I’m not very fond a Han0i Roy

Today I went to see my friend M’s husband B sing with “his” band.  Today they were doing a Band and friends performance at an outdoor event supporting “our troops” and POWMIA’s.  The average age there was probably 70.

There were 3 bands on before the Band and friends.  There was an A Capella doo-wop group with great bass singer. They had just started to sing when I got there and I really enjoyed them.  They did a great rendition of “60 minute man,” which I do think has other meanings from a 70 year old, but I’m just a cynic.

Then came the Roy Orbison wannabe.  Who wants to be Roy?  I mean, the guy is dead.  If Roy weren’t dead, listening to this guy woulda killed him. It was truly painful to listen to–not as fun as most tribute shows and no singing talent.  None.  It seemed like his set went foreverforeverforever.  B said to M, “don’t ever let me do that to myself.”

Then another doo-wop group with some kind of backing track came out.  After Roy, they were the greatest singers in the universe and very good showmen.

Finally it was time for the Band and friends (average age 40-something)–the only band I saw with 2 guitars, a bass and a drummer (who missed the gay pride parade to be there), as well as a keyboard friend, the regualr lead singer and the other singing “friends.”  I’ve heard them before and normally they sing their own material, but this was a covers-only event.  The “and friends” were relatives of the bass-player who are professional singers and all I can say is that they did a fantastic set.  I was worried that Aretha, the Stones and especially Janis Joplin might be too cutting edge for the crowd, but fortunately they ate it up.  The lead singing was great and the sisters (plus boyfriend opera singer) did melodious harmonies and back-up singing.  The audience seemed psyched–the guy in front of me shook his maracas in time with the backup singers’ tambourines and someone else tried to choreograph some version of “the wave” along with one of the songs.   They ended with “J0y to the World”–I’m a sucker for that one.

Then some other band of 70-something Republicans came on and I had to flee the scene.  This kind of event gets very few people here in NY and that makes it hard for the musicians, but at least I didn’t feel surrounded by crazies. Or not more than usual.

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