Ah, live music.
Fans on their feet. Singing. The band matching the crowd's intensity. Drum beats. Soaring guitars. Roof-raising vocals.
For the first time in almost two years, it was great to be among the crowd again, dancing and singing (OK, I'm not exactly Roy Orbison), fists in the air, at an event Saturday night at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom.
Walking up the stairs at the 2,200-seat venue, a sense of anticipation hung in the air at the sold out event. For the past 15 or so months, public gatherings like this were impossible.
The Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom has played host to great acts for more than 100 years. U2 played there before the Irish band exploded onto the world stage. So did the likes of Bob Seger, The Doors, The Kinks, INXS, Simon & Garfunkel and The Who, to name just a few.
Saturday's lineup didn't feature any of that stardom. It was a double bill, with Heart tribute band Whole Lotta Heart opening for Journey tribute band Voyage.
Tribute bands can be hit or miss. This was a hit.
Both were terrific. If I had my way, I would have been watching Bruce Springsteen perform for the 71st time. (I'll have to wait until next year for that treat.)
But it didn't matter. Whole Lotta Heart delivered Heart hits like "Alone," "Who Will You Run To" and "Barracuda" with unbridled joy.
As for Voyage, they were terrific. The lead singer did an admirable job imitating Steve Perry, no easy task. By the time "Don't Stop Believin'" was played, the entire crowd was on its feet, singing and swaying like there wasn't a care in the world. That's what music - live music - can do.
May live music never go away again.
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