Thousands of music lovers are taking their seats this Friday, June 14, 2019 evening at Holmdel, NJ’s PNC Bank Arts Center and readying themselves for a stellar night of music starring Darlene Love, Kenny Vance and the Planotones, and The Ventures. As they do, we slip backstage to talk to the inspiration behind tonight’s show, legendary Sirius XM radio DJ, Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow.
Clearly excited about tonight’s line-up, Morrow states, “The Ventures are a classic band — there aren’t too many instrumental groups like them around — and this year the group is celebrating its 60th anniversary.”
With regards to Kenny Vance and the Planotones, comments Morrow, “Kenny Vance has a voice of velvet — I am just so enraptured with his music.”
And with respect to Darlene Love, Morrow exclaims, “Darlene Love is one of the most exciting performers today. There’s just something magical about her; she has such heart, soul, and spirit.”
Also, adds Morrow, “There will be a special warm-up surprise — a performance by singer Vinnie Medugno. I discovered him and have watched him grow. He’s delightful,” before noting “and having all these artists perform in this magnificent tabernacle of music just makes for a wonderful evening of music.”
Backstage, we also chat with the members of The Ventures, an instrumental music group which currently features Bob Spalding on lead guitar, Ian Spalding on rhythm guitar, Luke Griffin on bass, and Leon Taylor on drums.
According to Taylor, his father, Mel Taylor, was the drummer for The Ventures from 1962 to 1996 and is the musician whose iconic percussion performance can be heard on one of the group’s biggest recordings, the Hawaii Five-O TV show theme.
“We’re keeping The Ventures’ legacy going,” explains Leon, who’s been a member of the group since 1996.
Guitarist Bob Spalding tells us “The group was originally founded in 1958 in Takoma, Washington by two guitar players — Don Wilson and Bob Bogle — and in 1959 they added bass and drums and became The Ventures. In 1960 when ‘Walk Don’t Run’ became a huge hit, the band took off and we’ve been continually active ever since.”
Acknowledging, “We love playing — it’s fantastic,” Spalding announces, “Next month, we’re off to Japan for 30 shows, but for right now, we’re happy to be playing right here in New Jersey.”
Outside, in the spacious PNC Bank Arts Center amphitheater, Ron Gravino, Vice President of the Garden State Arts Foundation’s Board of Trustees, welcomes the audience to tonight’s free concert open to New Jersey residents of all ages.
After thanking PNC Bank, Live Nation Entertainment, and Sirius XM ’60s on 6 radio for their support, Gravino introduces the crowd to the “keeper of the flame of rock and roll for all these years” — Cousin Brucie.
The audience cheers for Cousin Brucie as his theme song plays and he enters through the crowd. Shaking hands and posing for photos as he makes his way down to the stage, Morrow, 83, kisses his wife, Jodie, before bounding up the steps to the stage.
“This music — rock and roll — will always be with us!” exclaims Morrow before introducing Vinnie Medugno who opens his set with his interpretation of Bobby Rydell’s “Volare.” Looking dapper in his black suit with white accents, Medugno invites the audience to sing along with him on this classic tune.
Following up with Freddie “Boom Boom” Cannon’s “Palisades Park,” Medugno brings back memories of youth, fun, and sunny days for this Jersey crowd before entertaining the audience with renditions of Johnny Tillotson’s “Poetry in Motion” and Lou Christie’s “Lightnin’ Strikes.”
Medugno wraps up his set by running through the audience as he croons Dion’s “Runaround Sue” while the audience happily sings along.
Cousin Brucie returns to introduce The Ventures who open their set with their instantly-recognizable instrumental hit, “Walk Don’t Run.”
As Bob Spalding expertly plays the melody on the electric guitar, he’s accompanied by his son, Ian, strumming the rhythm guitar part, Lou Griffin playing a punchy bass line, and Leon Taylor handily keeping time on the drums.
The Ventures continue with songs like “Pipeline,” a number on which the band members get the crowd clapping along as their guitars wail and talk. They finish off the tune with all three guitarists standing in a line playing fast and furiously with the signature Ventures’ guitar sound.
“Wipe Out” features Leon Taylor’s expert drumming. Conjuring images of beach parties and bonfires, Luke Griffin is featured on a bass solo before guitarist Bob Spalding calls out “Let’s go!” and leads the audience in clapping along to Leon Taylor’s excellent drum solo which elicits cheers and whistles from the crowd.
After Bob Spalding announces, “We’re happy to be here in New Jersey — we’re going to slow it down a little for this one,” the group performs “Apache.” The Western feel of this number shines through on this classic instrumental as Bob Spalding bends the strings of his lead guitar while Ian’s rhythm guitar and Luke’s bass keep the beat going.
Audience members applaud when they recognize the introduction to the Hawaii Five-O television theme. Heads bop to the driving beat as Bob’s electric guitar picks out the famous melody, and the crowd cheers and applauds for the group as they take a well-deserved bow.
For an encore, The Ventures perform a unique rock rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” Following the initial presentation of the melody, the audience cheers for Leon Taylor’s rolling drum solo where the bass drum fills in along with the tom-toms and snare, and the crashing cymbals build in dynamics.
