The Temptations & The Four Tops, The Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA 03/15/2019

The Motown sound lives on and could be heard last night coming from The Chevalier Theatre. The Temptations and The Four Tops are both groups that were discovered by Berry Gordy's Motown Records. Each group produced a multitude of hits in the 1960s and 70s. Both groups only have one surviving member left. First on stage yesterday evening was The Four Tops in silver sequined suit jackets. Duke Fakir who is an original from The Four Tops let us know he recently recovered from a broken hip. He needed to sit during the set most of the time but it didn't stop the music. They sang all the hits like Bernadette, It's The Same Old Song, When She Was My Girl, Ain't No Woman (Like The One I've Got), and Reach Out I'll Be There. They did a great cover of Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. They finished their set with the infectious I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch). I'll confess I was there for The Temptations. I grew up listening to their music but became a true fan when I saw the made for tv movie back in 1998. Their story has been made into a musical that will soon be on Broadway. Needless to say it meant a lot to me see founding member of The Temps, Otis Williams. The Temptations still got moves and wearing purple suits they performed their hits Get Ready, Beauty Is Only Skin Deep, The Way You Do The Things You Do, Ain't Too Proud To Beg, I Wish It Would Rain, the beautiful Just My Imagination, Papa Was A Rollin' Stone, and the classic My Girl. They did justice too to Sam Smith's Stay With Me. Nothing beats this music. I dare you to listen and not tap your feet or be moved by the melodies. As they said in the movie "Temptations forever!"

The Monkees featuring Mike Nesmith and Micky Dolenz, Chevalier Theatre, Medford, MA 03/01/2019

   Just the way The Monkees theme song ended with "We may be comin' to your town", well that's what happened last night at the Chevalier Theatre. The Monkees came to Medford or at least half the quartet did. Back in the mid 60s Bob Rafelson and Bert Schneider saw all the pandemonium inspired by The Beatles and had the idea to create an American version of the music group as a tv show. They went on the hunt for 4 young affable guys. They found Mike Nesmith, Micky Dolenz, Davy Jones and Peter Tork. The show first aired September 12, 1966. It was a mix of Marx Brothers like comedy and what amounts to the first music videos. The show was a hit as well as the music itself. Even The Beatles took notice of them. But The Monkees were raked over the coals by critics saying they weren't a real band and didn't even play their own instruments. The boys fought back going out to play live shows and to get their own songs on the tv series and albums. Eventually with the turmoil over creative control with the show's producers the series ended. However, it lived on in reruns which introduced further generations to their music, so The Monkees never really went away. Davy Jones passed away in 2012. A few weeks ago we lost Peter Tork.
   Mike and Micky are keeping it going and reminded all of us who grew up on the tv series how much we still love the music. I was singing right along with Last Train To Clarksville. I still love the guitar riff in Mary, Mary. It was nice to hear For Pete's Sake written by the late Peter Tork and was the song to end the show in the second season. Micky can still rock I'm Not Your Steppin' Stone. I have been a fan of the songs Mike Nesmith wrote, so hearing him sing You Just May Be The One and later in the evening Papa Gene's Blues made it for me. And a side note, Mike wrote the hit Beat Of A Different Drum made famous by Linda Rondstadt when she was in the group Stone Poneys. We heard The Girl That I Knew Somewhere. There was an intermission and they did a tribute to Peter with a wonderful video of him singing Till Then. The show continued with the song Micky penned Randy Scouse Git. Take A Giant Step Outside Your Mind is a lovely song. You can't beat Pleasant Valley Sunday and the place really got into the sing along on Daydream Believer. There was Listen To The Band and the night was completed with the hit I'm A Believer. I've always loved The Monkees so this concert was a real treat.