The Top Ten Concerts of 2018 (Part 2)

The countdown continues today of our 2018 Concert Favorites ...  

#5 – Sergio Mendes – February 25^th – The City Winery – Chicago, IL  

After seeing Herb Alpert and Lani Hall in 2017, we just HAD to see Sergio Mendes when he performed at The City Winery this year.  

Mendes painted a beautiful blend of sounds, hits and rhythms … and generated one of the most enthusiastic crowds I’ve ever seen at the typically a bit more reserved City Winery.  

Herb’s coming back to this venue in 2019 … and we’re hoping to see him again.  We’re ALSO hoping that Sergio will make a return engagement … as this is a GREAT show featuring some incredible music.

 

Original concert review:  

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/02/sergio-mendes.html   

#4 – Dave Mason and Steve Cropper – July 11^th – The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL  

As soon as I heard about this pairing, I thought it would make for an interesting show … yet I didn’t snap the tickets up right away.  I had already seen Dave Mason a few times and figured he’d be doing much of the same material I’d already witnessed before … so the appeal of seeing legendary guitarist extraordinaire Steve Cropper was the real drawing card for me.  

When Ron Onesti asked me to come out and review the show, I jumped … all in … and am SO glad I did.  It was, without question, one of the best shows I saw all year.  

The two played extremely well off one another … and Cropper’s a great storyteller.  (Man, the list of songs this guy played on will blow you away!)  

Great show … so thank you again, Ron, for inviting me out.  I’d be kicking myself for sure had I missed this one.  (How good was it???  It was good enough to make #4 on our Top Ten Concerts List for 2018!!!)

Original Concert Review:

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/07/concert-review-dave-mason-and-steve.html

#3 – The Fab Four – February 9^th – The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL  

It is EXTREMELY rare for us to list a “cover band” as one of our best shows … in fact, I think the only time we’ve ever done it before was for The Orchestra, who actually topped our annual concert list a short while back.  

But these guys are incredible.

We first saw them as part of the 50 Summers Of Love Tour, featuring Micky Dolenz and Mark Lindsay, the year before, and they blew us away … so we just HAD to witness the full, complete show experience.  And they did not disappoint.  

Playing letter-perfect versions of songs The Beatles themselves couldn’t reproduce on stage, this show is a complete delight from start to finish.  (And the fact that it took place on the 54^th Anniversary of The Beatles’ first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show just made the whole experience that much cooler!)  

Check them out the next time they hit your area.  (We liked them so much we ran a YouTube clip of their entire concert!!!)

 

Original Concert Review:

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-fab-four.html

#2 – The Orchestra – November 11^th – The Arcada Theatre – St. Charles, IL  

And, speaking of The Orchestra, here they are again!  

These guys are incredible.   

Yes, Jeff Lynne is out touring again … (guess where he placed on this year’s Top Ten List!!!)  I don’t know what connection, if any, he may still have with these former members of various incarnations of ELO, but he can be proud that his music is being presented in the most professional and respectful way.  They do it justice in every regard and pay full tribute to the genius of Jeff Lynne.  

Once again, one of the best live shows we’ve ever seen … unless, of course, you count the original … who sits at #1 this year!

Original review:

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/11/the-sunday-comments-11-11-18.html

#1 – Jeff Lynne’s ELO – August 15^th – The Allstate Arena – Rosemont, IL  

Seriously ...

Was there ever really any doubt?  

I mean, how could this NOT be the top show of 2018???  

ELO music performed to perfection with a HUGE band of top-notch musicians, featuring the guy who created it all.  It just doesn't get any better than this.  

Lynne hadn’t toured The States for 35 years (incredibly, he’s already coming back again in 2019 ... and yes, we've got our tickets!) so this was a VERY hot ticket to be had … and Frannie scored us some GREAT seats.  

The show is an absolute spectacle, brilliantly performed, orchestrated and executed.  Great laser light effects … and impeccable sound … this was the one to see in 2018 … and we are SO glad we did.  

We love ya, Jeff … and can’t wait to see you again next year!

 

 

 

Original review:  

forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/08/concert-review-jeff-lynnes-elo-allstate.html

(No ... we couldn't get our picture taken with the master ... but here was the look of utter joy and enchantment on our faces just before the concert began) ...

So there you have it … our Concert Year In Review for 2018 …  

Other shows we saw this year included Peter and Jeremy (twice, actually … once on their own at The City Winery and again at The Fest For Beatles Fans, where they appeared with our good FH Buddy Billy J. Kramer), Tony Orlando and Dawn, Vince Gill and Amy Grant’s Christmas Show, Lou Christie and Felix Cavaliere, The Happy Together Show, Ann Wilson of Heart (which we be shown as a PBS Soundstage Special) and a few others … but these were the cream of the crop.  

And we’ll be back out there again next year … LOTS of great acts we’re looking forward to seeing.  

Thanks to all of these artists and venues for keeping this music alive.  It’s our lifeblood.

kk

Kent Kotal

Forgotten Hits

Top Ten Concerts of 2018 (Part One)

Every year around this time we take a look back at all the concerts and events we saw during the past year and salute the “Best In Show.”  

