- HAPPY TOGETHER TOUR
- Kauffman Center – Kansas City, Missouri
- August 21, 2022
Part two of my wonderful musical weekend!
What if I told you that you could see the Cowsills, the Vogues, the Buckinghams, the Association, Gary Puckett and the Turtles all in one night? No, really! They are all together on the most recent HAPPY TOGETHER tour, which made a stop in Kansas City this past weekend.
For those who may not know this, the Cowsills was a group made up of a mother and her musical children. Sound familiar? That’s right. The Cowsills were the inspiration for television’s “Partridge Family.” On this night, brothers Bob and Paul, along with sister Susan, opened the show with a set of the most popular songs. They even threw in the theme to television’s “Love, American Style,” which I had no idea they’d done.
The Vogues took the stage and opened with their classic “Five O’ Clock World.” The group was in fine voice, with amazing harmonies. The Buckinghams were represented by original members Nick Fortuna and lead singer Carl Giammarese, who was celebrating his 75th Birthday this evening.
Next up was the Association, who sounded as good on this evening as they did in their heyday. Songs like “Cherish” and “Never My Love” filled the Kauffman Center, with the crowd signing along. Next up was the amazing Gary Puckett. I had seen him in 1986 when he opened for the Monkees. He didn’t disappoint then, and he didn’t disappoint on this evening. With his distinct voice, songs like “Young Girl” and “This Girl is a Woman Now” rolled over the audience. Mr. Puckett noted that Carl Giammarese was 75 but that Susan Cowsill was 63. He also noted that he had them both beat as he will be turning 80 later this year!
Closing out the night was the Turtles, whose hit “Happy Together” gives the tour its name. A big bonus, for me anyway, was that Ron Dante was the lead singer. Dante, who turns 77(!) today also was the lead vocalist on the biggest selling song of 1969, “Sugar, Sugar.” Which means that I can legitimately tell people that I saw the Archies in concert!
The night ended with everyone one stage in a mini-medley of some of the night’s best moments.
The HAPPY TOGETHER tour continues through the year. You can find tickets for it HERE.
SONG LIST: Cowsills: The Rain, the Park and Other Things, We Can Fly, Indian Lake, Love, American Style, Hair. The Vogues: Five O’Clock World, My Special Angel, Turn Around Look at Me, You’re the One. The Buckinghams: Don’t You Care, “Hey Baby (They’re Playing Our Song), Mercy, Mercy, Mercy, Susan, Kind of a Drag. The Association: Windy, Never My Love, Cherish, Along Comes Mary. Gary Puckett: Lady Willpower, Over You, This Girl is a Woman Now, Woman, Woman, Young Girl. The Turtles: She’d Rather Be With Me, You Baby, It Ain’t Me Babe, You Showed Me, Sugar, Sugar, Eleanor, Happy Together.
