The Return of The Rascals

The Capitol Theatre, Port Chester, New York: Two Nights On Another Planet (Thursday and Saturday) December 2012

It took all of 40 plus years to put the bullshit behind them. But with the help of some friends America's Best Rock Ensemble of the 1960's returned to the stage for six glorious nights. The Rascals, our hit makers and the social consciousness for a generation reunited and it seems the four members, albeit a bit aged, were musically no less for the wear.

Billed as a "bio-concert" a full screen caught your attention as the curtains parted. Up on the screen is a little girl digging to Once Upon A Dream and then we see Ed Sullivan in all his TV splendor announcing "Ladies and gentlemen....The Rascals". Boom, the band immediately launched into "IT'S WONDERFUL" followed closely by "LONELY TOO LONG" and "WHAT IS THE REASON". Right there I had my money's worth, every thing else would be gravy. "YOU BETTER RUN", "CARRY ME BACK", followed by a segment explaining their early Rascals days at Ondine's and The Barge leading into "SLOW DOWN", "MICKEY'S MONKEY/ LOVE LIGHTS" medley. Too much.

 

"COME ON UP","BABY LET'S WAIT" and "TOO MANY FISH IN THE SEA", now we are cooking, the crowd is whipped into a frenzy. "IF YOU KNEW", "HOLD ON" and a vignette with actors portraying the band in it's formative years being offer a tune and the real guys lead into "AIN'T GONNA EAT OUT MY HEART ANYMORE". A moment later "GOOD LOVIN", and I'm thinking where do we go from here.
No breaks, no intermission, hey this is rock and roll man, suck it up.The guitar kicks in, Dino follows on drums, OH MY...."LOVE IS A BEAUTIFUL THING", then congas and Gene on harmonica have us "GROOVIN". The extended Hammond B-3 chord brings us to "DO YOU FEEL IT" with Gene killing on rhythm and lead, Felix holding the organ notes one handed while waving his other hand in the air asking us to have some fun. Eddie clapping two tambourines together, and Dino being Dino,this is Amazing.

"AWAY AND AWAY"  then bells, congas and Felix exclaiming to behold, "IT'S A BEAUTIFUL MORNING". I was sensing this might be coming to an end soon, but how wrong can one man be. A bit more video and Gene straps on an acoustic guitar leading us into "SUENO", back to electric for a psychedelic intro complete with a light show as Eddie asks us to "FIND SOMEBODY",  as the piano introduces..."A GIRL LIKE YOU". Hey there is a theme here. More extended images on the screen, more piano, congas and horns, "IT'S LOVE". It's Eddie turn and Felix's piano licks bring on "HOW CAN I BE SURE". I thought the place was crazy before, now it is definitely lifting off into outer space. A true STANDING OVATION followed by a bit more history on the screen and not just the band's history. Rather the history of Our Generation, "PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE", they have us now, clapping, dancing, singing; the building is shaking, "HEAVEN", "A RAY OF HOPE" and reprise of "PEOPLE GOT TO BE FREE". I actually have tears in my eyes as the band introduces the players. Waiting over 40 years was well worth it. But "one more"...."SEE"... Love is really everywhere, to see it is to fly .jazzbus@gmail.com.