Yuks for Youth Benefit Concert, Naperville Education Foundation
Wentz Concert Hall, North Central College, Naperville, Ill.
January 29, 2010
In the beautiful Wentz Concert Hall at North Central College in Naperville , Ill. , Chicago Gold Revue took the stage by storm and warmed the hearts of all who had come to hear them and to raise money for the Naperville Education Foundation.
After opening act Fletcher Rockwell, Ronnie Rice (New Colony Six) began the evening with his medley of rock and roll hits from the 50s and 60s. He was having a great time with audience participation, trying to see if we were old enough to sing the lyrics back to him. Chuck Berry ’s “Ding-a-Ling,” the Shangri-Las’ “Leader of the Pack,” Hermann’s Hermits’ “Silhouette on the Shade,” and more. He is an enthusiastic and accomplished performer, and a hometown crowd favorite.
The Cryan Shames do more than sing their hits, they entertain as well. Lead singer Tom Doody can always be counted on for blatant, kidding self-promotion. Jim Pilster runs around the stage like a man a third of his age. Guitarist Jeff Rutter, bassist Greg Brucker, drummer Rocky Penn, keyboardist Dave Rice, and percussionist Michael Ayres. The band was in finely tuned form and the vocals were their trademark harmonies.
After a brief intermission and awarding of raffle prizes, Dennis Tufano joined The Cryan Shames onstage and the music was kicked up! The acoustics in the Wentz Concert Hall are second to none and the performers took great pride in crafting a finely-honed show with many terrific moments.
Highlights of the evening were Dennis Tufano singing the haunting “My Funny Valentine,” a kicking “Funny What Love Can Do,” the acoustic “If I Were a Carpenter.”
Performing for close to three hours, the show was a great way to kick off the Year of 2000-Den and to raise money for a very worthy cause!
Photos from the show
"My Funny Valentine" video on YouTube
