After overcoming the magnanimously difficult challenge of securing passge into "The Village," I found myself squarely in front of the IMAC theater...for the second time in a year. The cab driver had suggested I get a Philly cheese steak across the streak ("Uh, you know, if you like cheese steaks.") since I had downtime, but I decided to take my chances inside. The lobby was devoid of clamoring fans as the curtain time was over 45 minutes away. I picked up my tickets and was momentarily pleased when I saw I would have 2nd row. Shortly thereafter I found out that I had 2nd row...stage left, WAY left. 100% Jeff Country. Ah, well. Before depositing my outwear, I ran into Phil just outside the theater doors, and we exchanged greetings. Frankly I was rather surpised that he remembered who I was from Oxygen, almost a month ago. But then again....
Anytime I trek to Long Island for any reason, I suddenly feel very urban. Don't get me wrong, I grew up in suburbia. I can't imagine that I got all that chic in just a few months. It must have always been there. I suppose the fact that I'm built in such a way that makes Times Square construction workers exclaim heartily, "Damn, honey, is all that real?" doesn't do much for a wallflower mentality. Perhaps it's the leather or the v-necks. Maybe I should stop wearing eyeliner..... Nah. After surverying the crowd, I became painfully aware that blending in was not going to be possible at the M&G.
I settled into my Stage Left Seat and waited. They were playing funk...funky funk...out of some very large speakers on the sides of the stage while the guys prepped. Personally I was a little unsure of how they decided that "Superfreak" was appropriate for a Rockapella audience (other than me), but I felt that the thumping strains of "Play that funky music, white boy" were quite resonant, under the circumstances. Ahem. In any case...
"I Am Your Man" opened the show. Scott was apparently taking a page from the Jeff Thacher School of Dressing with the layered look (using what looked like Bear's wardrobe, judging from the size of the shirt(s)). Kevin was, praises be, in his SB leather gear -- much to the vociferous appreciation of the crowd. ("It was cold back there!" he told me afterwards. "The dressing room was like 50 degrees!") Happily, the next selection was "Moments of You," which I hadn't seen live in months -- ok, granted, we did miss the first set in October at Count Basie. Always a rocking number, regardless. Another surpise was Elliott "We are not a doo-wop group" Kerman scatting his way into "Just You, Just Me," which suddenly made me realize how old I am, how old they are, and the fact that I still own the WITWICS album ON CASSETTE. Shoo.
Elliott then commented on the fact that, prior to the show, the five of them made an agreement to wear their holiday gear since it was the last show of the 2000 tour and the holidays were a little over a week away. He looked down mournfully at his red pants. "Boy, do I feel stupid," he said sheepishly. The other four -- draped in their normal dark-hued stage garb -- looked on, bemused. Kev patted El on the back. "Silver Bells" then made up for the lack of festive dressing on the part of 1/4 of the group. And I have to say this with all sincerity -- the sleigh bells scare me. They really do. Those kinds of sounds should not be coming out of a human being.
The newly platinum Bear then took centerstage to once again explain his plight of an early puberty. "My voice chnaged when I was ten," he pointed out. "I mean, it was cool at first, I could call girls up for dates. [rumbling bass tone] 'Yeah, hi, this is Barry...I was just wondering if you wanted to see a movie...And then my mommy could pick us up and we can go for ice cream.' " An fairly entertaining intro to the ever-delightfully-corny "16 Tons." After a smokin' rendition of "Use Me" and some more holiday cheer with "Santa Claus Is Comin To Town," the first set closed for intermission. The funk returned on the loud speakers. It was actually less assaultive on the ears than Jeff thumping away for almost an hour straight. Sitting near the speakers -- especially in Rhythm & Bass Country, aka Stage Left -- is not advised at IMAC.
After the break, the real funk of the evening returned. Kev broke into "Dancin' In The Streets," strutting up and down the stage to show off his cowhide-clad self. You know, I never quite understood the rabid enthusiasm that greets the performance of the Folgers jingle, the crowd was predictably racuous as soon as Scott sang "There's mornings we remember...." I figured that the most of the sold out house were new fans, their primary exposure being Folgers and the recent radio spots and TV appearances, like Oxygen and HSN. There seemed to be a sort of polite appreciation for songs like "Don't Do It" (which was preceeded by Elliott gushing over how he's taught Eli to "fake sneeze" -- "Thank God that's over" Bear ad-libbed after they started singing) or "Long Cool Woman." There were some in the crowd who squealed they're recognition for the standards, but most seemed somewhat shell-shocked.
When the time came to select the night's Pretty Woman, Kevin bounded off stage and hopped up into the mezzanine section. When he came back down, he was toting "Amazing" Grace, who had apparently pulled Kevin aside as he passed. He was so impressed with her boldness (especially from someone whho looked officially into Grandma Status) that he plucked her right out of her seat and brought her down to meet the other four onstage. Having better luck kneeling than he was in Santa Barbara, Kevin ab-libbed the night's "special song" -- called, funnily enough, "Gracie." And Ill be damned if Gracie did not shake her elderly booty all over that stage once they started up "Pretty Woman." I think even Scot was impressed. She was probably one of the best Pretty Women I've ever seen -- she seemed to have a great time. It's much more fun to watch someone who's having fun than someone who's so embarrassed all they can do it either cry or stare into space. Don't get me wrong, not that I have anything again crying but....not all that stimulating to watch.
The second half ended to thunderous applause...and then some foolish people scurried out of the theater, presumably to beat the rush. No, no, sillies. After a moment or two of adulation, the guys reappeared for a beautiful off-mic version of "White Christmas," which Jeff sat out. He did that last year at The Bottom Line and there were encouraging yells from the crowd. "No, no," he'd said dismissively then. "It's better without me, trust me." After a few more standards that had been missing from the main set, the first encore closed with the kitsch of "Zombie Jamboree" which some of these folks, well, they just never tire of seeing. Kev and Scott seemed to be a little off with the back-to-back and belly-to-belly aspect of the routine, but Scott nailed the limbo. As always.
Thankfully the second encore and the show concluded with "Keep Smilin," which I love and had been absent for a about a year. Very curious to see what the live versino from Santa Barbara will be like on CD, but there's just something about that ending jam session -- where Bear takes over the v.p. and Scott is just grunting over his mike -- that's truly priceless to behold. Keeps me smiling every time.
The M&G was one of those autograph table set-ups that I hate, and I didn't have all that much time to loiter since I had a train to catch. I got only a few snaps (see below) and had Jeff toss me a handful of promotional postcards for the NYC show (I believe the 9pm was already sold out at that point but oh well -- it's the, uh, thought that counts). They all looked fairly weathered from the flight in from Kentucky and very grateful that the 2000 tour was at an end. Never mind the fact that the Hartford mall event and PLJ's Blythedale benefit yet to come the following week. No rest for the great kings of a cappella (or for the brilliant souls who spend exhaustively long hours promoting them).
And so 2000 ends.... Bring me home, baby. Remember me to Heralds Square....
and my scribbled on "Christmas" liner
[photos by S.J. Evans]
Concert Stuff