition of the Sex Pistols 'Jingle Bells.' Number 19 in the order, it gets the audience up out of their seats, shouting the lyrics and pumping their arms. I wonder how many people went home hoarse and sore?
As we move toward the end of the show, the opening strains of 'Mrs. Brown' is heard with the lyrics "Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, had a very shiny nose" coming out of the banned's mouths. Try it at home. It works. 'Mrs. Brown' is sung after Rudolph's successful flight that saves Santa's Christmas deliveries.
After 'Kinda Hush'? This is usually the end that is followed by bows and cheers. Tonight, we follow it with 'Silent Night.' The reason for this season. Or at least the reason for an Olde English Christmas.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
I have seen The Buckinghams’ Christmas Show a few times over the years … always a magnificent performance (and the fact that Carl recorded a Christmas album on his own, with new material that he had written, is the real bonus!) Never seen Herman’s Hermits do a Christmas set ‘tho, so that had to be pretty cool and interesting.
(The Ides Of March and The Cowsills also put on beautiful Christmas shows, incorporating their hits into a Christmas setting.)
The Buckinghams, The Box Tops and The Grass Roots have a show coming up here in early February … that’s quite a line-up. Hoping we might get the chance to see that one! Thanks, Shelley! (kk)
MORE FROM SHELLEY:
>>>Oh wow ... Now THAT's an interesting cover!!! Have any of you guys seen this one before??? [Yeah ... it's a new year ... but the more things change, the more they stay the same!] kk
Have I??? No. Never saw this before, which must mean I read Forgotten Hits with my eyes closed or I am blind to the colors green and white.
