The music from decades past still elicits thrills and occasionally chills. The Happy Together tour annually brings together a host of hitmakers from days gone by, headlined by the Turtles, whose canon of hit songs includes “Elenore,” “She’d Rather Be With Me,” and, of course, “Happy Together.”
MyNorth Media entertainment writer Ross Boissoneau dives into the tour that delivers hits and nothing but the hits before they stop at Little River Casino in Manistee Saturday night for a Northern Michigan music performance.
Artists
Turn back the clock to the 60s, courtesy of Spencer Davis, Chuck Negron of Three Dog Night, the Cowsills (!), Gary Puckett, Mark Lindsay, and headliners Flo & Eddie, a.k.a. the Turtles
How It Got Its Start
The first Happy Together tour (though if memory serves it wasn’t billed as such) took place in 1984. Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan put together a band, including former Meat Loaf drummer Joey Stefko, revived the long-dormant Turtles name, and convinced some like-minded pals to go out on the road with them. Joining up were Gary Puckett, Spanky & Our Gang, and the Association.
The concept worked, and subsequent tours featured a host of names from the 60s and 70s: Mickey Dolenz of the Monkees, the Buckinghams, the Grass Roots, Mark Farner of Grand Funk, Mitch Ryder, Garry Lewis and many others. Pucket became a mainstay, and Negron and Mark Lindsay (Paul Revere and the Raiders, “Arizona”) have been fixtures the last few years as well.
Style
Pop rock
Inspirations and Influences
The Beatles, the Beach Boys, Bob Dylan, the Byrds, the Searchers
Additional Background
The shows consist of 2½ hours of hits, more hits, and nothing but the hits. Each of the acts runs through a half-dozen or so of their signature songs, backed by the same well-rehearsed band. But for some, it’s more than a nostalgia trip. Mark Volman’s day job is as a professor at Belmont University, and several of the shows include members of his classes working the shows in tour management, stage management, audio engineering, tour accounting and merchandise sales. They are also involved in the load-in, setup, tear-down and load-out of the equipment, giving them a first-hand look at the entertainment industry.
Quotes
“It’s very satisfying that the people loved the music. They want to hug us. People tell me all the time, ‘You don’t know what your music did for me.’” – Gary Puckett
“There is an understanding that we have all been through it. We try to be as gracious as we can to one another. Because no one needs the drama. Let’s all be nice. And then everyone gets along. They’re all old pros and they perform great.” – Chuck Negron on performing on the Happy Together tour
Venue
Little River Casino Resort, Manistee
Date & Time
Saturday, August 20, 8 p.m.
Ticket Information
Tickets start at $45. Go to LRCR.com.
For More
More Northern Michigan Music
-
The Ragbirds Perform at Fountain Point Resort Event
-
Hoxeyville Music Festival Brings Big Americana Acts to Northern Michigan
-
9th Annual Traverse City Summer Microbrew & Music Festival
#2016 #Manistee #Music_&_Art