On the night of May 19, thanks to the spectacular efforts of local musician Pat Guadagno and his band the Tired Horses the Two River Theatre in Red Bank, once again came alive with the music of the legendary singer/songwriter Bob Dylan. For the third time in its 10 year history, "BobFest - A Bob Dylan Birthday Celebration," was held at the state of the art theater. Produced by co-founder Tom Moog and hosted by 101.5's Big Joe Henry, the sold-out concert directly benefited the Rock & Roll Music Fund and the Anthony X. Guadagno Scholarship Fund. Established in honor and memory of Berklee College of Music alumnus bassist Tony Guadagno, the endowed scholarship will be awarded each year to an outstanding bass player from New Jersey who displays a passion for rock and roll. This year the Rock And Roll Music Fund presented the Berklee College of Music with a check for $25,000.
Aura Maeve Guadagno sings with
her father
Pat Guadagno at
the
Two River Theater
|
Accompanied by Tired Horses, Rich Oddo (electric
guitar/vocals), Phil "Red River" Rizzo (bass/vocals), Rene
Woolley (drums), Andy McDonough (keyboard/accordion/backing
vocals), Yuri Turchin (violin), Mary McCrink
(vocals/tambourine), Aura Guadagno (vocals) and newcomer
Mark Muller (steel guitar/dobro/ mandolin/electric guitar),
this area's finest interpreter of song, Pat Guadagno (lead
vocals/acoustic guitar), paid homage to this country's
greatest singer/songwriter/ poet. And while this year's
performance may have been their most somber and
contemplative to date, the results were the same as in years
past, another most memorable night of music.
Kicking off the first set with "When The Ship Comes In" (a true beauty) Pat and the Horses treated the sold-out house to inspired interpretations of "Billy 1" (oh so soulful and melodic/great band number/big crowd favorite), "Boots Of Spanish Leather" (Mary angelic on vocals), "Subterranean Homesick Blues" (Pat and the Horses pick up the pace as Yuri fiddles away), " The Lonesome Death Of Hattie Carroll" (simply chilling), "Dear Landlord" (features Phil on lead vocals and Mark on steel guitar), "Momma You've Been On My Mind" (most moving rendition with Pat and Aura sharing lead vocals) "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right" (Pat and the Horses get down & dirty on this big time toe tapper/Yuri shines on violin/rousing finish), "Tombstone Blues" (Be Dylan or Be Gone/hot rocker with a killer band groove), "Gotta Serve Somebody" (saints and sinners baby/ Mary gets down and funky/ monster number/partial standing ovation), "I Shall Be Released" (Red River rising/ Rich, Yuri and Mark smoke/ this one was for Steve Montanino), "If Not For You" (another outstanding band effort with Rich on lead vocals) and "Sad Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands" (Guadagno the Lionheart/fearless/unforgettable effort/Bob would be proud). |
 And as one comes to expect at BobFest the second set was
every bit as good as the first. Pat Guadagno got things
underway with a show stopping solo on "Chimes Of Freedom"
(virtuoso acoustic play and haunting vocal/ P.G. was
brilliant), followed by "Make You Feel My Love" (magic time
with Mary on vocals and Andy Mc on keys/you could hear a pin
drop), "I'll Be Your Baby Tonight" (Tired Horses go honky
tonkin' with Mary and Pat on lead vocals), "I Want You"
(Rich rocks on electric guitar/another big crowd pleaser),
"This Wheel's On Fire" (you bet/just ask anyone lucky enough
to be there), "Highway 61 Revisited" (Pat and the Horses
stir things up as Rich and Rene pick 'em up and put 'em
down), "Tears Of Rage" (total change of pace/Mark's mandolin
helps make it) "It Takes A Lot To Laugh, It Takes A Train To
Cry" (huge house rocker), "Forever Young" (for Bob on his
67th/glorious duet between Pat and Aura garners a standing
ovation), "My Back Pages" (audience eats it up), "Like A
Rolling Stone" (quintessential Dylan and Guadagno/Mark steps
up on electric guitar/standing ovation) and "Knockin' On
Heaven's Door" (wonderful encore with Pat and Rich sharing
lead vocals/ impressive harmonies).It's hard to believe that it is over 47 years since Bob Dylan took to the stage and opened for the great John Lee Hooker at Gerde's Folk City in Greenwich Village, but it is. And it's equally as hard to believe that it's 46 years since Bob Dylan recorded and released his first album, but it is. And what makes it all so hard to believe is how fresh and relevant his music remains today. If you don't think so, just go back and give a good hard listen; I'll leave the album choice up to you. And lest we forget that it was Bob Dylan who took the entire folk/protest movement, albeit kicking and screaming, into the electric age. And it was Dylan's unique singing style that opened the doors for voices that otherwise would have never been heard. And while there is no arguing that Elvis was the King, it was Bob Dylan the songwriter who forever changed popular music by bringing the written word to the forefront and whose lyrical influence was responsible for taking the Beatles from "I Want To Hold Your Hand" to Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and beyond. Bob Dylan was not only the voice of his generation, he is and remains the most influential man in popular music since the 1960s. Pat Guadagno knows it. The Tired Horses know it. And so should you!
|