This magic moment where ‘60s rock comes alive again is about to take place this Saturday, April 18, 2026 evening at New Brunswick’s State Theatre New Jersey where a sold-out ‘60s Rock ’n Roll Revival concert is about to begin.
Outside the historic venue, The Grass Roots’ guitarist Dusty Hanvey and bassist/vocalist Mark Dawson chat about being a part of tonight’s event. Explains Dawson, “You can’t beat the amount of hits on this show with Jay and the Americans, The Brooklyn Bridge, and The Lovin’ Spoonful, who are Rock and Roll Hall of Famers.” Hanvey agrees, adding, “And all the groups we’re working with tonight are just sweethearts — we love doing shows with them,” before concluding, “We’re looking forward to a big, big night here in Jersey where audiences love their ‘60s rock!”
Inside the packed STNJ auditorium, emcees Harry G and Alan David Stein welcome the crowd, acknowledging, “Most shows have only one headliner, but this show has four of them!”
Harry G and Stein introduce tonight’s first headliner, The Lovin’ Spoonful, and bassist Bill Cinque, drummer Mike Arturi, guitarist Rob Bonfiglio, and multi-instrumentalist Jeff Alan Ross take the stage. Opening with the group’s 1965 Top Ten hit, “Do You Believe in Magic,” Ross croons, “Do you believe in magic in a young girl’s heart?” deftly supported by the band.
Following avid applause, Ross plays guitar and sings lead on a rollicking rendition of the band’s folksy 1965 Top 5 single, “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?”
After announcing, “You all made this next one a Top 10 rock and roll hit!” Ross and Co. skip into 1966’s “Nashville Cats,” where audience members nod their heads and tap their toes to the tune’s swinging country rhythm.
On “Six O’ Clock,” Rob Bonfiglio sings, “There’s something special ‘bout six o’clock/In the morning when it’s still too early to knock,” before impressing with a guitar solo on this ‘60s rocker. Then, bassist Bill Cinque takes a turn in the spotlight singing, “You and me and rain on the roof/Caught up in a summer shower,” on The Spoonful’s 1966 soft rock tune, “Rain on the Roof.”
Bonfiglio sings lead on “Welcome Back” — former Lovin’ Spoonful frontman, John Sebastian’s, 1976 TV theme for Welcome Back, Kotter — before the audience learns that although Spoonful founding member, Steve Boone, couldn’t be here for tonight’s show, he “sends his thanks for keeping the music alive.”
Cinque plays slide whistle on The Lovin’ Spoonful’s 1966 Top 5 hit, “Daydream,” prior to singing lead on the group’s folksy 1966 Top Ten hit, “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice.”
Ross accompanies himself on keyboard singing the country rocker, “Darling Be Home Soon,” and he and the group conclude tonight’s show with a dynamic rendition of the Spoonful’s 1966 #1 smash, “Summer in the City.”
Segueing back into a reprise of “Do You Believe in Magic?” concertgoers happily sing, “Do you believe what I believe?” prior to responding with an enthusiastic standing ovation.
Stein and Harry G introduce The Brooklyn Bridge and vocalists Ed Gaudio, Vinny Pizzo, and John Williams, along with keyboardist Marty D’Amico, guitarist Mike Ernst, bassist Jimmy Rosica, and drummer Lou Agiesta take the stage.
After an image of the group’s original lead singer, Johnny Maestro, appears on the screen behind them, five-part vocals ring out singing, “Welcome me love/My name is Lonely,” on the group’s pop/soul tune from 1969, “Welcome Me Love.”
Lead singer Ed Gaudio is featured on the upbeat pop-rock tune, “That’s All I Need,” before moving on to “Step by Step” where he sings, “Step by step/I fell in love with you,” on this bouncy number originally recorded by Johnny Maestro and The Crests.
Gaudio also sings lead on Johnny Maestro and The Crests’ 1958 hit, “Sixteen Candles,” before rich full vocal harmonies characterize The Brooklyn Bridge’s 1969 ballad, “Blessed is the Rain.”
Bassist Jimmy Rosica talks about how the group’s next song was “pulled off the air in the Midwest” for its taboo lyrical content. Here, the ensemble performs a tender easy rock version of “Your Husband, My Wife” before sailing into an upbeat and moving cover version of Ike and Tina Turner’s 1966 hit, “River Deep, Mountain High.”
Band members step in time to the swinging “Free Is the Wind,” after which Gaudio’s voice shines on a rendition of The Righteous Brothers’ “Unchained Melody” which elicits cheers, whistles, and applause from the crowd.
The Bridge concludes its portion of the show with the group’s 1969 smash written by Jimmy Webb, “Worst That Could Happen,” where music lovers sing along on the tune’s “Maybe it’s the best thing/Maybe it’s the best thing for you” refrain before standing and cheering for the band.
Harry G and Stein welcome The Grass Roots — guitarist Dusty Hanvey, keyboardist Larry Nelson, drummer Joe Dougherty, and lead vocalist/bassist Mark Dawson — who take the stage and open their set with a rockin’ version of the group’s 1970 hit, “Temptation Eyes.” Mark Dawson plays bass as the crowd sings along on the song’s catchy “Temptation eyes/Looking through my my my soul” chorus.
Concertgoers also sing along on a bouncy cover version of Hamilton, Joe Frank, and Reynolds’ 1971 R&B/pop hit, “Don’t Pull Your Love (Out On Me, Baby),” followed by a lively rendition of The Grass Roots’ own uptempo pop-rock tune, “Heaven Knows.”
