The audience was a bit smaller this year but the performers were bigger than ever with a few surprises thrown in. The show’s music came from a live band that goes by a couple different names. On this night it was the ‘Broadway Lights Band’, AKA ‘The Garage Band’. Somewhere in Bayside you may have heard them practicing in the garage with the singers for what seemed like months for this performance. Thanks to Donna Scorse for all the direction and encouragement she gave them to keep practicing. Kudos to the band. They are all talented in different areas and make it sound and look so easy to play.
The show was named Montage due the the eclectic choice of music that was sung. The band, run by Walt Kemp, began the show with ‘Sweet Little Sixteen’, ‘Melissa’, ‘Route 66’, and ‘Stormy’.
The singers were mostly seasoned entertainers. Although one new face, DC Turnage, was a bit nervous about singing in the show. He sang a Johnny Cash duet with Gail Mattulina called ‘Jackson’. DC’s deep voice practically shook the stage as the tech sound crew made a few quick adjustments during the sound check. Carol Evans sang ‘Ripple’, because it reminded her of her family from years ago. From Elvis Presley’s ‘Can’t Help Falling in Love’, sung by bass guitarist John DiMare, to Gail Mattulina’s sultry song ‘Guilty’. It truly was a montage of entertainment.
The theme for this night was focused on family. The audience was asked to stand and participate in a sing-a-long with ‘We are Family’ as the words appeared on the big screen.
Our Tanglewood family had survived yet another Hurricane. For some it was their first encounter and for others, well they lost count, but were always grateful and yet amazed at how the community comes together to help out their fellow neighbors with transportation, meals, or with the clean up.
The last songs went from ‘You Look Like You Love Me’ to ‘Shut Up and Drive’ ending with another sing-a-long ‘Kansas City’. And, when a singer totally forgets the lyrics in the middle of a song, as what happened Saturday night, (in case you didn’t notice) the band quickly jumped in as they replayed the chorus which helped to end the song. Afterward, they smiled and Gail gave a quick hug as we exited the stage. And that’s how musicians cover for ‘family’.
