The crowd inside Rahway, NJ’s UCPAC auditorium this Saturday, October 29, 2022 is ready to reminisce with a nostalgic evening of hits by Little River Band.
Reveals Rebecca from Burlington, Vermont, “We drove five-and-a-half hours to get here. This is feel-good music — not too heavy and not too soft. I know all of Little River Band’s songs and, to me, their music just feels right,” before noting, “I’m looking forward to hearing ‘Cool Change,’ especially here in this beautiful theater.”
Rebecca’s friend, Karen from Burlington, agrees, adding, “Rebecca is a true fan — I’m more of a follower — but I love all of Little River Band’s music, too.”
Lisa from Rahway discloses, “I like Little River Band because of their instrument playing, and I also like this era of music where you can understand what the musicians are singing and that you can sing along, as well.” Tom from Rahway concurs, suggesting, “I don’t think some of today’s music will last 50 years like Little River Band’s music has. When you hear LRB, you can identify them right away by their unique sound.”
Remarks Janet from Cranford, “This is the music of my young adult years, and I live local so it’s nice to see a band here for our ‘Girls Night Out.’” Christa from Branchburg agrees, noting, “Their vocal harmonies are awesome, and I’m especially looking forward to hearing them sing their hits, ‘Cool Change,’ ‘Lady,’ and ‘The Night Owls.’” Linda from Linden recalls, “Growing up, I listened to Cousin Brucie on 77-WABC radio and he played Little River Band so, tonight, I want to hear all of their hits!”
The crowd cheers as the seven local string and horn players which comprise the Night Owl Orchestra take their places while lights dim and fog fills the stage. A musical overture of LRB hits plays while the band members — bassist Wayne Nelson, guitarists Colin Whinnery and Bruce Wallace, drummer Ryan Ricks, and keyboardist/musical director Chris Marion — enter to avid whistles and applause.
The orchestra plays the intro to “It’s a Long Way There” before tight vocal harmonies take over singing, “Hey everybody, yeah/Don’t you feel that there’s something?”
Long-time LRB singer/bassist Wayne Nelson skillfully handles the lead vocal on this funk-infused rocker.
Colin Whinnery and Bruce Wallace follow up by making their guitars sing under flashing lights to the full sound of the orchestra.
The crowd whistles and cheers, and the group segues into “Man on Your Mind.” While Wallace gets the crowd clapping overhead to the feel-good vibe, Whinnery shines on a guitar solo.
Nelson greets the audience saying, “Hello, New Jersey! How about a hand for the Night Owl Orchestra? Thanks for sharing your Saturday night with us. We’re glad to see you! Are you guys ready to sing tonight?” Here, LRB performs the group’s 1977 hit, “Happy Anniversary,” where Whinnery trades off lead vocals with Nelson.
Chris Marion is featured on a keytar solo before Nelson invites the audience to echo-sing with the band on the song’s ubiquitous “Happy anniversary, baby/Got you on my mind” refrain.
“Well done, Jersey!” exclaims Nelson as the group launches into “Take it Easy on Me.” Expert four-part harmonies ring out before Whinnery and Wallace duel downstage with their guitars to animated audience cheers.
Whinnery, Marion, Ricks, and Wallace each take turns singing lead on “The Other Guy” before the band performs “The Lost and the Lonely,” a new LRB song which has the Night Owl Orchestra’s strings and horns adding to the number’s patriotic vibe.
Following another new number, “I’m an Island,” Nelson asks, “Do you remember 1978? What do you say we do a little bit of reminiscing?” Launching into the band’s’ 1978 hit, “Reminiscing,” Nelson sings, “Friday night, it was late, I was walking you home/We got down to the gate and I was dreaming of the night.” After the guitarists duel, Whinnery plays a guitar solo.
There’s also a featured flugelhorn solo before the group surprises the crowd on the song’s coda with a snippet of Chicago’s “Saturday In the Park.”
Nelson announces, “This is for every soldier we know. God bless them and support them.” The crowd hangs on to every note of “Help Is on the Way” as Whinnery and Wallace’s guitar playing is featured to audience hoots, hollers, whistles, and applause.
Band members exit the stage leaving Ryan Ricks to perform a drum solo filled with complex rhythms and rolls accompanied by flashing lights which strobe to the beat.
