Tributing by, 'Taking it easy' @ 'Hotel California'

 The Merritt Park Amphitheatre is an amazing rough-hewn semi-circle that recalls Ceasaria's site circa 70 AD. The stage is a barge anchored on the eponymous(old) Welland Canal. To be seated about 10 yards from actually being able to dunk my piggies while watching professional rockers perform- priceless! And it is FREE.

But first, a personal vent. This O.F. has consistently demarcated between a testimonial and a caricature by performers reprising the works of successful but passé icons. I remember a group of ABBA & the Bee Gees imitators whose emphasis on the personal foibles of the originals were a mockery. Others, such as Bobby Bruce (Neil Diamond) or Buffalo's Jon Seiger (Satchmo), simply tried to capture the essence of the originals.

For me, "Go, Freddie Go"'s album is perfect for a musical pastiche. Widely divergent, it appeals to all tastes & preferences.

Last night's opening act was REVOLVER & FRIENDS. This local quartet was the winner of this year's Canal performing competition which comes with some perks (recording session) and the opener on the water. Comprised of guitarists BRAD WHITELAW & PAT SERRE, with MIKE MAKKREEL on drums and bassist WAYNE LACK this conglomeration was fantastic. Both individually and as a team, their professionalism projected beyond the footlights. The group's vitality and thrill of performing was visceral and was reflected by the audience's enthusiastic response. The team's encomium to the 'Beatles' was only by the white shirts and black vests, no corny wigs, or pseudo Brit accents. I particularly enjoyed their rendering of Simon & Garfunkel's "Mrs. Robinson".

The next segment offering was an appreciation of Neil Young's compendium offered by GARY POOLER. Except for the ubiquitous Stetson ®, fortunately no reference to the chronic illnesses Young suffered and still endures (epilepsy, diabetes, polio). This folk and soft rock icon was an intrinsic part of Can/Am ensemble Buffalo Springfield, thence the renowned Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. Pooler did a definitely acceptable version of 'Rockin in The Free World' plus the requisite 'Harvest Moon'. But, something was off, there were some lyric stumbles and to paraphrase the Captain to 'Cool Hand Luke' "A failure to communicate". He did influence some of the audience to shake booties in front of the stage. One such distraction was a rather gaudily clad 'Arthur Murray' graduate and his selected partners.

Wish this critic could have had the opportunity for a one-on-one with Pooler, there may have been an explanation.

The headliners were the 'EPIC EAGLES'. This entourage is composed of JEFF SALEM, DAN BOHEMIER, DEAN YOUNG, TIM WILSON & CALEB BOURGEOIS and they had no need of requesting 'Forgiveness', they moved the audience and the forestage was mobbed with dancing duos, triplets and even a group of four female terpsichores. The atmosphere was visceral and I kept thinking of intimately waltzing with my Terry to 'Desperado'. The original group dissolved, went separate ways then re-united. Each offering was tonally, as well as lyrically meticulous and this tribute effort emulated what their original counterparts managed.

 It was a cherry-topped sundae of a Friday!