Dawson greets the audience stating, “It’s great to be back in the neighborhood again!” before asking, “Do you feel like singing?” The crowd responds in the affirmative and Dawson and Co. segue into the infectious 1971 Top 10 soft rock single, “Sooner or Later,” where keyboardist Larry Nelson gets the audience clapping and singing along on the song’s “Sooner or later/Love is gonna get ya” refrain.
Dawson declares, “You sounded great!” before guitarist Dusty Hanvey introduces the Roots’ 1967 gold record, “Let’s Live For Today,” which he dedicates to veterans in the house. Concertgoers join in on the sunshine pop tune’s powerful “Sha-la la-la-la-la live for today” chorus and Hanvey impresses with a blistering guitar solo which has audience members enthusiastically clapping and cheering.
Dawson jokes, “Did you see the sparks coming off his fingers!” as he and the group continue with “Where Were You When I Needed You?” a catchy pop confection which features Dawson’s strong, clear vocal. They follow up with the 1969 pop-rock tune, “The River is Wide,” where Hanvey’s rhythmic guitar strumming is artfully backed by drummer Joe Dougherty’s solid backbeat.
Dawson recognizes Daugherty who waves to the crowd before choosing the band’s next selection — 1971’s “Two Divided by Love.”
Audience members sing along with Dawson on the soft rock tune’s catchy “Two divided by love/Can only be one/And one is a lonely number” refrain.
The group continues with The Grass Roots’ 1969 psychedelic pop hit, “I’d Wait A Million Years,” where, after Dawson sings, “I’d wait a million years/Walk a million miles, cry a million tears,” he and Hanvey rock out on guitar and bass.
Dawson introduces his stagemates before they present an electrifying rendition of The Grass Roots’ 1968 Top 5 blue-eyed soul hit, “Midnight Confessions.” Audience members clap and sing along on the popular “In my midnight confessions/When I tell all the world that I love you” chorus and enthusiastically take over the lead on the dynamic “I love you!” refrain prior to standing and cheering as Dawson says, “Thank you, New Jersey! Thank you for having us!”
Following a short intermission, Stein and Harry G take the stage one last time and Harry G announces, “It’s time for Jay and the Americans!”
Vocalists Jay Reincke and Marty Sanders, guitarists Sandy Deanne and Darren Dowler, and bassist Lenie Colacino take the stage along with keyboardist Mark Baron, drummer Rick Van Horn, and a two-piece horn section. Opening their set with “Only in America,” Jay Reincke sings in his smooth deep voice, “Only in America/Can a guy from anywhere/Go to sleep a pauper and wake up a millionaire,” accompanied by rich vocal harmonies and strong instrumental backup on this upbeat 1963 pop-rock tune.
After the group performs its 1964 pop hit, “Let’s Lock the Door (and Throw Away the Key),” Marty Sanders sings lead on the soulful Carole King/Gerry Goffin R&B/soul hit for The Drifters, “Up on the Roof.”
Reincke dedicates the next song to the group’s original lead singer, Jay Traynor, before crooning the band’s first major hit — their 1961 Top 5 ballad, “She Cried.”
Sandy Deanne talks about recording a doo-wop influenced arrangement of Broadway’s “Some Enchanted Evening,” which went on to become a 1965 Top 20 single for the band. After the group performs it, the audience sings along on a powerful version of The Righteous Brothers’ blue-eyed soul hit, “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’.”
A highlight of Jay and the Americans’ set is when founding members Sandy Deanne and Marty Sanders perform a tribute to The Everly Brothers with a sweet and sentimental version of the duo’s 1960 pop ballad, “Let It Be Me,” which elicits animated cheers and applause.
Five-part back-up vocals support Jay Reincke as he presents a dramatic rendition of the soaring 1965 pop ballad, “Cara Mia.” Then, Lenie Colacino kicks off the iconic bass line of Ben E. King’s 1961 pop-soul number, “Stand By Me,” which is performed by Sandy Deanne.
Deanne introduces his favorite Jay and the Americans song, which was originally recorded by The Ronettes. Stepping into their 1969 Top 20 pop-rock hit, Darren Dowler’s guitar and Colacino’s bass add to Reincke’s pleading vocal on “Walkin’ in the Rain.”
Dowler — who formerly appeared as a member of Paul Revere and the Raiders — is featured on a pair of Raiders pop songs: the 1966 Top 20 hit, “You’re Just Like Me” and the 1966 Top 5 hit, “Kicks.” Reincke and group follow up with their 1964 Top 5 Latin-pop influenced classic, “Come a Little Bit Closer,” which was prominently featured in the 2017 Marvel film, Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2.
Following cheers, Jay and the Americans take a moment to acknowledge all of the veterans, first responders, and police officers in the audience. They conclude their set with their 1968 Top 10 pop-rock smash, “This Magic Moment,” where the audience claps and sings along before standing and cheering as Reincke says, “Thank you,” and Stein and Harry G announce, “That’s our show. Hope you had a great time; we love you guys!”
To learn more about The Lovin’ Spoonful, please go to lovinspoonful.band. For info on The Brooklyn Bridge, go to facebook.com/thebrooklyn bridge. For more information on The Grass Roots, please navigate to thegrassrootsband.com. To learn about Jay and the Americans, click on jayandtheamericans.com. For info on great upcoming shows at New Brunswick’s State Theatre New Jersey — including The Beach Boys on May 30, Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass on July 30, and The Sixties Show on October 22 — please go to stnj.org.
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