The musicians return and the guitarists come downstage to play the explosive guitar intro to “The Night Owls.” Nelson expertly reprises his lead vocal from LRB’s original 1981 recording of the tune, singing, “He’ll get the girl ’cause he looks so fine/He’s gonna win her every time/He knows he will/He’s dressed to kill/He’s a night owl.”
Whinnery plays upstage by the orchestra and Wallace takes a guitar solo downstage before the crowd stands and cheers.
Chris Marion begins a new piece, serenading the audience with a keyboard solo which features cascading waves of sound that waft over the audience eliciting cheers and applause.
Segueing into “Cool Change,” Nelson earnestly sings, “If there’s one thing in my life that’s missing/It’s the time that I spend alone/Sailing on the cool and bright clear water.”
Wallace plays acoustic guitar but switches over to electric as the sound builds on this song of peace and tranquility. The guitarists each take a solo before they duel in the fog and colored lights.
The audience sings along on the song’s anthemic “Time for a cool change” chorus.
Nelson points to the guitarists and orchestra for recognition prior to introducing all of the LRB band members. After he announces, “How about one for the ladies? New Jersey ladies — sing it if you know it!” happy audience members stand, clap, and sing along to “Lady.”
Ladies in the audience glow as they feel the love under flashing lights while Nelson serenades them singing, “So lady/Let me take a look at you now/You’re there on the dance floor/Making me want you somehow.”
Music lovers stand and cheer as the band takes a bow. Nelson thanks the crowd for coming and uses a camera to capture images of audience members enjoying themselves for the Little River Band Facebook Fan Page announcing, “We’re definitely coming back to Rahway, NJ!”
The band vamps while Nelson announces, “We’ve got one more song for you!” Audience members clap overhead as they stand, dance, and party to LRB’s rendition of “Lonesome Loser.”
Wallace and Whinnery split the lead vocal. Music lovers shine the flashlights on their phones as they sway back and forth. Orchestra leader Paula Perdikis comes downstage to play electric violin before Chris Marion comes downstage to play keytar.
Nelson invites the Jersey audience to “Raise the roof!” and the crowd happily sings along on the song’s “Have you heard about the lonesome loser/He’s a loser but he still keeps on tryin’” chorus before the band plays an extended coda which brings tonight’s show to its climactic conclusion.
As music lovers make their way out of the UCPAC auditorium, we chat with several in the crowd who share their thoughts on tonight’s show. Remarks Joanne from Sommerville, “I loved this concert by Little River Band and the Night Owl Orchestra. It was really fun! All the musicians really put their hearts into it. Also, I like how they featured so many musicians and showed their personalities. For me, it was a real ‘good-vibes’ performance!”
Stephanie from Linden recalls, “This was my second time seeing LRB — I saw them more than 20 years ago in Atlantic City with Wayne Nelson — and it was exciting to see him and the band again,” maintaining, “They still sound awesome. It was a really great night!”
John from Staten Island acknowledges, “We love Little River Band! We’ve seen them so many times. They’re phenomenal, and their music is timeless,” prior to adding, “I think Wayne Nelson’s voice gets stronger each time we hear him. It was an awesome show!” Bonnie from Scotch Plains concurs, noting, “We had a great time! This show brought back so many good memories. It was a lot of fun!” and Carolyn from North Carolina declares, “It was even better than we expected!”
Sandy from Staten Island calls LRB’s performance tonight “Amazing!” explaining, “I especially loved the addition of the Night Owl Orchestra, and I love the fact that they use local musicians.” Lauren from Liberty Corner exclaims, “This show was so much freaking fun! I had a great time singing the songs and dancing, too!”
Whereas Maggie from Rockland County, NY contends, “It was so much fun — I had a fabulous time! I listen to their music all the time in my kitchen when I’m cooking, and I’m passing this music on down to my 21-year-old daughter,” Tom from Rahway suggests, “Little River Band’s music is timeless — it literally brings you back in time,” explaining, “It’s good and it’s comforting,” before exclaiming, “It’s comfort food for the ear!”
To learn more about Little River Band, please go to reallittleriverband.com. For further information on upcoming performances at UCPAC — including Scared Scriptless with Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood on December 16, Get the Led Out on February 2, 2023, and Broadway’s Mandy Patinkin on February 18, 2023, — please click on ucpac.org.
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