Music fans at Englewood, NJ’s bergenPAC this Saturday, November 22, 2025 evening ready themselves for a Thanksgiving week performance by the iconic singer, songwriter, and producer, Tommy James.
Over the past six decades, James has sold over 100 million records and his music has been covered by a who’s who of music industry greats including Cher, Tom Jones, Prince, Joan Jett, Santana, Billy Idol, Bruce Springsteen, Dolly Parton, and Kelly Clarkson.
With Thanksgiving just days away, James takes a moment backstage to share his appreciation to all who have supported his career for nearly 60 years, acknowledging, “I’ve been blessed with an amazing group of fans right from the beginning who’ve gone with me from project to project.” Joking, “Like me, a lot of them started out with full heads of hair, and ended up with not as much hair!” James concludes by stating, “It’s been a long road, but they’ve been with me the whole time and I’m at the point where they all feel like extended family to me.”
Inside the bergenPAC auditorium, before the show starts, fans share their thoughts on Tommy James and his music. Remarks Mike from Slate Hill, NY, “I started listening to Tommy James on the radio when I was a kid in the early ’70s. I loved ‘Draggin’ the Line’ and I can’t wait to hear it tonight. I first saw Tommy when he was here at BergenPAC in January of ’24. I thought it was such a great show, I’m back, and if I could say anything to Tommy, I’d say, ‘Tommy, thank you for all the years of great music!’”
Likewise, Steven from Marlboro adds, “I’d like to thank Tommy for staying in the music industry and giving us all of his great work for so many years. Plus, I’ve seen him interviewed on TV and he’s such a regular guy.” Steven’s wife, Jodi, concurs, noting, “We’re both looking forward to hearing him perform tonight as this will be our first-ever Tommy James concert.”
Lastly, Tim from Cresskill recalls, “I’ve been listening to Tommy’s music ever since I was young and I’m looking forward to hearing him do ‘Sweet Cherry Wine,’ ‘Crystal Blue Persuasion,’ and more tonight.” His wife, Donna, adds, “When we found out Tommy was performing at BergenPAC, we wanted to be here. His songs always bring back great childhood memories, and hearing them makes us feel young again!” to which Tim concludes, “It’s a testament to Tommy and all the other great artists that they can still get out here and rock!”
The auditorium lights dim and the crowd cheers as Tommy James takes the stage along with his band, The Shondells, featuring Mike DiMeo on keyboards, John Golden on guitar, Glenn Wyka on drums, Jonathn Ashe on bass, and John Korba on organ.
Opening with his 1971 solo hit, “Draggin’ the Line,” James’ voice sounds as clear and strong as ever. As he energetically sings, “Makin’ a livin’ the old, hard way/Takin’ and givin’ by day by day,” lights flash and music lovers clap along to the tune’s driving rhythm before reacting with avid applause.
“Jersey, it’s great being back at BergenPAC!” declares James, acknowledging, “It’s great to play to a Jersey crowd. Let’s put your energy together with ours and let’s make something happen!” Colored lights flash to the beat as a tremelo electric guitar plays, an organ swirls, and James performs his 1968 hit, “Crystal Blue Persuasion.”
James asks, “Is everybody ok?” and a fan responds, “We love you!” before John Golden’s wailing guitar stands out on Tommy’s next selection — the rocking, “Say I Am.” Tommy and the band follow up with a bright and bubbly version of James’ 1967 pop hit, “Gettin’ Together,” where James sings, “Gettin’ together never felt like this before,” backed by four-part vocal harmonies.
James tells the audience that his memoir, Me, the Mob, and the Music, is slated to become a movie or TV series and describes the final musical number in the production as a slowed-down version of his classic tune, “I Think We’re Alone Now,” which he and the band perform with acoustic guitars, keyboard, and organ.
Following large applause, Tommy and the band move on to a driving rendition of “Ball of Fire” — a power ballad which features stunning live vocal harmonies and flashing lights — before continuing with the 1970 hit James co-wrote and produced for the group, Alive N Kickin’. Filled with mighty harmonies and power chords, lights flash as James puts a fresh spin on the million-selling pop tune, “Tighter, Tighter.”
The crowd roars as Tommy and Co. perform his psychedelic 1968 #1 smash, “Crimson and Clover,” where Tommy sings with passion, “Ah, now I don’t hardly know her/But I think I could love her,” and concertgoers dance in their seats singing “Crimson and clover/Over and over” before responding with a standing ovation.
James and The Shondells follow up with 1966’s “Hanky Panky” where concertgoers sing and clap along while John Golden and Tommy rock out on electric guitars on the rhythmic interlude.
Music lovers sing along as Tommy and the band continue 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. Then, lights flash and audience members dance and cheer to 1968’s catchy “Do Something to Me” where Glenn Wyka delivers a flashy drum solo.
The James’ gang follows up with an electric version of one of the greatest party songs in the history of pop music, Tommy’s 1968 smash, “Mony Mony.” As the band vamps, Tommy ventures offstage and out into the audience where he shakes hands and takes photos with fans. After returning to the stage, concertgoers party with Tommy singing the famous “You make me feel (Mony Mony)/So (Mony Mony)/Good (Mony Mony)” refrain before standing, whistling, cheering, and applauding.
“Thank you, everybody!” exclaims Tommy as he and the band exit the stage. Returning, he and The Shondells waltz into an encore of Tommy’s 1969 3/4-time hit, “Sweet Cherry Wine,” and follow up with a rollicking rendition of 1967’s “Mirage.”
They conclude tonight’s festivities with a rockin’ reprise of “Mony Mony,” after which Tommy exclaims, “God bless you, Jersey!” We’ll see you again!” to the standing, cheering crowd.
As music lovers make their way out of the BergenPAC auditorium, several share their thoughts about Tommy James and his performance tonight. Comments Paula from Randolph, “I’m so thankful for Tommy James; I love him — he’s wonderful! He sounded amazing tonight and, God willing, I’ll see him again next year!” Her friend, Michelle from Morris Plains declares, “He was absolutely fabulous — he hasn’t changed at all! He still sounds young. He took me back to the day, God bless him!”
Ted from Cliffside Park acknowledges, “I’d like to thank Tommy for all of his music. It puts me in different places when I listen to it — when I listen to one song, it brings me back here; when I listen to another, it brings me back there. I’m an audiophile and I thought tonight’s performance sounded really great — the last time I saw Tommy was 40 years ago and I thought he was note-for-note spot-on tonight.”
Remarks Ted’s wife, Celeste, “I was amazed! Tommy sounded so good, he brought me back to where I’m feeling young again and I’m just takin’ that feeling home!” After revealing, “Our kids grew up on this music — we used to take family drives where the kids were a captive audience listening to these songs,” Celeste’s daughter, Vanessa, confirms this by stating, “We grew up on rock and roll and Tommy was awesome tonight — he got me up out of my seat! I go to a lot of concerts by artists of my day, but shows like Tommy’s tonight are, by far, my favorites!”
Lastly, Cristina from Teaneck insists, “I love Tommy, and I’ve always loved him. His show tonight was great — I’d go see him again and again and again,” prior to concluding, “We will never forget Tommy James!”
To learn more about Tommy James, please go to tommyjames.com. For info on great upcoming programs at BergenPAC — including Engelbert Humperdink’s A Winter World of Love on December 10, and Darlene Love’s Love for the Holidays on December 21 — please click on bergenpac.org
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