Two classic “Boy Bands” arrived at Fish Creek’s Door Community Auditorium mid-July to present a pair of amazing concerts within one week. The classic Oak Ridge Boys and Big Bad Voodoo Daddy performed to enthusiastic audiences where standing ovations invited the bands to play double encores for each captivating live performance.
In a two hour, no intermission concert, the four Oak Ridge Boys arrived in Door County for the first time. While the original band began in the 1940’s, the four singers on the DCA stage had been together 41 years: Duane Allen, Joe Bonsall, William Lee Golden, and his waist length white beard, and Richard Sterban. After mentioning this milestone anniversary, the band wanted to “get the party started” accompanied by their six piece band while playing songs from their first live recording “Boys Night Out.” During the concert, the band’s long term camaraderie shone through each song.
A rousing chorus of “American Made” remembers a brand of home loving fun with the lyrics, “My baby’s American made, born and bred in the USA.” Other hit songs included “Crying Again, and “Sail Away,” a tune perfect for Door County harbors…”Sail away on the wings of love, will you sail away with me?’” In what could have been a child’s lullaby, their poignant melody “Dream On” spoke to encouraging children to imagine a better world to grow up in, and how adults could help them achieve their dreams.
A great production number highlighted the boys and their band’s incredible performance energy and brought the house down: “Little Things.” The song speaks to the wonders of long term love, the cherished “little things” a person does for another, and had everyone singing along. One gospel number, which returned the Oak Ridge Boys to their musical roots, showcased their incredible a cappella harmonies, while a rendition of the more familiar “Ramblin’ Man” was a tribute to the Allman Brothers.
These four “boys” have no intention of retiring because “they’re having too much fun” and recently became the spokesmen for the 100th Anniversary of the American Legion. The band’s unique blend of blues, country, gospel and rock and roll ended with the hit encore: “Elvira.” The song brought the DCA house to their feet, clapping and whoaaooing to cap off a riveting evening of musical fun. Afterwards, “Touch a Hand, Make a Friend,” finally finished with the perfect “touch,” as hands across the audience reached out to discover new friends. Memories from a Door County summer experience, when people from across the country, indeed even the world, meet in the peninsula for a memorable live performance by the outstanding Oak Ridge Boys.
The following Saturday, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (BBVD) took to the DCA stage: Bandleader Scotty Morris, Andy Rowley, Dirk Shumaker, Kurt Sodergran, Joshua Levy, Karl Hunter, Tony Bonsera and Alex Henderson blowing on the their variety of big brass instruments. BBVD celebrates 21 years together, all the members original, producing 11 recordings, including their newest release “Rattle Them Bones,” available September 4th, which proves once again swing and big band songs remain timeless.
The lively band’s mix of musical origins revisits the blues, New Orleans jazz and swing beginning in New York’s Cotton Club era when Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington ruled the stage. Zoot suits topped with fedoras popular in the 1940’s adorn the Big Bad Voodoo Daddy boys in keeping with the style of the era. Their collection of unique music mingled “You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 (Baby)” with a jazzy but melancholy “Why Me?” where the lyrics relate: “If you see my baby, tell her this, she drives me crazy.” Or the incredibly jumpin’ “ZIg Zaggity Woop Woop,” which had audience members tapping their feet, and then clapping hands to the playful words.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s 90-minute, no intermission, return performance was extended by an enthusiastic DCA crowd, and had the audience swing dancing in the front aisles. What better way to enjoy a summer evening than enjoying the fantastic music the DCA Main Stage series brings to Fish Creek? When the concert’s last notes ended with “So Long-Farewell-Goodbye,” the audience could hardly wait for the next program in the DCA series, which invites world class entertainment to the peninsula through December 2014. Keep on jivin’ and jumping with DCA all year long.
Door Community Auditorium presents the 2014 Main Stage Concert Series through December 2014. For information on their Sounds Great! campaign or tickets, please call: 920.868.2728 or www.dcauditorium.com.