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Hippiefest reviewed. What did you think?
Peace signs were flying, flowers were powered, tie-dye was in full effect and good vibes were flowing at Hippiefest on Saturday, July 26 at Kettering’s Fraze Pavilion.
Still, there was one big, obvious difference that the Turtles Flo and Eddie (original members Howard Kaylan and Mark Volman) summed up best: Back in the day, “we smoked pot, did hash and opium … did black beauties and tooties.” Today Kaylan and Volman said they do drugs like Lipitor, Zocor and Ambien. “In 1967 we took everything we could to kill ourselves, now we’re doing everything we can to keep ourselves alive.”
In other words the hippies have aged … a lot.
As a person who was not on-hand to experience the ’60s and who did not experience the music or culture of the ’70s in any kind of meaningful way, I can only really comment on what I observed.
Jonathan Edwards started things out promptly at 6:30 p.m. with a brief 25-minute set that included a rocking rendition of “Sunshine” and ended with a version of the Nylons’ “This Island Earth” delivered a cappella because as Edwards pointed out, “it’s easier to play that way.”
Other highlights played with various members of a backing band included Badfinger’s guitarist Joey Molland playing “Baby Blue”; Melanie’s “Brand New Key” which, although not always in key, was still fun to hear; The Turtles friendly sing-along song “Happy Together”; Jack Bruce, best known as lead vocalist and bassist for British rock band Cream, performing the rocking “White Room”; and Eric Burdon and The Animals “House of the Rising Sun” which brought most of the Fraze crowd to it’s feet.
So, was making it out to the Fraze Saturday night for the almost four-hour show a bad trip or a good trip? It all seemed to depend on when you were born and where you were coming from.
It was definitely a time warp where the voices weren’t what they used to be and nostalgia seemed to be everything.
Were you there? What did you think?
Permalink | Comments (15) | Post your comment | Categories: Music - Popular, Review
Comments
By numbskull
July 27, 2008 9:29 PM | Link to this
I was at the hippiefst. Wasn’t quite what I expected, but still a good time. Flo and Eddie were hilarious and kept the crowd entertained all night. Probly the highlight for me was Jack Bruce and Cream doing “White Room” and “I feel free”. That said, a true “Hippie Fest” should have lots of ganja passed around. I only even smelled it twice. I’m a veteran of about 15 Grateful Dead shows. Now that’s a true “Hippie-Fest”. Plus $46 for a lawn ticket (once TicketBastard takes their cut) is a little steep.By kyz
July 27, 2008 10:47 PM | Link to this
It was ok. I wouldn’t have paid the $40+ ticket price for it though, sat outside on chairs. Definitely sounded like a group of burned-out, aging pot heads though LOL. Even after 40 some years, still had to listen to Melanie and her spaced-out diatribes too which didn’t entertain me too much. Enjoyed the Animals. Show wasn’t worth the price of admission.By BigBoy
July 28, 2008 4:46 AM | Link to this
I think it would have been good to have some of Daley’s cops from the ‘68 Chicago riots show up and chase the hippies like they did at the democratic convention that year.By lisa
July 28, 2008 8:48 AM | Link to this
i thought it was great. my sister and i were down front, well worth the money. it brought back lots of memories. loved the background showing the pictures of the signers when they were younger.By daniel
July 28, 2008 8:51 AM | Link to this
great memories before busing !!!the schools were great then and just about everything else !!!! it sur has gone downhill since then !!!!By allen
July 28, 2008 9:37 AM | Link to this
would like to have heard Eric Burdon do more of the bluesy stuff the animals did like take you back to walker & I’m crying, but I guess it didnt fit the Hippie theme. really liked Jack Bruce doing the cream songs.By Papa Ubu
July 28, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
I went while under the erroneous impression that “hippie” referred to the obese members of the Dayton Creative Crass Inanity, but neither Bill Pout, Griggs nor T. Grasper were there!By Kim
July 28, 2008 12:01 PM | Link to this
I was there enjoyed everything even the Turtles comedy act, but when Jack Bruce of Cream came out I expected to be passing a doobie.By Take Me Back
July 28, 2008 12:40 PM | Link to this
The best of the show was definately The Turles and Eric Burdon. Although Jack Bruce was good, it was too loud to be enjoyed. Joey Molland was off key and Melanie was Melanie. I was really surprised that The Turtles and Eric Burdon sounded as well as they did. Mr. Burdon was definately a “spunky” 60+ and he can still belt ‘em out. He brought the house down with “House Of The Rising Sun.” A good show but not quite worth the price.By Yardbird
July 28, 2008 1:13 PM | Link to this
Jack Bruce’s set was tremendous and definitely for Jam-Fans the highlight of the evening. Jack’s Classical Voice sounded as if he never aged. Guitar Player Godfrey Townsend was great as well, standing in most of the night. Melanie’s son, the classical guitarist, was exceptional and I enjoyed Jonathon Edwards as well. However,I was disappointed w/ Eric Burdon and the Animals. Eric’s voice is shot and he didn’t let the band play to cover it up. They needed Godfrey Townsend to stand in instead of the 2 Kids they used. Their Sound was not good; kept cutting in & out. Over all though, a great evening. I don’t think people realize that most of the time you don’t see Jack Bruce for under $300.By Linda
July 29, 2008 11:45 AM | Link to this
The highlight for me and my friends was Jack Bruce. He should have been the headliner…best musician, best voice and still incredible, a legend. Can’t imagine wanting to follow that. I felt so honored and lucky to witness his performance. The audience’s demand for more songs from Bruce far outweighed all the others combined. I would pay far more to see just him once more.By John1135
January 25, 2009 8:27 AM | Link to this
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February 10, 2009 5:40 AM | Link to this
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February 10, 2009 5:45 AM | Link to this
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February 28, 2009 8:08 PM | Link to this
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