Frankie Valli is a master of understatement.
"We've had an extraordinary career and an awful lot of hits," Valli said Tuesday during a sweetly nostalgic performance at the Muriel Kauffman Theatre.
Valli's distinctive voice is a fantastically ethereal instrument. Piercing to the cusp of shrillness, Valli's warbling seemed unnaturally perfect on Tuesday. He never missed a note and sang with a strength that belied his 78 years. The disconnect between the visuals and sound in Muriel Kauffman Theatre called Valli's claim to be out of breath after a strident rendition of "Beggin'" into question. Either his voice has retained all of its youthful vigor or Valli was benefiting from electronic enhancement.
Valli and a youthful version of the Four Seasons were backed by an eleven-piece band that included a six-man horn section. The sound was crisp but oddly thin. While the origin of the sound is unclear, the quality of the music and the enthusiasm with which it was delivered was incontestable. A rousing rendition of "Who Loves You" compelled many in the audience of about 1,400 to dance. Ushers initially attempted to quell the spontaneous eruption of enthusiasm, but Valli managed to keep much of the audience on their feet for the remainder of the 110-minute performance.
Valli and the Four Seasons were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in part because its approach bridged the gap between Valli's fellow New Jersey natives Frank Sinatra and Bruce Springsteen. Valli referenced Sinatra in his introduction to "I've Got You Under My Skin." Even so, sublimely schmalzy material including the 1974 hits "My Eyes Adored You" and "Swearin' To God" were more akin to the styles associated with pop crooners like Paul Anka and Jack Jones. Much of the material, however, is truly timeless. The orchestral sweep of "Rag Doll," recreated to great effect Tuesday, clearly served as a blueprint for Springsteen's "Born To Run." The 1962 chart topper "Big Girls Don't Cry" and the sassy saunter of "Walk Like a Man" have lost none of their charm.The sole sour note of the evening came in the form of a slightly bitter anecdote in which Valli disparaged hip-hop. To paraphrase his song, Valli should "walk like a man as fast as he can" from such trivial concerns.
Setlist: “Grease,” “Dawn (Go Away),” “Save it For Me,” “Tell it to the Rain,” “Beggin’,” “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” “My Eyes Adored You,” “Swearin’ to God,” “Fallen Angel,” “Call Me,” “Let it Be Me,” “Spanish Harlem,” “My Girl/Groovin’,” “The Night,” “Silence Is Golden,” “Working My Way Back to You,” “Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ’Bout Me),” “Who Loves You,” “December 1963 (Oh What a Night),” “Can’t Take My Eyes off You,” “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” “Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye),” “Rag Doll,” “Let’s Hang On!”
| Bill Brownlee, Speical to The Star
Interesting, I had no idea he would still sound as good as you say at his advanced age. Really wanted to go to this, but just couldn't pull off the Tuesday night show because of other commitments. Love that setlist including the covers (My Girl/Groovin'/Spanish Harlem), I'm kind of bummed I missed this.
Posted by: pellboy | September 26, 2012 at 12:17 PM
What a treasure this guy is! Oopa Gangnam Style!
Posted by: 913KCKKID | September 26, 2012 at 12:37 PM
"Much of the material, however, is truly timeless. The orchestral sweep of "Rag Doll," recreated to great effect Tuesday, clearly served as a blueprint for Springsteen's "Born To Run."
Sorry, but I sure don't see that connection at all.
Posted by: onthemark | September 26, 2012 at 12:42 PM
Come on otm, everyone knows that most of Springsteen's songs are rip offs of other people's songs.
PS
I am DELIGHTED to hear Mr Valli make disparaging remarks about hip-hop and crap rap. The sooner that noise goes away, the better we all will be.
Posted by: Slade | September 26, 2012 at 01:18 PM
I was in a doowap craze earlier this year, listening to a lot of early '60s singers. It's good to hear one of them is still alive and kicking.
Curious what the anecdote was, and how it related to his opinion on hip- hop. So much for a pairing of Valli and Snoop Dogg.
Posted by: Natacha VonBraun | September 26, 2012 at 01:25 PM
I can kind of see the connection, otm. Born To Run clearly owes alot to tunes such Rag Doll and the Spector Wall of Sound hits of that era.
As for Valli's diss on rap/hip hop, I get it as it's common for many older acts such as him to pander to their audience by taking shots at the current flavor of popular music. Akin to arena rock bands back in the day slamming disco/punk/new wave or even Sinatra himself disparaging The Beatles. Somebody needs to inform Mr.Valli that timing is everything as those comments may have played a little better TWENTY-FIVE years ago when the genre was still sort of in it's infancy. While I'm sure the gray-hairs in attendance nodded their approval to those remarks, it's really just wasted words at this point because hip hop isn't going anywhere.
Posted by: pellboy | September 26, 2012 at 01:45 PM
Piercing to the cusp of shrillness = shrill?
