Fans of music from the 1970s are excitedly waiting inside Morristown, NJ’s beautiful MPAC auditorium this Saturday, February 22, 2020 evening for the start of tonight’s sold-out Ultimate ’70s Tour concert starring ’70s country-flavored pop icons Orleans, Poco, and Pure Prairie League.
The lights dim and an announcement is made: “Celebrating their 59th year, please welcome Pure Prairie League!”
The group — featuring bassist Mike Reilly, pedal steel guitarist John David Call, keyboardist/guitarist Randy Harper, drummer Scott Thompson, and guitarist Donnie Lee Clark — takes the stage and kicks off its set with a song from 1972, “Call Me, Tell Me.”
Donnie Lee Clark sings lead with a country twang on this sweeping country-rocker which features his rhythmic Telecaster guitar playing accompanied by steel pedal guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums.
Following animated applause, bassist Mike Reilly greets the crowd acknowledging, “This is our fourth show this year and that’s only the fourth time we’ve played that song since we recorded it,” before joking, “This next one goes out to the New Jersey State Highway Patrol who looked the other way when we blew by them.”
Here, the band launches into “Two Lane Highway,” an upbeat country-rocker which features vocals by drummer Scott Thompson and a crying pedal steel guitar solo by John David Call.
After guitarist Clark sings lead on “Early Morning Riser” — an easy listening country-rocker which features a rolling Randy Harper piano solo — the group segues into “Angel,” a rhythmic country-rock tune which has Clark singing with a country flair as he bends the strings on his electric guitar.
The crowd cheers and Mike Reilly announces, “We always dedicate this song to Mr. Merle Haggard.” Launching into the crowd-pleaser, “I’ll Change Your Flat Tire, Merle,” Reilly handles the lead.
After Reilly sings, “I’ll fix your flat tire Merle/Don’t ya get your sweet country pickin’ fingers all covered with ‘erl,’” John David Call impresses with a twangy pedal steel guitar solo on this fast-paced novelty tune.
Following avid applause, Reilly says, “Let’s hear it for the ‘Pontiff of the Pedal Steel’ — ‘Pope’ John David,” before joking, “And here’s a song that made us tens of bucks!”
Here, audience members are transported back in time as Pure Prairie League performs the group’s 1980 Top Ten hit, “Let Me Love You Tonight.”
Clark handles the lead as audience members join in singing on the well-known, “Let me love you tonight/There’s a million stars in the sky/Let me love you tonight/I’ll make everything all right” chorus of this country-flavored pop tune.
The crowd cheers and the band responds with two new songs — “Old Friend,” a poignant country ballad which features tight four-part vocal harmonies, and “Modern Problem,” an upbeat country rocker with a funky groove and a twangy pedal steel solo.
Audience members cheer when they recognize the opening guitar strains to Pure Prairie League’s 1975 Top 40 hit, “Amie.” After the group performs the song, the house lights turn on the audience and Donnie Lee Clark says, “You guys sing it awhile!” Here, the crowd happily obliges, enthusiastically chanting “Amie what you want to do?/I think I could stay with you/For a while, maybe longer if I do” before leaping out of their seats to cheer for Pure Prairie League.
During a short intermission, we chat with several audience members who share their thoughts on tonight’s concert thus far.
Comments Barry from West Orange, “Pure Prairie League captures the sound of their era — they sound exactly like they always did,” before acknowledging, “Their music really jogged my memory — it made me start thinking about my old girlfriend.”
Trish from Randolph asserts, “Pure Prairie League is awesome — I’ve never seen them before, and they’re just great.”
Craig from Bridgewater remarks, “I loved hearing ‘Amie’ again. I first heard Pure Prairie League play in Central Park years ago and I really liked them,” before noting, “They still sound good — they put on a great opening set.”
Joe from Bethlehem, PA concurs declaring, “This show has already exceeded my expectations.”
The lights dim and the announcer says, “Celebrating 51 years in this business, please welcome Poco!”
At this point, the musicians of Poco — guitarist/pedal steel guitarist Rusty Young, bassist Jack Sundrud, drummer Rick Lonow, in addition to guest artist guitarist/mandolinist/keyboardist Tom Hampton — take the stage.
Rusty Young greets the audience announcing, “How are you guys? It’s great to be here tonight!”