The audience is impressed when Taylor leaves his place behind the drums to play the cymbals from out in front of his set before moving over to Luke Griffin’s bass. Here, he uses his drumsticks to strike the strings of Griffin’s bass while Luke’s left hand moves up and down the fingerboard to create a unique “drum/bass solo.” Following huge applause, Taylor makes his way back to his drum set, where he builds to a frenzied climax before the band comes careening back into the song. The crowd cheers for The Ventures and their novel interpretation of this classic jazz piece.
Cousin Brucie retakes the stage stating, “It’s not often we have such a super group of instrumentalists.” Then, he introduces Kenny Vance and the Planotones, stating, “Kenny has been with us for a long time — since he was a member of Jay and the Americans. He’s dedicated, and noted for his talent and fortitude.”
The Planotones — featuring Ladd Vance and Jimmy Bense on vocals, Johnny Gale on guitar and vocals, Chip Degaard on keyboards, and Tony Gallino on drums — take the stage before Kenny Vance enters and the group launches into The Dells’ “Oh What a Night.”
As Kenny Vance’s velvety-smooth voice rings out, Jimmy Bense dances while singing his part, and tight four-part harmonies envelop the crowd.
The audience claps along as harmonies fill the air on a bluesy and soulful rendition of The Impressions’ “It’s All Right” before Kenny and Ladd Vance are featured on a duet version of The Everly Brothers’ “Let it Be Me.” Sung by this father and son team in beautiful harmony — at times, their arms around one another’s shoulders — the performance is both touching and poignant. The audience cheers at the end, at which point Kenny smiles proudly before his son takes a well-deserved bow.
Johnny Gale is featured on an electric guitar solo during The Bell Notes’ “I’ve Had It.”
Then, Kenny Vance’s smooth lead vocal is spotlighted on The Flamingos’ “A Kiss From Your Lips” while three-part harmonies fill in on this sweet ’50s ballad.
The audience enjoys it when Kenny tells the story of how he and his group, Jay and the Americans, auditioned in New York City’s Brill Building for hitmakers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. Six months months later, they recorded their first hit, “She Cried,” and followed it up with an even bigger hit, “Come A Little Bit Closer.”
Here, Ladd Vance is featured on another Jay and the Americans’ classic, “Cara Mia.” Coming down stage to be closer to the crowd, Ladd sings his heart out as he perfectly executes all the high notes. The audience rises for his stellar performance while his proud dad gives him a warm onstage hug.
Singing with ease, Kenny Vance takes the spotlight on Little Anthony and the Imperials’ “Tears on My Pillow,” before the audience sings along on The Planotones’ rendition of The Five Satins’ “In the Still of the Night.”
At the conclusion, Kenny claps for the audience saying, “Thank you, New Jersey — thank you so much. We haven’t been here for a long time. Thank you for waiting.”
The audience cheers, and the group responds with The Clovers’ “Devil or Angel,” their sophisticated four-part harmonies sounding rich and full in this outdoor arena.
Kenny and the boys do the “Planotone Walk” — walking in slow motion across the stage as they lead with their arms — on Rosie and the Originals’ “Angel Baby.”
Singer Jimmy Bense does his own “loosey-goosey” version of the walk which has the audience in stitches.
Dedicating their next number to Cousin Brucie and his wife, Jodie, Kenny and the Planotones perform their own hit, “Looking For An Echo.” Tight vocal harmonies abound on this classic doo wop story song which inspires audience members to rise to their feet.
After introducing the members of the band, Kenny and Co. perform an encore of The Knockouts’ “Darling Lorraine.” Shaking hands with members of the crowd as he sings, audience members happily stand for Kenny Vance before Cousin Brucie retakes the stage and tells Vance, “Your voice is always silk and velvet,” before announcing to the crowd, “He lets nothing stop him.”
During intermission, we slip backstage to chat with tonight’s final performer, Darlene Love.
Here, we talk to the former background and girl group singer about Introducing Darlene Love, her debut solo recording which she released in 2015 at the tender age of 75. Produced by New Jersey’s own Steven Van Zandt, the album features compositions by such songwriters as Bruce Springsteen, Joan Jett, and Elvis Costello.
Says Love about the album, “The writers wanted to write the songs for me — they’re all such wonderful friends,” before exclaiming, “and you should hear them played with a full pops orchestra!”
Continuing, “New Jersey has adopted me as one of its own,” Love reveals, “I’ve lived here for 35 years — I claim to be from Jersey now — and tonight I’m looking forward to doing some songs from the album, in addition to the classics for the hometown crowd.”
Act II begins with Cousin Brucie retaking the stage and announcing, “She has soul, spirit, and inspiration, and her movie documentary, Twenty Steps from Stardom, brought her from the background to the foreground. I’m proud to present the legendary Darlene Love.”
Love — backed by her large ensemble of instrumentalists and backup singers — opens her set with Steven Van Zandt’s “Among the Believers.”
Darlene’s powerhouse alto sizzles on this rocking number which features a wailing tenor sax solo and tight backup vocals.
