We’re backstage at BergenPAC in Englewood, NJ, just moments before Tommy James and the Shondells’ Friday, November 1, 2019 concert with Felix Cavaliere and his Rascals.

It is here we get a moment to chat with Tommy James, along with his friend, rapper T.O.N.E.-z.

We ask James about what he’s been up to these days, and he happily replies, “I have a new album out, Alive, that’s been two years in the making — it’s my first studio album in 10 years.”

Revealing, “It’s been a labor of love,” James explains, “There’s no specific theme to it — it’s mainly a conglomeration of songs I wanted to do — and it includes a slower version of ‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ in addition to a classic new version of ‘Draggin’ the Line.’”

Notes James, “‘I Think We’re Alone Now’ is also set to appear in a movie based on my book, Me, The Mob, and the Music.” Remarking, “It’s amazing how the song’s lyrics have stood up over time,” James discloses, “Even though it was written as a teenage love song, it will appear in the final scene of the movie — which is very somber.”

Continuing, “And the new version of ‘Draggin’ the Line’ not only has Steven van Zandt playing guitar, but it also has a rap by T.O.N.E.-z, on it,” James explains, “You might be familiar with him — T.O.N.E.-z wrote the theme song to the TV show, Justified, on FX, and he was even nominated for an Emmy for it.”

Jokes T.O.N.E.-z, “When I was asked if I wanted to work with Tommy Jones on his new album, I thought for a nanosecond — and then said, ‘Yes!’” Adding, “And when Tommy asked me to work with him on ‘Draggin’ the Line,’ I thought it was such an iconic song, I didn’t know if I wanted to change it, so I thought about it a lot longer — about a millisecond — before saying, ‘Let’s do it and see what happens.’”

Remarks James, “This guy is talented — I would send him a track and he would send back what he had done in, like, ten minutes,” before adding, “We’re so happy the album’s doing very well — some of the songs have already entered the Top 20 on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary chart!”

As it’s getting close to showtime, we make our way into the BergenPAC auditorium where the sold-out crowd is ready and waiting for tonight’s opening act, Felix Cavaliere and his Rascals.

The lights dim and a group of talented musicians — Vinny Santora on drums, Benny Harrison on keyboards, Mike Severs on guitar, and Jimmy Keneally on bass — take the stage along with a three-piece horn section.

As the big screen behind the musicians proclaims, “Celebrating over 50 years of music!” Felix Cavaliere makes his entrance announcing, “Are you ready out there?”

The crowd cheers and Cavaliere turns around to ask his band members, “Are you ready back there?” at which point he takes a seat behind his keyboards and he and his musicians launch into a simmering rendition of Wilson Pickett’s “In the Midnight Hour.”

Singing in his soulful style, “I’m gonna wait ‘till the midnight hour/That’s when my love comes tumbling down,” Cavaliere’s keyboards swirl, and his rhythm section adds its own special brand of funk to this blue-eyed soul train of rhythm.

During the number, Cavaliere exclaims to the horn players, “Let me hear you!” and the three musicians on sax, trombone, and trumpet add their magic before Felix happily segues into Sly and the Family Stone’s “Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)” while audience members tap their toes and bob their heads.

Cavaliere welcomes the sold-out crowd before announcing, “This next song was written on the island of Oahu.” Here, Cavaliere and his Rascals launch into a masterful rendition of Felix’s 1967 hit, “It’s a Beautiful Morning.” Cavaliere’s voice is strong and melodious as a variety of images fill the screen behind him. While he ad libs vocally over the horns and swirling keyboard, tight rhythm section playing from the bass, guitar, and drums fills out the sound, captivating the audience on this classic ’60s tune.

Asking, “Remember the Summer of Love?” Cavaliere performs 1967’s “A Girl Like You.” Singing, “Must be you that caused this feeling in me/You that fills me confidently/You that brings out the best in me,” Cavaliere shines on this swinging arrangement which features trombone, sax, and trumpet solos to flashing lights.

The excitement continues on “Love is a Beautiful Thing,” as images of hearts and everyday objects appear on the screen while Cavaliere and keyboardist Benny Harrison duet on lead vocals and keys.

As the screen flashes, “The King of Blue Eyed Soul,” a fan yells out, “We love you, Felix!” Caveliere responds by launching into a hit for both The Rascals and Pat Benetar, “You Better Run.”