The audience immediately begins clapping after Young counts off the group’s opening song, “All Fired Up.”
As Rusty and the guys croon, “Me and the boys/We’re gonna make a little noise” in harmony, the crowd claps along to the infectious rhythm before Tom Hampton takes a mandolin solo.
Young says, “This is the title tune from the very first Poco record of 1969.” Here, Rusty and group perform “Pickin’ Up the Pieces,” singing, “Well there’s just a little bit of magic/In the country music we’re singin’” on this Richie Furay-penned country-rock classic.
Young introduces Rick Lonow on drums saying, “This next one hit in the late 1980s. Rick — who was in the Flying Burrito Brothers — was a writer on this one.”
Here, Poco performs its 1989 Top 40 hit, “Call it Love,” a pop confection which features Lonow on lead vocals and rolling drums, in addition to an electric guitar solo by Tom Hampton and a ringing rhythm guitar part played by Young.
Jack Sundrud takes to the microphone to announce, “Rusty Young is the only person in the world who’s been to every Poco concert,” adding, “He’s in the Steel Guitar Hall of Fame,” as Young takes a seat at the pedal steel guitar. The sound of Young’s crying steel guitar swirls throughout the MPAC auditorium while Sundrud handles the lead vocal on the appealing country-rocker, “Indian Summer.”
The crowd cheers and Young explains, “This is the most-recorded Poco song,” prior to noting, “Emmy Lou Harris closes every show with it.” Here, Young and Co. launch into the country-rock classic, “Rose of Cimarron,” a cinematic number with dynamic vocals which also features a tasty Rusty Young guitar solo and Young and Sundrud sharing a mic to blend their voices.
After introducing the crowd to Tom Hampton and Jack Sundrud, Young announces, “This is a song from 1979 which was #1 for 6 weeks, but more recently, has 3,000,000 downloads on Spotify.”
Here, Young and the band perform Poco’s biggest hit, “Crazy Love.”
The audience swoons on the famous, “It happens all the time/This crazy love of mine” refrain as the group sings in four-part harmony. Lights shine down on the crowd as Rusty asks audience members to help him sing and they happily comply, the melody enveloping the auditorium with a smooth country sound.
Young switches over to pedal steel as Jack Sundrud handles the lead vocal on Poco’s 1979 hit, “Heart of the Night.” Young’s steel guitar sings on this gentle country-rocker which fills the hearts of listeners and inspires the crowd to respond with a standing ovation.
Young responds by stating, “Thanks for inviting us to the party! I hope tonight was a ‘Good Feeling To Know’ for you, too!”
Here, Poco concludes its set with a performance of Richie Furay’s “Good Feelin’ to Know,” an uplifting song which has audience members bopping their heads and dancing at their seats on this feel-good rocker which concludes with another standing ovation.
After the band takes a bow and Young says, “It’s been fun — we love you all!” several audience members take a moment to react to Poco’s set during the show’s second intermission.
Acknowledges Dan from West Milford, “Poco is my favorite group — I’ve seen them about thirty times. Their music still holds up year after year.”
Peter from West Caldwell agrees adding, “They’re such a good band — it’s great to hear all the old tunes again.”
Lastly, we chat with Jonathan from West Caldwell who recalls, “Poco was my first-ever concert — I saw them back in 1979 at Giants Stadium with Todd Rundgren, The Outlaws, and Boston,” before asserting, “They’re classic rock, so they always make for a fun date night.”
The MPAC auditorium lights dim one last time as the announcer says, “Morristown, please welcome some youngsters to the stage who are only celebrating 48 years together, and they’re ‘Still the One’ — Orleans!”
The members of Orleans — bassist Lance Hoppen, keyboardist Lane Hoppen, guitarist Dennis “Fly” Amero, guitarist Chip Martin, and drummer Brady Spencer — take the stage opening with “Let There Be Music.”
Bassist Lance Hoppen sings lead on this upbeat rocker crooning, “Let there be music/Let it shine like the sun/Let there be music/Everybody’s got to have some fun,” while guitarists Chip Martin and “Fly” Amero have fun playing side-by-side.
The crowd cheers and Lance responds, “Thank you — I’ve been in the band since I was 18 years old,” joking, “It’s been 48 years — you do the math.”