Posted by: jvralston | September 26, 2012 at 02:27 PM
Was it live or Memorex?
Posted by: Joe | September 26, 2012 at 04:09 PM
Crip hop may have come along TWENTY-FIVE years ago, but it has nothing to show for it, except for adding to the prison population.
Hey!! did you see that great new rap box set coming out with all the great hip hop/rap on it? No? Yeah that is because it is all crap. It has no shelf life, no history, nothing to show for its time.
For all you wanna be cool old dudes who claim you love rap, and hate classic rock (mainly to look cool to your kids) compare and contrast the continuing appeal of classic rock to rap acts from 15-20 years ago.
Frankie Valli is 100% correct in his views on hip crip hop. No matter what wanna be cool dads want to claim.
Posted by: Mister | September 26, 2012 at 05:04 PM
EVERY time I hear a classic riff only to be followed some idiot, no talent, rapper crapping on it, it makes me wanna puke.
Then you have morons like Little Wayne setting a great example for how to act in court. http://www.tmz.com/2012/09/25/lil-wayne-deposition-video-quincy-jones-iii-lawsuit/
efil4zaggin is exactly correct right, and nothing has changed except a few of them making millions on the rest.
Posted by: Mister | September 26, 2012 at 05:10 PM
Classic rocks reminds people of good times in High school and getting laid in the back seat of their Dad's Buick.
Rap / hip hop reminds people of not so good times in da hood, back when Uncle Hibby was drinkin his 40 and Aunty Shibby was smokin her twenydollar crack rock, and everyone was takin a turn busten a cap in each others azzes.
NO ONE ever looks back with any sentimental feeling at early rap crap music. And those artist wont be playing Starlight in 20 years, mainly cuz most of them got shot dead, or got dead one way or another. Seems being dead, or at least shot is a badge of honor with rap fans.
Posted by: Wheezy | September 26, 2012 at 06:49 PM
Speak for yourself, I'm on old guy now and I still look back on plenty of early rap with same sort of nostalgia that I do the classic rock of my youth. The sillyness of stuff like Biz Markie, Tone Loc and Digital Underground and watching Yo!MTV Raps are fond memories for me and artistically speaking, The Beastie Boys early run of albums rivals and even exceeds the output of 70s radio stalwarts like Styx, Seger, Boston, Heart, etc.
We get it, you don't like rap, fair enough but anybody that completely dismisses any genre of music has zero credibility and anybody that assumes he knows where others are coming from in their musical tastes are equally clueless. And again, at least be creative and entertaining with your slams...your stereotypes and pseudonyms are just as stale and unoriginal, as what you profess rap to be. Irony, wheezy/mister is thy name.
Posted by: pellboy | September 27, 2012 at 08:01 AM
Rap sucks and everyone knows it, and any old white people living in the suburb who claim like they love it are posing for their kids. Give us a break.
Posted by: Walter | September 27, 2012 at 09:32 AM
Old, suburb living, white people saying they love rap is as lame as Zooey Deschanel wearing glasses with no lenses in them. Both of you need to stop posing, it is lame.
Posted by: Walter | September 27, 2012 at 09:37 AM
Give it up mister wheezy Walter, you got pwned by pellboy and you know it
Posted by: pwned I say | September 27, 2012 at 10:27 AM
BWWAAAAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHA oh yeah! Maybe Ya shiiby da hibby needsda goesand looks up what pawned means brutha.
I might have some prawns for lunch today, but pawned? dont make me laugh.
What is sadder than some old ass JOCO white guy spouting his love for rap crap, that is some funniest shiznit.
What you gonna do? bust a cap in my azz? yuns gonna go pimp yer beeatch Kanye? Gonna go get down with your zaggin? Drinks a 40? sling some rocks? Ya so gangsta!
YEAH!!! (laughing my balls off) nothing says rap lover like living in the Johnson County suburbs.
Frankie Valli was correct, respect your elders.
Posted by: Prawn | September 27, 2012 at 11:02 AM
Wow, you really nailed me, man. I didn't realize 99th & Blue Ridge is JOCO. When did they rezone the city and can my kids now go to the Blue Valley School District?
Posted by: pellboy | September 27, 2012 at 11:33 AM
Wait a second, you don't live in JOCO? Well, then never mind. I was talking to someone else entirely.
btw- The prawns were excellent at lunch today, thanks for that idea.
ps
READY TO ROCK TO SLASH TONIGHT!!!
Not that any of you mellow fest sissies will be there rocking out with one of the best guitarist in the world.
Posted by: Prawn | September 27, 2012 at 01:11 PM
I would definitely go to Slash, but I hestitated on tix. I really like his band with Myles Kennedy. Enjoy.
Posted by: pellboy | September 27, 2012 at 01:39 PM
If you mean you hesitated and now they are sold out...