Looking over the list, we definitely scaled things back this year … in fact, the list of shows we were SUPPOSED to see (or had planned to see) is longer than the list of shows we actually made it to.  (Sometimes it just works out that way!)  

Still, we were witness to plenty of outstanding performances this past year … so here is our list of Best Concerts, 2018 … (also scaled back to just a Top Ten this year since our total number of concert experiences were down!)  

#10 – A Tie:  Freddy Cannon, Jay Siegel and The Tokens and Larry Chance and The Earls, alll part of the Doo-Wop Show held at The Arcada Theatre on July 15^th … and Chuck Negron and The Box Tops, also at The Arcada Theatre, on May 4^th   

These were both shows we played a hand in bringing to The Arcada Theatre … and they did not disappoint.  

We had never been to a Doo-Wop Concert before (and, quite honestly, I’m not sure that headliner Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon even qualifies for this distinction!) 'cause The Arcada was definitely rockin’ this night.  (Freddy has been a Forgotten Hits Reader for YEARS and we’ve talked and emailed hundreds of times … but this was the first time the two of us got to meet in person.)  He even called me up on stage for the encore!!!  Plus I got to meet his lovely wife Jeanette (and Svengholie, too!!!)

 

 

Larry Chance and The Earls put on a very entertaining show ... Jay Siegel had the crowd in the palm of his hand as his trademark falsetto never wavered … and Freddy was in great voice … and fine form … as he rocked the house.  (And let me tell you, the audience response was fantastic … here’s hoping he’ll be invited back real soon!) 

 

You can read our original concert reviews here:  

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/07/doo-wop-concert-review-part-1-featuring.html

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/07/freddy-boom-boom-cannon-concert-review.html

Tying for #10 was the pairing of Chuck Negron and The Box Tops.  (We have been pushing to bring The Box Tops to The Arcada ever since they reformed the band.  They were one of the highlights of the Happy Together a couple of years ago … and band leader Rick Levy has been a friend of Forgottten Hits for several years.)

 

 
Chuck Negron has spent the better part of his last dozen summers touring as part of The Happy Together Tour, too … so it was nice to see him expand his own set to include several more of his hits with Three Dog Night. 

Chuck was extremely complementary to his former bandmates Cory Wells and Danny Hutton … and thanked them for the success they brought him over the past fifty years.
 

Original concert reviews:  http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/05/a-triple-play-concert-review.html

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/04/forgotten-hits-interviews-box-tops.html

#9 – AL JARDINE – The City Winery – April 2^nd   

What a pleasant surprise this show was!

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect when I heard that Al was doing some solo shows between dates with The Brian Wilson Band … but what we got was a somewhat chronological look back at the history of The Beach Boys, complete with some great photos and stories.  

I have maintained for years now that Al has the best voice amongst the remaining originals from the band that took the country by storm back in the early ‘60’s … and how they were able to manage to create such a complete sound with just three musicians on stage playing acoustic instruments is still a complete mystery to me … but they sure were good!

Al's a great storyteller with a great sense of humor ... and this was a really fun show to see.

Original concert reviews:

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/04/al-jardine-concert-review-part-1.html

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/04/al-jardine-concert-reviews-part-2.html

#8 – JIM PETERIK’S “THROUGH THE EYE OF THE TIGER” SHOWCASE – September 15^th at The Jam Lab  

Jim has been a Forgotten Hits Reader and contributor for years now.  This one man show / career retrospective was outstanding.  Jim is a great story-teller and has a very endearing way of making you feel as though it's just the two of you having a private conversation as he looks back over his entire career.  (Pick up a copy of his book, also titled “Through The Eye Of The Tiger” and see for yourself!)  

As if Peterik doesn’t already have enough to do between solo shows featuring re-imagining renditions of his best-known songs, shows he still does with The Ides Of March, acting as the back-up band to all of the acts featured on the Cornerstones Of Rock shows, and putting on his annual World Stage Concerts, he’s now booking dates for 2019 doing his one-man solo show.  Jim Peterik is the only artist to make this year’s Top Ten Concerts List TWICE … his January World Stage Show ranks at #6 … and The Ides Of March show presented at The City Winery in May was a close runner-up!  (He sang himself hoarse that night ... and the crowd loved it!)

Original concert review:

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/09/wrapping-up-week-of-killer-reviews-with.html

#7 – BURTON CUMMINGS – March 24^th – The Arcada Theatre  

Burton Cummings NEVER disappoints in concert … and this show at The Arcada was no exception.  

Performing his up close and personal set, he took us through a wide range of hits that could be performed by just one man sitting at the piano.  (So no … no “American Woman” tonight!!!)  

 

Rumors of a Randy Bachman / Burton Cummings tour for 2019 continue … and we DO know that they’ll be filming a brand new Soundstage episode together for PBS.  (We have just GOT to be there for this one!!!)  

Cummings has made our list of concert favorites every year he’s performed here.  If you still haven’t seen him, do yourself a favor and check it out … either up close and alone … or with his rockin’ band.  

