PHOTO BY GEORGE RODRIGUEZ
On Stage at the Capitol, hitting Broadway April 15
The Rascals Reunion: Two Hours of Groovin’ in A Peaceful World was struggling at the end of How Can I Be Sure, the audience rose Steven Van Zandt — Little Steven, Miami Steve —is going to their feet as one with a standing ovation cheering him on. It was to be remembered for a list of accomplishments a mile long starting so powerful, so beautiful, so encouraging to see these men (with with his stint as the guitarist in The Dovels (Bristol Stomp) on the only a keyboard, bass and trio of background vocalists) perform. oldies circuit to his current starring roll in Lillyhammer (a Netflix The Rascals not only made hit records, their timeless classics made only series that is more than worth a monthly subscription). Over them elders of a musical generation that set out to change the world. the years — and he is still at the peak of his creative powers — he Their soulful singing, exemplary playing and brilliant songwriting has been and still is Bruce Springsteen’s right-hand man on stage and secured their place in musical history. This in the studio; a top-notch actor as a mobster on The Sopranos; outspoken champion of civil show will make the band bigger than ever. As rights (Sun City); host of the wildly popular Vince Pastore, who narrated the show via the internet radio phenomenon Underground video, so aptly put it: “We need the Rascals now Garage (“playing the coolest songs ever made”); more than ever before.” Pastore, celebrated for leader of his own successful band, The Disciples his short-lived Sopranos role, performed his of Soul; and who knows how many other part brilliantly. He’s casual, he’s real and most hats he wears. But for many of a certain age, definitely a fan. Van Zandt peppers his script he will never be forgotten for performing a with equal parts hilarity and poignancy. There miracle that will most certainly qualify him for are four actors who portray the Young Rascals canonization: reuniting the Rascals. as they make their way up the musical ladder, For Steven, it all started sometime in 1965 refusing Phil Spector’s demand to produce at a skating rink in New Jersey where for $2.50 them and arguing slightly with Laurie Burton he saw a live performance of the Young Rascals, and Pam Sawyer whose I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out as they were known then. “I’ll never forget My Heart Any More was to be spoken by Eddie, it. It was the most exciting night ever. They not sung. “Who speaks lyrics?” Eddie asked, were phenomenal live, really quite different a generation before rap came into being. At than anybody else. And very, very influential Steven Van Zandt at the Rascals performance one point, the young actor who plays Eddie of Once Upon A Dream at the Capitol Theater describes an episode where he was unwittingly to this day.” This day came to pass December 14 when shot by his brother David, the “fifth Rascal”: “It the reunited Rascals — Dino, Gene, Eddie and Felix (are last names only hurts when I laugh. Unfortunately, the world’s a funny place.” really necessary?) — took the stage of the redecorated Capitol Theater With so much going on with Brickman’s exciting and timely in Portchester, New York and rocked the house for six sold-out nights. video production on the big screen behind the band, this is a show The show, consisting of a backdrop multi-media presentation (written you have to see more than once, if for nothing else than to keep by Steven with stage, video and light design by Marc Brickman) your eyes on Dino who never lets up for a moment on his drum set . featured the Rascals performing live for about two hours worth of Van Zandt brings it all home with his summation, delivered their classic unforgettable songs, most of them big hit records in the with class, precision and dignity by Pastore, that segues neatly to the 60s. This band was memorable in so many ways, from their impeccable finale: a rocking version of See. “For one precious, glorious moment musicianship and vocals to their stand on not performing anywhere we really thought it would happen. No more war, no more prejudice, unless they had an African-American opening act, that to describe no more fear, no more hate. We were the Love Generation. We this event in mere words does not come close to doing it justice. almost got there. We just ran out of time. But in dreams, there is no Let’s start with the music: simply put, they are playing better time. As long as we can dream together we can still get there. And than ever. The vocals are on the money, and when Eddie, suffering wake up to that beautiful morning. Because once upon a dream… from the flu and not being on stage in such a way in over 40 years, the Rascals are back!”. —VICTOR FORBES 58 • Fine Art Magazine • Spring 2013