Right now you can buy as many $20.00 tickets as you want...
http://kansascity.craigslist.org/search/tia?query=slash&srchType=A&minAsk=&maxAsk=
Posted by: Prawn | September 27, 2012 at 01:44 PM
TIP- On CL I always make sure they are hard tickets, not print out...and in this case make sure buy GA, on the floor.
Posted by: Prawn | September 27, 2012 at 01:46 PM
IQ TEST-
$175.00 for Aerosmith or
$20 for Slash/GnR/Velvet Revolver?
because that is what you get tonight with the set they play.
http://www.setlist.fm/setlists/slash-6bd6aeca.html
Halo
Nightrain
(Guns N' Roses song)
Ghost
Standing in the Sun
Back From Cali
Been There Lately
(Slash's Snakepit song)
Civil War
(Guns N' Roses song)
Rocket Queen
(Guns N' Roses song)
Carolina
No More Heroes
We're All Gonna Die
(Todd Kerns on vocals)
You're Crazy
(Guns N' Roses song) (Todd Kerns on vocals)
Not for Me
Starlight
Blues Jam / Guitar Solo
Anastasia
You're a Lie
Sweet Child O' Mine
(Guns N' Roses song)
Slither
(Velvet Revolver song)
Encore:
Fall to Pieces
(Velvet Revolver song)
Paradise City
Posted by: Slash set list | September 27, 2012 at 01:53 PM
Great setlist. What about if I just go down there, do you think I can come up with a $20-$25 ticket? Scalping at the event is more in my old school wheelhouse.
Posted by: pellboy | September 27, 2012 at 02:33 PM
This thread has been jumped for fricking Slash? Lame. Frankie Valli should hear some dubstep perhaps?
Posted by: Bewlay | September 27, 2012 at 02:35 PM
"do you think I can come up with a $20-$25 ticket?"
Sure worth a try. That is how I used to always do it, and it never failed, but these days I mostly use CL, and get great prices.
The main reason I like CL is it gets the ticket buying out of the way and allows us to head to the show at the last minute, (8:45 tonight) allowing us extra time to pre-party at someones house before the show... skipping the opening acts.
And, not to give away too many tricks, but I think the lull(low) in pricing comes in the afternoon of the show... tickets are cheapest then, (right now for Slash)... before they go back up price outside the doors... but it is always different. Good luck.
Posted by: Good Luck | September 27, 2012 at 02:48 PM
fwiw- The tickets we grabbed today say "ROCKAHOLIC PRESALE" and say
"$9.09 + $3.00 +5.50 + $0.80"... and we paid $20.00 each.
Posted by: Good Luck | September 27, 2012 at 02:57 PM
Thanks for the tips, I just may try this.
Posted by: pellboy | September 27, 2012 at 03:31 PM
My pleasure to help out...
Slash is a bonafide guitar God, and a seemingly good guy.... and the fact that he worked out his (on the edge of implosion) marriage to his wife makes me respect him even more.
Both Slash and Perla Hudson have twitter accounts (look em up if you care)(I only look occasionally) Anyway... They sure are a rock and roll couple (family), and I am happy to still see that in this day and age.
Speaking of rock and roll couples did anyone check out how Jo Wood is selling off Ronnie Wood's personal stuff after their divorce last year? It is a sad story, but I guess he left it all behind... so I dont know... anyway the auction items are kind of interesting to look at, especially a couple of NICE guitars.
Cool music stuff start on about page 150 http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2012/fine-arts/icatalog-accept-wood.html
Posted by: Good Luck | September 27, 2012 at 03:46 PM
I am a JoCo guy and hold Notorious B.I.G. in the same regard as any classic rock act. I love 'em both.
Posted by: wadkc | September 28, 2012 at 08:01 PM
I was at the Frankie Valli concert, and it was fabulous! That concert was better than many of today's current acts. Valli's voice is still phenomenal, and I hope to see him again someday. He was able to still hit all of the notes despite a couple of songs being scaled back a bit. Yes, there were times he had help...from a backup singer, but he sang most of the notes all by himself.
I like and listen to music of all genres, but the comment about hip hop was funny. There were people of all ages at the concert, and there was resounding laughter throughout the auditorium on his hip hop "slam". Quit trying to make the comment into something it's not.
Posted by: Vicki | September 29, 2012 at 08:20 PM
I love you Vicki :)
Posted by: Ted | September 29, 2012 at 09:17 PM
OH YEAH!!! Hip Hop is so awesome, YEAH.
Hey, it looks like the hip hop idiots were up to their typical hip hop crap AGAIN two night ago.
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/rick-ross-young-jeezy-involved-375198
What esle should anyone expect from this disgusting bunch of morons who create a bunch of disgusting sounds/noises.
HIBBY!!! YOU AINT SHIBBY UNLESS YOUSA GOTSA COUPLEA BULLET HOLEA IN YA! WORD UP!
What a bunch of retards, and this is VERY typical of the crap associated with rap crap.
Posted by: Word Up | October 01, 2012 at 08:19 AM