Here, Lance introduces “Fly” Amero who says, “This is a blues in the key of G for those playing along.” Singing with Lance as he plays his guitar on “You’ve Given Me Something,” “Fly” solos high and sweetly on this funky blues tune before echo-singing nonsense syllables along with the crowd.
Following enthusiastic applause, Lance says, “This song put us on the map.” At this point, the band launches into its 1975 Top 10 single, “Dance With Me.” The crowd happily sings along on the well-known “Dance with me/I want to be your partner/Can’t you see/The music is just starting/Night is falling/And I am falling” chorus before Lane takes a solo on the melodica. “Fly” solos on acoustic guitar and audience members handle the lead vocal on the single line, “I can take you where you want to go,” before leaping to their feet at the conclusion.
Lance takes a moment to acknowledge, “We were playing this song before it was a hit for King Harvest.” Here, the group launches into King Harvest’s 1972 Top 20 single, “Dancing in the Moonlight.” “Fly” handles the lead vocal and the crowd joyfully joins him in singing the catchy “Dancing in the moonlight/Everybody’s feeling warm and bright/It’s such a fine and natural sight” chorus as double guitars rock out.
Lance introduces his younger brother, Lane, on keyboards before “Fly” asks, “How about some finger snapping?” Here, the group performs “Miss Grace,” a bluesy ‘50s-style song with a swing feel on which siblings Lance and Lane sing in harmony.
Brady Spencer’s bass drum starts the beat off as electric guitars pick and duel on “Reach,” a funky tune with a wailing guitar solo by Chip Martin which ultimately shifts into overdrive as the band soulfully plays double-time.
The crowd reacts with avid cheers and applause before Lance says, “This is the last song I got to write with my brother, Larry,” his late older sibling who, as Lance explains, was a founding member of the band as well as a primary songwriter.
On “No More Than You Can Handle,” Lance sings, “God never gives you more than you can handle/Though sometimes it feels like He tries/But what don’t kill you will make you stronger” on this poignant folk-rocker which elicits warm applause from the crowd.
Lance says, “This was our last radio hit from 1979,” joking, “You could buy it on an 8-track at Tower Records.” Here, the group performs its Top 20 hit, “Love Takes Time.” With Lance crooning the lead vocal, heads in the audience bop and the crowd joins him in singing the catchy “Love takes time/Yes it’s hard to find/You gotta take some time/To let love grow” chorus.
Following energetic hoots and hollers, the group performs “Juliet,” an ear-catching number with a Zydeco feel which features slide guitar, honky-tonk piano, and a New Orleans jazz-style trumpet solo by keyboardist Lane Hoppen.
The musicians follow up with the group’s final song of the evening, Orleans’ 1976 Top 5 mega-hit, “Still the One.”
“Fly” handles the lead before audience members happily join in singing on the “We’re still having fun/And you’re still the one” lyric and the entire crowd stands, cheering and applauding for Orleans.
As audience members filter out of the MPAC auditorium, we chat with several music lovers in the house who share their thoughts on tonight’s show.
Comments Laurel from Babylon, NY, “Orleans was excellent as always — they’re fantastic!”
Daria from Nutley agrees adding, “Orleans was amazing,” explaining, ‘Love Takes Time,’ ‘Dance with Me,’ and ‘Still the One’ are three of my all-time favorite songs.”
Pat from Lodi asserts, “Orleans was great,” before acknowledging, “Actually, all of the bands were great!”
Jackie from Mendham concurs, calling the show “Amazing!” and explaining, “It brought back a lot of songs I’d forgotten about,” prior to adding, “It was a lot of fun — you can totally forget what age you are when you hear this music.”
Lastly, we chat with Karen from Summit who asserts, “I loved this concert,” declaring, “I’ve seen these groups at least three times, and I’d see them all again tomorrow!”
For more information about Orleans, please go to orleansonline.com. To find out more about Poco, click on pocoband.com. To learn more about Pure Prairie League, please go to pureprairieleague.com. For further information on upcoming concerts at MPAC — including Christopher Cross’s 40th Anniversary Tour on April 8, Dennis DeYoung’s The Grand Illusion 40th Anniversary Tour on April 18, and The Charlie Daniels Band & The Marshall Tucker Band on May 8 — please go to mayoarts.org.
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