Man, what a ball we had Sunday Night at The Arcada Theatre. The entire audience was under the spell of John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band ...
And they were lovin' it!
(In fact most of them stood up throughout the entire 90 minute performance ... and several others were up dancing in the aisles and in front of the stage. It was a real party!!!)
Cafferty and Company rocked the house, playing a wide assortment of their classic hits as well as songs from their recently released album “Sound Of Waves.” (The stripped-down title cut from this LP got one of the biggest ovations of all … as did all of the obvious choices: “Tough All Over,” “On The Dark Side” … which they played SECOND … a REAL surprise as this is clearly his best known track and would typically lend itself to be the show closer or encore hit ... “Tender Years,” “Voice Of America’s Sons,” “C-I-T-Y” (which WAS the show closer … and has always been one of my favorites), “Wild Summer Nights” and “Runaround Sue,” which John said he played for me because I asked him before the show if he was going to do any covers tonight. (“I hadn’t planned on it,” he told me ... "but I slipped this one in for ya!")
The intensity of the show never stopped … The Beaver Brown Band are well-seasoned players that really drive these songs home.
Gary Gramolini, the lead guitarist, has been with him every step of the way … some 50+ years now … and Ronnie Dee, filling in on sax after the unexpected departure of Michael “Tunes” Antunes, never missed a step. (Ronnie’s got his own band which is starting to make a name for themselves … we ran their brand new video “Happy Hour” the other day in FH ... scroll back to Sunday's post in case you missed it.) We also told you that Ronnie’s dad is the legendary Joey Dee of "Peppermint Twist" fame, who I’m hoping will soon be a Forgotten Hits contributor, sharing some of his incredible rock and roll memories with our readers.
When I first interviewed John back in April of this year I told him that we would figure out a way to get him out to Chicago for a show this year and boy am I glad that we did.
https://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2025/04/forgotten-hits-interviews-john-cafferty.html
Special thanks to Ron Onesti who I’m sure will be bringing them back again based on the enthusiastic response they received from the crowd. (Actually, I think they're already talking about it!)
(Not pictured: Drummer Don Culp, Bass Player Dean Cassell and Sax Man Ronnie Dee)
John said they had to do an abbreviated set due to time constraints … they normally play for 2 1/2 - 3 hours! ... but we all got a great dose of Rhode Island Rock and Roll! (kk)
SET LIST:
Tough All Over
On The Dark Side
Runaround Sue
Under The Boardwalk / Boardwalk Angel
Palisades
A Day In The Sun
Blue California (Turn Your Radio Up)
Hearts On Fire
Voice Of America’s Sons
Sound of Waves
Where The Action Is
Wild Summer Nights
Some Like It Hot
Blue Moonlight Drive
Tender Years
C – I – T - Y
Encore:
Garden Of Eden (Same Old Story Ever Since The World Began)
Send A Message To You
Pride And Passion
Just A Matter Of Time
