Shelley just saw a double bill featuring two of the biggest recording acts of the '60's ...
And she's here to tell you all about it!
Sixteen minutes east of Mohegan Sun there is another
casino. Foxwoods stands tall and turquoise as I drive into the parking
garage. I could say something snarky like everyone should enjoy both
Indigenous Peoples casinos before they send ICE to send us all back to
our homelands. Too late. I said it. Don't start hitting me with facts
that ICE does not work them, etc. I am just trying to add humor to
troubled times. I am also proud of this audience on June 26th that
looked past any possible quarrels and histories to fully enjoy, dance,
and sing through the night.
Two
powerful groups appear here in a three-hour non-stop (except for
intermission) high energy show. Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone
opens. The Beach Boys close. I choose to start with a narration of the
performers.
Herman's
Hermits starring Peter Noone not only boasts their front man and
namesake but is always supported by the high-quality musicianship of
Vance Brescia, Billy Sullivan (back from knee surgery) and Jimmy Herter
on guitars. Rich Spina on keyboards and (wild) Dave Ferrara on drums
complete a solid and tightly glued unit that never fails to impress. The
audience adores them. 18 songs, including Herman's Hermits hits, covers
and the arrival of Johnny Cash and Mick Jagger recreations have the
audience standing and cheering, while watching Peter intermingle with
the audience, (twice when ushers bring people to seats that require
walking in front of him while he is standing amongst us.) Has no one
(noone) ever joined the audience level before?
The Beach Boys have their front runners: Mike Love and Bruce Johnston. The complete stage band includes: Jon Bolton on drums and lead vocals on Wild Honey and California Dreamin', Tim Bonhomme on keyboards along with Bruce Johnston, Brian Eichenberger on guitar, high harmonies and vocals, Keith Hubacher on bass, Randy Leago on woodwinds, Christian Love on guitar and vocals for God Only Knows and Good Vibrations and John Wedemeyer on lead guitar.
Now
to address the elephant in the room ...
Brian and his wife openly admit
they gave Mike the license to use The Beach Boys name, and he pays fees
to them for its use. Brian figured it was best to allow a cousin its
use. This can be heard in a Larry King interview. So, we have jumped
over that hurdle. Next, the ill-will between Mike and Brian.
The
tribute videos to Brian and Carl are a love story. It shows Brian and
Mike laughing, working and playing together through the years. Carl's
video adds Christian Love to the mix as he is seen with his Uncle Carl, whom he now emulates. The first thing that comes into my mind is Lennon
and McCartney. So much is focused on their disagreements and fights, as
well as George and Ringo. Now that I think about it, there are more
groups who fought themselves apart than that have stayed together. For
news people, the row is the thing! For me, the love that was there, if
only for a moment, is the thing. The video salute to Dennis was not
present but he was constantly shown in video throughout the show. Mike
was not looking nor sounding as strong as he did last year. Did the
audience around me notice? Apparently not! The couple next to me (and
several years younger) reacted with, "Wasn't that all a great concert?"
as we stood up to leave.
I wax nostalgic. Too many good-byes recently. Too many "if onlys" in the air.
18
Hermits songs, 30 Beach Boys songs. A packed Premier Theatre. Not one
unhappy person leaving. Good vibrations and something good in
conversations around me. I can't ask for more. I accept there were
issues and problems. There may be regrets. God only knows there was a
wonderful world here tonight.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
A video of this concert can be found here:
(I will admit that The Beach Boys portion of this video is very hard to watch ...
Mike Love looks like he's suffering up there as he struggles to squeak out anything resembling an in-tune vocal. [Shelley tells me that they sounded better than this live, but admits that the video isn't very flattering. Mike taking over the lead vocal on "Sloop John B." just may be the worst I've ever heard him.]
Peter Noone, on the other hand, is his usual entertaining self. I really hate to give in to the idea that we may have come to the end of the road with many of our '60's favorites. Some, like Peter, can still pull it off ... but it's downright painful watching some of the others. - kk)
