The "Summer Music Tour" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Looking over my Cicada Music Festival program making sure that I get all my facts straight in order to write my story for the day.  This summer Carol and I spent a few warm and lazy evenings listening to some of our favorite music and musicians.  Some of the local music venues are free while others cost a minimal amount for an evening of entertainment.  We started the summer with a concert at the Springettsbury Township Park bandshell in York, PA.  Their 16 summer music shows are free and they have some great entertainment available for all ages throughout the summer months.  

Carol and I both grew up with the Beatles and we decided it would be fun to hear Beatlemania Now which performed on June 12.  Their performance chronologically traces the Beatles career from their 1964 U.S. debut on the Ed Sullivan Show, to the finale of "Let it Be" in 1970.  Great evening weather wise, but not so musically.  We have heard several Beatles tribute bands and I am sorry to say this may have been the least favorite for us.  Their harmony was poor, their musical talent was borderline and their interaction with the crowd was sorely lacking. Best thing I can say about the concert was it was free!  We left the concert knowing that it had to get better.  On Wednesday July 17 we made a return trip to Springettsbury to hear Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods.  

Flamin' Dick and the Hot Rods

We had heard them a few times before and knew we were in for a fun evening.  This Rock-n-Roll Party Band played a variety of music from the 50’s and 60’s - "The Golden Years of Rock-n-Roll."  It was an amazing evening with song after song that we could sing along to with their encouragement.  We finally felt in the mood for the remainder of the summer concerts.  August 5 we made our first of three trips to The Cicada Music Festival at the Mt. Gretna Playhouse.  The Playhouse is located in the beautiful woodlands of Mt. Gretna which is located between Lancaster and Lebanon, PA.  Called the Cicada Festival because Mt. Gretna is one of the many areas in this part of Pennsylvania where the cicadas emerge from the ground every 17 years.  And ..... this was their festival year.  

Phil Dirt and the Dozers took us on a musical journey back to a time when life was simpler, the world a bit smaller, and the cost of a new Chevy was about $2,000.  Poodle skirts, saddle shoes and the corner drug store were all a part of everyday life.  Now, you probably have guessed by now that I didn't come up with this description by myself, for it was taken directly from my Cicada program.  But, it truly describes the program they present every year at Mt. Gretna.  This is probably our favorite concert we attend every year and it didn't disappoint this year.  

Arrival, ABBA Tribute Band

Two nights later we hopped in the car and headed back to Mr. Gretna to see "The World's Greatest ABBA Tribute Band."  The original ABBA band from Sweden originated in 1971 and performed as a group until 1982.  The band we heard tonight, called "Arrival" also is from Sweden and began their tribute to ABBA in 1995.  They sported the original ABBA costumes and sang song after song that you would remember if you were an ABBA fan from the 70s.  They certainly did look the part in their 70s attire, and sound much like the original group, but their stage presence and personalities seemed just ...... blah to me, as if they were hoping to get it over with and head home. Our final music treat was the following week when we returned one more time to Mt. Gretna.  I should tell you that when the announcement is posted online listing the shows for the summer music series, the tickets sell out within a week or two.  Tickets priced at $13 certainly help fill the 600 or so seats.  

The Bronx Wanderers, which featured a father and his two sons as well as two old rock and roll veterans and a bassist who had just come off tour with Billy Joel delivered music that they described as "Back to the Future" high energy 50s, 60s and 70s Rock N' Roll.  I'll give them credit for one thing, they were LOUD!  Of course the fact that we were in the front row on the left side of the playhouse directly in front of a bank of speakers with earplugs in our ears didn't help.  At break, we moved to the rear of the playhouse and stood for the second half.  Their music was great, but the father, leader Yo' Vinny, talked constantly about himself and his family as well as how many famous people he knew.  Trying to impress the audience that way wasn't needed, just the music would have done that.  We had seen this group two years ago and really enjoyed them, but we will pass on another visit with them next year.  Our summer was a success music wise with a few good bands and a few we will cross off our list for next year.  Here's hoping we can find a few new groups in the future and give them a try.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.