There’s a kind of hush over the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, NJ this May 28, 2026 evening as fans ready themselves to hanky panky the night away at a sold-out concert starring Herman’s Hermits featuring Peter Noone and Tommy James and the Shondells. Hosted by radio DJ Bruce ‘Cousin Brucie’ Morrow, tonight’s show is the second in a series of free 2026 performances presented by the Garden State Arts Foundation under the direction of VP Ron Gravino and assisted by Cookie Santiago, Karin Souren, and Andy DiPalma.
Gravino welcomes the audience to the Arts Center amphitheater and thanks the various sponsors of tonight’s concert including LiveNation Entertainment, PNC Bank, and WABC MusicRadio 77 before introducing Cousin Brucie who takes the stage as audience members cheer to his radio show theme song.
“This is a perfect, gorgeous night for a concert!” announces Brucie prior to introducing Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone.
Music lovers clap along with Herman’s Hermits’ guitarists Vance Brescia and Billy Sullivan, keyboardist Rich Spina, and drummer Dave Ferrara as they take the stage. The crowd cheers when frontman Peter Noone enters and he and the band launch into the 1964 Herman’s Hermits hit, “I’m Into Something Good.”
The crowd joyfully sings along to the song’s upbeat “Something tells me I’m into something good” chorus before Noone and the band segue into the Hermits’ 1965 remake of the 1960 Sam Cooke hit, “Wonderful World.”
Music lovers sing along to Noone and the Hermits’ rendition of The Clovers’ 1959 classic, “Love Potion ? 9,” before Noone exclaims, “What a splendid audience Cousin Brucie has given us!” and jokingly sings a song about Holmdel, NJ to the tune of The Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann.”
Making his way down into the crowd, Noone gives a poignant presentation of “Listen People” as he croons the song’s “Everybody’s got to love somebody sometime” message. On his way back to the stage, Noone, 78, borrows an LP version of his first album, The Best of Herman’s Hermits, from a fan which he holds up for the audience.
After a jaunty interpretation of 1966’s “Dandy” and an upbeat rendition of 1966’s “A Must to Avoid,” the crowd cheers and Noone exclaims, “You are the best audience we’ve had on the whole tour!”
Noone dedicates his 1967 hit, “No Milk Today,” to GSAF VP Ron Gravino before guitarist Billy Sullivan is featured on a rockin’ rendition of “Jezebel.”
Following a humorous impression of Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” Noone leads fans as they wave glow sticks and sing along on The Monkees’ “Daydream Believer.”
Noone jokes about his “dad” — Mick Jagger — prior to strutting back and forth across the stage to The Rolling Stones’ “Start Me Up.” Afterwards, he announces, “Let’s do a Beatles song for Cousin Brucie!” and he and the group perform an upbeat rendition of “All My Loving.”
Noone stands between Billy Sullivan and Vance Brescia and delivers a rockin’ version of his 1965 hit, “A Little Bit Better,” where Vance Brescia high kicks as he plays guitar.
Audience members sway back on forth on a jaunty interpretation of “Silhouettes,” before Noone jokes, “This one is a bit of a downer. I hope you like it!” and demonstrates his keen vocal abilities on a heartfelt version of his 1965 ballad, “End of the World.”
After launching into a spirited version of Herman’s Hermits’ 1965 hit, “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat,” audience members sing along with Peter on his 1965 #1 smash, “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter.” They also join in singing and clapping on a raucous rendition of Herman’s Hermits’ 1965 hit, “I’m Henry the VIII, I Am,” where Noone energetically directs the festivities before showing the audience his socks with flags on them — one American and one British.
The crowd sings and sways as Noone and the Hermits perform the final number of their set, a nostalgic rendition of the group’s classic 1967 recording, “There’s a Kind of Hush.”
Fans stand and cheer and Noone responds, “Goodnight, God bless, thank you!” before Cousin Brucie congratulates Peter on a tip-top performance.
Following a short intermission, Brucie returns and welcomes several musical guests onto the stage to chat including The Elegants’ Vito Picone, Jim Babjak and Dennis Diken of The Smithereens, and The Brooklyn Bridge’s Ed Gaudio before he introduces Tommy James and the Shondells.
James, 79, takes the stage and opens with his 1971 solo hit, “Draggin’ the Line,” where he sings, “Makin’ a livin’ the old, hard way/Takin’ and givin’ by day by day/I dig snow and rain and the bright sunshine.”
Backed by Jonathn Ashe on bass, John Golden on guitar, Glenn Wyka on drums, Mike DiMeo on synthesizer, and John Korba on organ, the band’s wall of sound reverberates throughout the amphitheater.
“Jersey! How you doing?” inquires James, before exclaiming, “Let’s put your energy together with ours and let’s make something happen!” Blue lights flash to the beat as a tremolo electric guitar plays and James croons the lyrics to his 1968 hit, “Crystal Blue Persuasion”.
Toes tap to the rhythm of “Say I Am,” before lights flash on “Getting Together.” Then, James picks up an acoustic guitar and tells the audience that his memoir, Me, the Mob, and the Music, is in development as a streaming series. He describes the final musical number of the production as a slowed-down version of his classic tune, “I Think We’re Alone Now,” which he performs in a primarily “unplugged” arrangement.
Following avid cheers, Tommy and the band move on to a powerful and driving rendition of “Ball of Fire” before continuing with an updated rendition of “Tighter, Tighter,” the 1970 hit James co-wrote and produced for the group, Alive ‘N Kickin’.
Heads bop as Tommy and the group deliver a dynamic performance of James’ 1968 #1 smash, the psychedelic “Crimson and Clover,” where Tommy sings with emotion, “Crimson and clover/Over and over,” on this classic rock ballad.
Music lovers dance at their seats to James’ and the Shondells’ version of 1966’s “Hanky Panky,” and Tommy and the boys follow up with a second version of “I Think We’re Alone Now” — this time, an up-tempo rendition, à la the one heard on the original 1967 recording.
Following 1968’s catchy “Do Something To Me,” the James’ gang launches into an electric version of Tommy’s 1968 smash, “Mony Mony,” where, as the band vamps, Tommy ventures offstage and down into the audience. After shaking hands and posing for selfies with fans in the crowd, he makes his way back up onto the stage and finishes the song with flair as the audience stands and cheers.
Cousin Brucie asks concertgoers, “Do you want more?” and they respond in the affirmative. Here, James and Co. perform an encore of Tommy’s 1969 hit, “Sweet Cherry Wine,” and follow up with a rollicking rendition of 1967’s “Mirage.” After concluding tonight’s festivities with a rockin’ reprise of “Mony Mony,” the audience stands and cheers and James exclaims, “We love you, Jersey! God bless all of you!” to avid hoots, hollers, whistles, and applause.
For more information on Tommy James, please navigate to tommyjames.com. To learn about Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone, please click on peternoone.com. For more info on Cousin Brucie, please check out Cousin Brucie’s Friendship Page at facebook.com/YourCousinBrucie. To find out about free upcoming GSAF performances — including The Sound of America: A Semi-Quincentennial Concert featuring The United States Army Field Band and opening act, American Bombshells, on July 1 — please navigate to gsafoundation.org.
