​MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 31, 2022 - HALLOWEEN
Burlington, Vermont
The Flynn Center for The Performing Arts 
www.flynnvt.org/

Halloween. My favorite holiday of the year, and October is my favorite month. As those who know me will attest, I am still a big kid at heart. While naturally, celebrating Halloween changes as the years and seasons of your life go by, I still do my best to honor it as best as I can every year. 

So I have been down in the dumps, for we have Halloween off, and no one has made any plans nor seemed very interested in doing anything. I figured I would spend Halloween in my hotel room watching horror movies, which would have been OK, but I longed for something more. As luck would have it, the Halloween spirits were on my side, and I struck Gold. 

​We aren’t in town long when I find out that the last date of The 47th Anniversary Rocky Horror Picture Show Tour with Barry Bostwick will be playing tonight at the same theater we are playing at tomorrow night!! O.M.G. For me, the only thing better than The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Halloween is Alice Cooper.  

I saw The Rocky Horror Picture Show for the first time when I was 17 years old and immediately became hooked for life. It was a massive part of my life for many years. I still participate when I have the chance, and I have always been a memorabilia collector. So to have the opportunity to see Rocky on Halloween by chance and meet Barry Bostwick is unchartably cool in my book. 

No one else was interested in going, so I went alone after a long day of walking around the beautiful lake here in Burlington, Vermont. The theater was sold out, and everyone was in costume. They had a huge costume contest, Barry was an incredibly cool guy, and I had a helluva good time. Soooo many memories came rushing back. I hated for the evening to come to an end. 

So how do I top off my evening? Go back to my hotel room, turn the lights off, turn on my IPad and watch John Carpenter's Halloween. When the movie was over, I turned the lights out and fell into a restless, haunted sleep. Don’t dream it…be it

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MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 30, 2022
The Calvin Theater
Northampton, Massachusetts 
www.facebook.com/CalvinTheatre/
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Northampton, Massachusetts, is a lovely town we have performed in several times. The city is full of beautiful architecture and scenery and has a laid-back bohemian feel. Whenever we play here, I always make it a point to spend most of my day outside. The weather was beautiful today, and although I did not get a full day out, I was able to get about an hour of walking in. I had work to do and felt a bit tired, and I needed to save some energy.

The Calvin Theater is always fun, and tonight’s audience did not disappoint. A great crowd always helps you perform better, for every performance is simply an exchange of energy. We were all in a better mood than usual tonight, for tomorrow is Halloween, and we have the day off in beautiful Burlington, Vermont. I don’t have any plans yet, but I am sure I will find something fun to do on my favorite holiday of the year. :-) 

​MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 29, 2022
The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts
Worcester, Massachusetts 
thehanovertheatre.org/
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When we rolled into Worcester early this morning, and I removed myself slowly from the bus, I was immediately struck with an awe-inspiring mural covering the back side of the theater. I walked to the right side of the theater, and there was another one. Both of them were immense and very beautiful. I had a pleasurable suspicion then that we were in for a wonderful evening. I briefly walked around to the front of the theater, which unfortunately was very difficult due to construction, and noticed a couple of other murals on buildings down the way. It was a beautiful day, so I told myself I would spend the day out walking. Much to my dismay, I let my body talk me out of it.

I was the first in the building where I located a small, cozy dressing room on the first floor near the stage and retired for most of the day. The small couch was quite comfortable, so I took a long nap, and after getting some work done, I missed most of the day. My sleep issues are quite difficult at home, and they are even worse on the road, so I have to take it when it comes.

On a more positive note, the theater was gorgeous, and the staff was courteous, cordial, and professional. The show went off without a hitch, and the audience was fantastic. In my effort to stick to an early morning routine and get some rest, I took a shower after the gig and quickly retired to my bunk, leaving the others to their fun and frolic. :-) 

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 28, 2022
The Bergen Performing Arts Center
Englewood, New Jersey
www.bergenpac.org
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The Bergen Performing Arts Center is a lovely mid-sized venue that has always treated us well. It has been a couple of years since we played here, so it was good to return. 

This evening's performance was made extra special by the return of a local children's choir who performed 'Fernando' and 'I Have A Dream' with us. We last used a choir several years ago. I am not sure why we stopped, but if memory serves me correctly, the consistency of finding a quality choir became a problem. Taking that into consideration, some were a bit nervous, but in the end, it worked out beautifully, and the children were a joy. They took it very seriously and came well-prepared. I was glad to see this, for I have always had a soft spot in my heart for that part of our show. I watch and listen to the children sing, and I am swept away back to my youth when I loved and cherished singing in a choir. So many memories and emotions sweep over me as long as their performance is good. :-)

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 27, 2022
The State Theater
Ithica, New York
www.stateofithaca.org/


The State Theater is another lovely old theater nestled in the downtown area of the quaint city of Ithica, New York. The State is a venue we have not played before, nor to my recollection, have we ever been in Ithica until now. 

Unfortunately, I was still not in a very good space yesterday. I was still exhausted with a good case of anxiety and a lot to do online before my day was my own. I got out and about late in the day. Once I walked out of the theater's front door, I instantly regretted my decision. It was a bit cold, but the weather was beautiful, so I decided to walk as much as possible before sound check and the show. 

Sound check was short and successful, and the show was fantastic. The house was not sold out, but the people there were rabid and crazy about our performance. These kinds of audiences make us play that much better, and the evening flies by. 