His voice crying out, “Whatcha trying to do to my heart?” the band sounds dirty and gritty while heads bop to the driving beat. Mike Severs takes a wailing guitar solo as Cavaliere stands by his side, clapping and encouraging him before adding his keyboards to the frenzy of sound. The audience joins in singing on the “You better run/You better hide” refrain, building to a climax on the coda which concludes with hoots and hollers from the crowd.

“New Jersey — oh, yeah!” exclaims Cavaliere adding, “Good to see everyone!”

Drummer Vinny Santora’s lead vocal is featured on The Rascals’ 1965 hit, “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore.” Mike Severs plays a fast and furious guitar solo while stage lights flash in time to the music.

With bass thumping and guitar tremolo swirling, audience members can’t help but to move to the groove in their seats.

Announcing, “We first started rocking in New Jersey in Garfield,” Cavaliere recalls, “Club owners used to tell us we needed to get the people up and dancing — so we wrote songs to do that.”

Here, Cavaliere and the band perform “Come On Up” while on-screen images of ‘60s dancers move to the music. Colored lights swim over the audience as Cavaliere and Co. perform this straight-ahead rocker. The horn players dance back and forth to the infectious beat and Cavaliere’s keyboard organ sound fills the auditorium before he joyfully segues into Jackie Wilson’s “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher” to sustained cheers, whistles, and applause.

The party continues with the Rascals’ 1967 Top 20 hit, “I’ve Been Lonely Too Long,” the sound continuing to build in intensity as Cavaliere sings and soulfully wails on the keys.

In talking about his time with The Rascals, Cavaliere recalls, “We were involved in making the world a better place for our children and grandchildren.” Here, he and the new Rascals launch into “A Ray of Hope,” the song’s funky groove and horns punctuating his upbeat anthem of hope.

The audience applauds when they recognize the intro to The Rascals’ 1967 #1 hit, “Groovin’.” The crowd drinks in the music emanating from the stage and claps mightily as Felix cheers on a Mike Severs guitar solo.

As the number continues, the crowd sings along with the band as they segue into such classic ’60s hits as The Temptations’ “My Girl” and “Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me).” Cavaliere concludes by blowing a kiss to audience members who cheer and whistle while they hoot and holler.

After Cavaliere asks, “How many of you remember 45s?” the audience responds with laughter and large applause. Continuing, “The ‘B’ side sold as many copies as the ‘A’ side,” Cavaliere explains, “One time, this guy comes up to me and gives me a kiss and says, ‘You changed my life! You put my song on the other side of ‘Groovin’.”

Here, he and his Rascals perform a soulful version of “Mustang Sally,” a number which went on to become a hit for Wilson Pickett.

Funky and energetic, the number is accompanied on the big screen with images of beachballs, ’60s dancers, and hula hoops as Cavaliere works in snippets of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music White Boy,” Wilson Pickett’s “Land of 1000 Dances,” and The Temptations’ “Get Ready” and “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” before he funkily segues back into “Mustang Sally.”

Ending in a flurry of notes to a standing ovation, Cavaliere announces, “Thank you so much!” before introducing bassist Jimmy Keneally to sing the lead on The Young Rascals’ 1967 Top 5 hit, “How Can I Be Sure.”

As the band plays a dynamic version of the group’s 1968 chart-topper, “People Got to be Free,” audience members dance and Cavaliere sings, “Listen, please, listen, that’s the way it should be/Peace in the valley, people got to be free.”

His soulful vocal is followed by a slapping and rollicking Jimmy Keneally bass solo as a picture of a peace sign inside Earth lights up the big screen and the audience rises to its feet.

“God bless you!” exclaims Cavaliere before announcing, “We’re going to leave you with this — can we sing it together?”

Here, Felix and the band perform a roof-rockin’ version of The Young Rascals’ 1966 #1 hit, “Good Lovin’.” Audience members dance and clap while they join in the fun singing “Good lovin’” as the band wails, horns blare, and lights flash.

Felix takes a moment to listen to the crowd as they sing to him, appreciating the audience that appreciates him so much, before the conclusion brings wild cheering and a standing ovation from the sold-out house.

During intermission, we take a moment to chat with several members of the audience who share their opinions about Felix Cavaliere’s performance.