Original concert review: 

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/03/burton-cummings-up-close-and-alone-live.html

#6 – Jim Peterik’s World Stage – January 20^th - Wentz Concert Hall – Naperville, IL  

We had never been to a World Stage before … and this was Jim’s 19^th year of putting on this incredible show.  

Highlighting all different kinds of music, his son Colin is also involved … and you can always rely on The Ides Of March to make an appearance … along with a couple of very special (and often surprise) guests.  

This year’s featured attraction was Mark Farner, formerly of Grand Funk Railroad … and this guy has still got it.  Mark performed a very entertaining, high energy set.  

Also joining Jim Peterik on stage were Dave Bickler, original lead singer of Survivor, as well as quick guest spots by Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick … and original Chicago Drummer Danny Seraphine (who brought his own guitarist with him from CTA, who proceeded to absolutely rock the house!)

Next year’s World Stage concert takes place in just a few weeks … and it’s already sold out.  Joining Jim on stage for the 20^th Anniversary Show will be David Pack, former lead singer of Ambrosia, and Gary Wright.  It takes place January 12^th at Wentz Hall.  (Here’s hoping he’ll do a second show again this year ... 'cause we'd REALLY love to see this one!)  

Original concert review:

http://forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com/2018/02/jim-peteriks-world-stage-concert-review.html

The countdown continues tomorrow in Forgotten Hits ...

Don't miss our Top Five Favorites of 2018!!!

A Few Of Your Saturday Survey Comments

Hey Kent:
For the sake of accuracy, Clark Besch was wrong about The Hollies tune on the KOOK Saturday Survey.
I was living in London at the time and "Listen To Me" was not a cover of the Buddy Holly tune. An honest assumption, I suppose, but it was penned by UK songwriter Tony Hazzard. It reached #11 in the UK.
Hazzard had six of his songs in the UK top twenty in the late Sixties. "Fox On The Run" was another one he wrote, reaching UK #5, but largely ignored by American radio. I can still remember seeing Manfred Mann performing it on TOP OF THE POPS.
Did you know that The Country Gentlemen recorded it in 1970 and "Fox On The Run" has gone on to become a bluegrass standard in the repertoire of many bands of that genre? Country singer songwriter Tom T. Hall took it into the Billboard Country Charts top ten in 1976. UK rockers The Sweet had a worldwide smash hit in 1975 with a completely different single also titled "Fox On The Run."
Mike Gentry

Hi Kent:
Just an FYI … the Hollies Song "Listen To Me" is not the Buddy Holly Song. It's written by T. Hazzard. I believe it is the last Hollies 45 that Graham Nash is on.   
Ken Freck 
The Hollies single “Listen To Me” bubbled under for exactly one week in Billboard, peaking at #129 … and it’s been gone forever ever since (unless, of course, you’re a Forgotten Hits Reader … where the oldies NEVER die!!!)
You can definitely hear Graham Nash singing on this one … but it really isn’t very good … and certainly not up to par with what the band was capable of.  (And to think that THIS one they liked … but “Marrakesh Express” they didn’t!!!  lol)  kk

It was very refreshing to see one of the "Criminally Forgotten" Blackstones, Jeff Boyan, (Blackstones >  Saturday's Children > H. P. Lovecraft), mentioned in the Saturday Survey article. Don't forget that 50% of The Blackstones alumni played in that band. Gerry McGeorge, (Blackstones > Shadows of Knight > H. P. Lovecraft) also played in the band. The Blackstones were a pretty damn good mid 60s band.  
Robert Campbell

Hi Kent -
Thanks for the piece on me. That brings back a lot of memories ! 
My national radio show is doing good ... it airs every first Tuesday, 8PM NY time, streamed live on youtube ... except for the January show, which will be on the second Tuesday, the 12th. 
Our December show featured my 1976 Maui Album.  I got six orders for the Maui Album on CD after the show aired ... it's still posted at youtube. 
Thanks again for posting the HMS Bounty & Fapardokly info and photos ... and for sending me the KOOK radio chart that I had never seen!
All My Best For The Holidays,
Merrell

I saw the Clint Eastwood movie The Mule over the weekend.  The Spiral Staircase song More Today Than Yesterday is in the soundtrack and figures in dialogue later in the movie.  There are some other old tunes, but most are classic country songs. 

I have enjoyed the 1968 charts that you have posted on Saturdays.  Is there a chance that 1969 will be featured in 2019?

Phil - WRCO

As a matter of fact ...

The year is winding down ... we've only got two more Saturday Surveys left ... by which time we will have covered all fifty states ... plus Washington D.C. and Canada!  Scroll back to see any that you may have missed as our Fifty Year Salute to 1968 comes to an end.  (Next year, we'll be revisiting 1969 ... with special highlight features running throughout the year ... as well as EVERY WLS Hit Parade Survey released that year ... courtesy of long-time FH Reader Jack Levin.  It all kicks off on January 6th ... which means that next year we'll be running The Sunday Survey!!!)

Meanwhile, we've still got some special features to wrap up 1968 ahead before we call it a day ... as well as our choices for the ten best concerts of 2018 ... so please continue to check the website daily through the end of the year ... and beyond!  (kk)