The best part for me was seeing my good friend, Michael Kent. I first met Michael a few years ago on tour. He is probably our #1 fan. The year we met him, he came to about five shows in a row, and he was always front and center. He wears a glitter vest and a hat he made with our name on it. He gets into the music, so he is impossible to miss. Ithica is his hometown, so it was good having the opportunity to spend time with him on his turf. He brought his Mother, Father, girlfriend, and another superfan of ours named Mike. His last name escapes me at the moment, but he has seen us about 8 or 9 times. They will both be coming to the show tomorrow night in Englewood, New Jersey! More great memories were made. 
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MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 26, 2022
South Portland Auditorium 
South Portland, Maine

After two days off in Portland, Maine, we drove down to South Portland for our next gig on October 26.
The weather has been horrible, so I hardly left my hotel room during my off time. Instead of going out, I decided to take full advantage of having a comfortable bed to sleep in, get some work done, decompress, and relax. Unfortunately, I ended up more exhausted yesterday upon arrival at the Auditorium than when I checked into my hotel two days prior. Due to the bad weather, I spent most of the day alone on the bus, which I didn’t mind. 

Our venue last night was quite interesting, for it was on the campus of a local high school. The dressing rooms were a bit cramped, and dinner was a buyout, but aside from that, everything went OK. It was our first gig with our new bass player, so there were a few hiccups but nothing to worry about. He will do just fine after a few shows.

As I mentioned, I was not feeling well and started to fade in the middle of the first set. Boo. I did my best, but my concentration was off, and it 
got the best of me. After the show, I neglected the offer of a shower and retired quickly to my bunk to try and get some rest. I hope today will be a brighter day, and I will be a Super Trouper once again. On a more positive note, the audience was lively, and the show was a great success!!
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MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 23, 2022
Riverhead, New York
The Suffolk Theater
www.suffolktheater.com

I found myself on Long Island, New York, for the first time. The town's name is Riverhead, and the beautiful club we performed at is called The Suffolk Theater. It is a small white classy Theater that draws an old-school New York clientele. Our show was sold out, and everyone who worked there was very kind to us. 

We were told the night before that the weather would be nice, so I was looking forward to getting out for a walk. Unfortunately, we were given the wrong information, or Mother Nature woke up on the wrong side of the bed. As it turned out, it rained all day, and I ended up spending the day in the green room, which I did not mind, for it was cozy and quite comfortable. I found a corner seat on the comfy couch and settled in for the day. 

​Our after-show get-together with Todd at a little bar next door was a lot of fun. It was great to catch up with him and for us all to let off a little steam. Thanks to everyone who came to the show. 

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 22, 2022
Middletown, New York
The Paramount Theatre
www.middletownparamount.com


We performed again in a town and venue we had never played before. With my sightseeing memories from Warren, Ohio, still fresh in my mind, I set out early this morning for a walk. The weather was beautiful, but the scenery was nowhere near as attractive. However, they did have a lovely and clean skate park in the middle of town, which brought back many memories of my youth. 

I have found when touring the North East that you can find a significant number of very old, weather-beaten houses in need of repair. Perhaps at any other time of the year, this might seem unattractive. However, October is my favorite month, fall is my favorite season, and Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I am drawn to them.

So, while we are on the subject of Halloween, the movie by the same name is my all-time favorite Halloween movie and franchise, along with Phantasm. 

I was walking around town today with Halloween on my mind when I turned a corner and came in direct contact with a house resembling the one in the original Halloween movie by John Carpenter, but this was not fake. In all honesty, shivers went up my spine, and I stood there for about 10 minutes looking at it. I wanted to knock on the door but eventually came to my senses and walked on down the sidewalk, looking back ever so often to make sure someone or something was not following me. 

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On a less frightening note, our show was a blast. In fact, they may have been our best audience yet. Everyone was highly energetic, dancing in the aisles and applauding and screaming throughout the show. They were something else, and their energy helped all of us give a fantastic performance. Oh, and I was relieved to see that Michael Myers was not in the audience. Happy Halloween. 

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 21, 2022
Warren, Ohio
​The Robins Theatre
www.robinstheatre.com/


I have a confession to make. I made a promise to myself when I first started touring that I would make it a point to spend quality time walking through and experiencing all each city we perform in has to offer. I have kept my promise for the most part. However, there have been some cities that fell through the cracks. Warren, Ohio, has been one of them.

We have played The Robins Theater several times, but for some reason, I have never ventured out of my dressing room. Looking back, I am sure it is because they have a strong internet connection, and I need to get work done when and wherever I can.

This time, the weather was much too beautiful to ignore, so I closed my laptop and went for a long walk, and I am glad I did. 

The fall weather had the trees in the square turning the most vibrant and beautiful colors. There was an extremely detailed and impressive Veterans Memorial off the square, and the walk down by the outdoor amphitheater and the river were exceedingly beautiful. So much so that there were some moments, I was brought to tears. Of course, the music in my headset and the emotional person I am heavily contributed to that. ​

The show later that night, although not as heavily attended as last year, was a lot of fun, as it always is here. I look forward to returning, and next time I will not wait so long to venture outside my dressing room. Thanks to the wonderful people and fans in Warren, Ohio, for showing us a fantastic time. 
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​MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
October 20, 2022
Akron, Ohio
The Akron Civic Theatre
www.akroncivic.com

The Akron Civic Theatre remains one of my very favorite venues to perform in. It is one of the most beautiful theaters I have ever set foot in, and to be able to perform here is always a majestic joy for me. It reminds me of The Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. FYI - The Fox remains #1 on my bucket list of venues I would like to play before I leave this earth.
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