Remarks Yvonne from Westwood, “Felix Cavaliere is wonderful! His voice is more bluesy — and sounds even better — than I remembered.” Continuing, “I grew up with his music and hearing all of his great songs brought me right back,” Yvonne concludes, “In a word, it was magical!”

Comments Andrew from Paramus, “Felix Cavaliere was fabulous! He and his band sound just like The Young Rascals did when they were teenagers. I knew every song he played, and I can tell you that his performance was excellent.”

Says Maryann from Cliffside Park, “His music makes me feel young again! I used to see The Young Rascals when they were just starting out. I followed them when they played at the Go Go Lounge in New York State and at the Long Pond Inn in Greenwood Lake. Today, I still enjoy listening to their kind of music on Tommy James’ SiriusXM radio show.”

Maryann’s lifelong friend, Roseanne from Paramus, agrees adding, “Felix Cavaliere and his music brought back a lot of memories — and now we’re waiting for Tommy James — we’re big fans of Tommy James, too!”

The lights dim as an announcer’s voice says, “We have one of New Jersey’s favorite sons here tonight — Tommy James!”

A rockin’ bass line has everyone instantly tapping their toes as James opens with his 1971 solo smash, “Draggin’ The Line.” Sounding as rich, full, and resonant as ever, James sings, “Makin’ a livin’ the old, hard way/Takin’ and givin’ by day by day/I dig snow and rain and the bright sunshine/Draggin’ the line” as he and the band thrill the BergenPAC crowd with their big Tommy James and The Shondells’ sound.

Welcoming the audience, James exclaims, “Hey, New Jersey — it’s great being back! Wasn’t Felix Cavaliere great? He’s been a friend of mine since 1966.”

Adding, “Tonight I’m going to introduce you to another friend — award-winning rapper, T.O.N.E.-z,” James points out T.O.N.E-z in the crowd stating, “Thank you for coming by. Now let’s put your energy together with ours and let’s make something happen!”

As a breezy tremelo electric guitar begins to play, James croons the lyrics to The Shondells’ popular Top Ten hit, “Crystal Blue Persuasion.” The song sends a powerful message of “love is the answer,” as timely today in 2019 as it was when James originally recorded it back in 1968.

Audience members scream out “Tommy!” as James comes down to say “hi” to several audience members in the front of the theater.

Wailing guitar and classic organ stand out on the group’s next number, “Say I Am,” before James and Co. delight the crowd with the bubblegum sounds of “Getting Together.”

Segueing into the “This Old Man”-inspired “It’s Only Love,” fans in the audience clap their hands together as they happily sing “It’s only love/Tryin’ to get through” with Tommy and the band.

The group follows up by bursting into a bright and bubbly version of James’ 1967 hit, “Gettin’ Together.” After a joyous guitar solo, Tommy sings, “Gettin’ together never felt like this before,” as a rush of feelings of youth come back to many in the crowd upon hearing such memorable songs sounding so good.

After an audience member blurts out, “Turn it up! Rock ‘n Roll!” James takes a moment to tell the audience about his memoir, Me, the Mob, and the Music, which is slated to become a major motion picture.

According to James, when he and his bandmates originally signed with their record company, Roulette, none of them had any idea it was a front for one of the most powerful organized crime families in New York City.

In the final scene of the movie script, explains James, following a tumultuous career with the label, the mobster who ran Roulette dies and a song is played where Tommy can say an “imaginary goodbye” to the man who made him and his music famous, but also, at times, made his life a terrifying ordeal.

The song is a slow, melodious, and mainly “unplugged” version of “I Think We’re Alone Now,” presented in the form of a contemporary power ballad featuring Tommy on acoustic guitar.

Following avid applause, James and the group move on to one of the musical highlights of the evening, a powerful and driving rendition of “Ball of Fire” — a song which features stunning live vocal harmonies from Tommy and rest of his talented band members.

James continues with a 1970 hit he co-wrote and produced for the group, Alive N Kickin’. Filled with mighty harmonies and power chords, he and his band make the song their own as they put a fresh spin on the million-selling Top Ten hit, “Tighter, Tighter.”

The crowd cheers as Tommy and his musicians ramp things up even further with a performance of James’ #1 smash from 1968, the psychedelic “Crimson and Clover.” With Tommy singing lead — accompanied by a veritable wall of sound behind him — he and the band sound like a symphony on this song which sold over five million copies.

