The late arriving crowd
was buzzing with anticipation after reading in the pamphlet "A
Vehicle Through Time, 40-04" that there was to be a multi-media
show of vintage photos accompanying the concert. Little did they
know what was in store for them.
The first low note of Friendly Stranger sounded and, if
possible, the level of anticipation grew. The music ended and the
stage remained dark. Then, one by one, famous voices of radio and
TV land congratulated The Ides Of March on this momentous occasion -
even the never aging legend, Dick Clark!
When the
lights came up, Dick Biondi was on stage introducing The
ShonDels at a teen club. Photos flashed on the overhead
screen and the "boys", Larry, Jim, Bob and Mike,
(complete with retro costumes) got into character and played
with hesitation, just a bit stiff. The audience reacted in
character as well, pretending to be teenagers. It was a
magical beginning to a magical night. Recorded voiceovers
helped the drama unfold as the boys saved their money and
recorded "Like It Or Lump It" only to hear the
engineer announce "we stretched the tape" requiring
take 9 to get it right.
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Some scripted scenes (starring
stage managers, Toby and RC) advanced the story as well. The
audience laughed with merriment when the boys had an
"all-nighter" for Jim's 15th birthday to prepare something for
a possible recording contract and were introduced to the term
"modulation." "You Wouldn't Listen" was the
result of the sleepover.
They also saw them ponder a name change and watched as they
changed the sound of the band. The group introduced their newest
members when they added the brass section (Chuck, John and Dave),
complete with an organ dramatically rising out of the orchestra pit
(Scott). "Aire Of Good Feeling" was the perfect song to
showcase the transition.
The crowd was transported to the great moments the
Ides experienced, from the success of "Vehicle" and "L.A.
Goodbye", to the day in Winnipeg, when not even Led Zeppelin could
outperform then. "Symphony For Eleanor", all 15 minutes
of it (or was it 20?) sounded as good today as it did "back in the
day." The first half ended with the bittersweet break-up of
the band in 1973. Intermission was announced. It was to last
seventeen minutes, symbolically representing the 17 years that the Ides
took a break. All of this and a sense of humor, with a bit of wit
attached, too!
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As vintage
pictures continued to flash on the screen above, the second act
brought everyone forward in time chronicling the reunion of the
band members for a concert celebrating Berwyn in 1990.
This half featured Jim's catalogue of Survivor hits (The Search
Is Over, High On You) done in Ides fashion and new songs that
Jim penned specifically for the Ides such as "Age Before
Beauty" and "One Hit Wonder". "Hold On
Loosely", a song co-written with .38 Special, was thrown in
for good measure. Soon to be classics - Come Dancin',
Pepperhead and Forgotten Oldie - were introduced to those fans
less familiar with the Ides. |
If "Rebel Girl" had
the rebel girls on their feet, "Eye of The Tiger" had everyone
standing, rocking and singing along. The encore featured another
new song for the Ides - Love's Got The Power." It was a
three-hour show and it was over too soon.
It was a fantastic celebration, a biographical account of
the development of the band and its members. What makes the Ides
of March unique is not only their ability to perform in every style - a
little bit country, a lot of rock n' roll, with some blues thrown in to
boot! - but to perform with enthusiasm and a positive energy that can't
be described; it has to be FELT. This show was phenomenal - there
is just no other word to describe it. If you missed it, don't
worry; rumor has it that a DVD is in the works and they will be playing
somewhere near you soon during the summer concert season. But -
Beware! - The Ides of March gets under your skin and hooks you for
life!
PHOTO'S By JOYCE PALIULIS
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