Following her rendition of Elvis Costello’s retro-sounding rocker, “Forbidden Nights,” Love greets the audience announcing, “Twenty years ago, I was on this stage as a backup singer to Dionne Warwick and Cher, but now I’m standing 20 feet out in front!”
Here, she launches into the bouncy “Love Kept Us Foolin’ Around” — yet another tune from Introducing Darlene Love — where the audience joins in and sings along on the number’s catchy chorus.
Revealing to the crowd that she’s been a singer for 60 years, Love acknowledges that she even sang with Elvis Presley on his comeback special. Here, she launches into Presley’s “Where Could I Go But to the Lord,” a gospel number which starts out slowly, but then becomes more upbeat. A tenor sax honks as the band runs away on the tune’s uptempo section, the back up singers dancing and clapping as they sing in harmony.
The audience cheers, and Love responds with another Elvis cover — a dynamic and powerful interpretation of “If I Could Dream.” She follows that up with a soulful rendition Marvin Gaye’s Motown classic, “What’s Going On.”
The crowd loves it when Love performs the first song she ever recorded with producer Phil Spector, the 1962 hit, “He’s a Rebel.” Stepping down to the foot of the stage, the audience joyfully joins in as Love sings the song’s famous “He’s a rebel and he’ll never ever be any good” chorus.
Bruce Springsteen’s rock ballad “Night Closing In” is up next and is followed by a slow funky rendition of Bill Withers’ “Lean On Me” which features a powerful Love vocal which is filled with emotion.
Love proudly watches as her back-up singers open her 1963 hit, “Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home.”
The singers perform a tight a cappella introduction before Love joins in singing the melody. Later, she dances around in heels on the instrumental break of this breezy and carefree pop tune.
The audience claps along as Love struts across the stage on “Da Doo Ron Ron.” Then, she dedicates her 1963 hit, “(Today I Met) The Boy I’m Gonna Marry” to all of the married couples in the audience. Crooning on this doo wop style song which features a soulful sax solo, her expert background vocalists add their sweet mix to the performance.
After introducing all of the members of her band, Love concludes tonight’s concert with one of her favorite songs, “River Deep, Mountain High.”
Bringing her backup singers down front to feature them on this electrifying number, the audience claps along before responding to this outstanding performance with a standing ovation.
As the audience continues to cheer, Cousin Brucie hugs Darlene before asking his wife, Jodie, to join him on stage, exclaiming, “Jodie, my sweet. Let’s go home!”
While the crowd makes its way out of the PNC Bank Arts Center amphitheater, we chat with several audience members who share their opinions of tonight’s concert.
Declares Joanne from Montvale, “I loved Cousin Brucie’s emceeing — you just can’t ask for anything better than that!”
Barbara from Easton, PA agrees adding, “It was a great concert, and Vinnie Medugno’s opening was a great start.”
Al from Montvale remarks, “I love that The Ventures started out with ‘Walk Don’t Run.’ They have real talent. I really enjoyed them.
Says Jerry from Sayreville, “Kenny Vance and the Planotones were just fantastic. I was amazed at their harmonies, and I loved The Ventures, too. It was a fantastic show!”
Barbara from Montvale, who is proudly wearing her Planotones autographed T-shirt comments, “I’ve been following Kenny Vance and the Planotones for ten years. Kenny sounded great tonight — the whole show was wonderful.”
Stephanie from VA agrees, adding, “The father and son duet by Kenny and Ladd Vance brought tears to my eyes. It was so beautiful, and just perfect for this weekend, which is Father’s Day weekend.”
Anna from Rahway remarks, “I was so glad to see Kenny Vance performing again. It was well worth the wait,” before adding, “And I loved all the classic songs that Darlene Love performed. She’s one powerful singer.”
Cathy from Kenilworth asserts, “All the performers tonight were amazing — especially for their ages. Darlene Love was amazing — I can’t believe she was dancing in those heels — she’s got it all going on,” before adding, “and, as always, Kenny Vance was just great.”
Rose from Rahway recalls, “I’ve been a Kenny Vance fan for eight or nine years now. I just love his voice — it’s fantastic. Plus, he’s not just a singer. He’s a true entertainer with all of his songs and stories — not to mention that famous Planotones’ walk!”
Lastly, we get a chance to chat with Kenny Vance, meeting and greeting with fans in the center of the PNC Bank Arts Center amphitheater.
Comments Vance about this evening’s show, “It was an incredible experience performing here at the PNC Bank Arts Center. New Jersey audiences are like no other — they couldn’t have been more heartwarming,” before concluding, “They made me feel like I was home.”
For more information on Cousin Brucie and his Sirius XM ’60s on 6 radio program, please click on www.facebook.com/YourCousinBrucie. To learn more about Vinnie Medugno, please go to vincentmedugno.com. For further information on The Ventures, see theventures.com. For more on Kenny Vance and the Planotones, please click on kennyvanceandtheplanotones.com. To learn more about Darlene Love, go to darleneloveworld.com. Lastly, for info on future Garden State Arts Foundation Concerts at the PNC Bank Arts Center, please go to gsafoundation.njta.com.
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