While lights flash to the rhythm, the famous wailing tremolo on the final refrain, “Crimson and clover, over and over,” reverberates throughout the auditorium and fills the souls of the fans in the house “over and over,” bringing the entire BergenPAC crowd to its feet.

And if that’s not enough, the next song really gets the fans moving — the Jeff Barry and Ellie Grenwich composition — 1966’s “Hanky Panky,” where James’ vocal entices everyone to hanky-panky together to the groove and the crowd willingly obliges, cheering and clapping heartily at the end.

Tommy and the boys follow up with a second rendition of “I Think We’re Alone Now” — this time, an up-tempo version as heard on the original 1967 Top 5 45, the lights punctuating the rhythms of the music and bathing the stage in a rainbow of colors as the crowd cheers.

A spirited rendition of 1968’s catchy “Do Something To Me” is up next, featuring a drum solo to flashing lights and the audience screaming with approval for Tommy and his music.

Following sustained cheers and applause, the James’ gang launches into an incredible extended version of one of the greatest party songs in the history of popular music, Tommy’s 1968’s Top Ten smash, “Mony Mony.”

The audience happily claps along as James exits the stage and makes his way into the audience shaking hands. As he meets and greets fans throughout the auditorium, the rest of the Shondells play their hearts out, jamming and filling the room with swirling sound as lights pulse along in time to the music.

People rock in front of the stage and in the aisles, lights flashing on the fun-loving audience as they raise their arms in agreement on the “Yeah, yeahs!” as Tommy concludes tonight’s performance by encouraging everyone in the house to “feel… so… good!”

James is escorted back onto the stage where he introduces the talented members of his band — Johnny Golden on lead guitar, Jonathn Ashe on rhythm guitar, Greg Smith on bass, Mike DiMeo on organ, Bobby Guy on synthesizer, and Glenn Wyca on drums. Following tremendous applause, the musicians take leave of the stage, but soon return for an encore performance of James’ soulful 1969 Top Ten hit, “Sweet Cherry Wine.”

Tommy and the guys follow up with a rollicking rendition of 1967’s “Mirage” and conclude tonight’s festivities with a rockin’ reprise of “Mony Mony,” at which point audience members leap to their feet with sustained cheers and applause.

As the happy crowd makes its way out of the BergenPAC auditorium, we chat with several in attendance tonight who share their thoughts on Tommy James and The Shondells’ performance this evening.

Comments Terri from Wykoff, “Tommy James’ voice is amazing — he hit every note perfectly,” before joking, “His voice is ‘crystal clear’ and it was ‘persuasive’ — I wanted to hear more.”

Terri’s husband, Bob, agrees adding, “I can’t wait to see the movie about his life.”

Remarks Linda from Caldwell, “I love Tommy James! His voice is great, and his band is f***ing tight!” Adding, “I loved his song selection — I love all his stuff — Linda remarks, “My husband and I knew every song tonight.”

Recalls Linda’s husband, Rick, “When I was about 20, I met Tommy James through a friend — he was really nice! We went to his house where he made us lemonade and showed us all of his gold records,” declaring, “He had a whole wall with nothing on it but gold records!”

Exclaims Kathy from Park Ridge, “Tommy James was great — and the whole show was great! It sounded awesome in this theater. We’re used to hearing these songs at home with our families, so it was wonderful getting to hear them played here live.”

Kathy’s husband, David, agrees calling James’ performance this evening “Excellent.” Explaining, “He was so good tonight, when I heard all those songs again, it placed me back in time,” David declares, “It was a really awesome experience!”

Recalling, “I read somewhere that Tommy James has sold over one hundred million records,” David exclaims, “That’s unbelievable!” before concluding, “We will definitely be coming back to see him again — he’s just fantastic!”

For more on Tommy James and The Shondells, please see tommyjames.com. To learn more about Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals, see felixcavalieremusic.com. To check out future upcoming performances at Englewood, NJ’s BergenPAC — including Holiday Doo Wop Vol. II with Lou Christie, Jimmy Gallagher and the Passions, The Capris, The Happenings, Larry Chance and the Earls, and Belmont Ave: A Tribute to Dion on December 14 — please go to bergenpac.org.

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