MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA) October 29, 2022 The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts Worcester, Massachusetts thehanovertheatre.org/ 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. :-)
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MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA) October 28, 2022 The Bergen Performing Arts Center Englewood, New Jersey www.bergenpac.org 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. 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!! 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. We had an early show, the next two days off, and Todd, our manager, was in town for one night, so we were all in a good mood. The only drag of the evening was that Skokie, our bass player, is leaving the tour and tonight was his last gig with us. 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. 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. 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. Another bonus about playing at the Akron Civic Theater is that the audience is always highly energetic and responsive. But the best reason for performing at the Akron Civic is to see four very dear friends. Dennis King, John and Anne Toptsisis, and Stephanie Eller Dennis is a legendary local radio DJ who has had a longstanding Monday night Trop Rock Radio show called Island Time. I have made several in-studio appearances over the years and he has always been a dedicated supporter of myself and A1A, but most importantly he is a great friend. To add icing on the cake, he and I share an enormous life-long love for the music of David Cassidy and The Partridge Family. :-) I have known Stephanie and Anne for 30 years and John for about 20. We used to have way more fun back in the day than anyone should be allowed to have. We have calmed down in our old age but have remained very close friends. I will have to say that the best thing about touring is that I get to see a lot of my friends who are scattered across the country that otherwise I would not have the opportunity to see. It was wonderful catching up with old friends and playing the Civic Theater again. Good times and great memories were made once again MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA) October 19, 2022 Michigan City, Indiana Uptown Social www.uptownsocialmc.com I find it amazing that you can tour for years, and you will occasionally come across a city or small town in which you have never played. Such was the case when we rolled into Michigan City, Indiana, on October 19, 2022. A town I have never heard of before. Unlike many tours in the past, I am doing my best to stick to a healthier routine this time. In short, I go to bed directly after the show, get up early the following day, and start to work—work is catching up and staying current with responsibilities back home, online, the band, and future projects. I fast for 16 hours daily, and I eat healthy all day. Also, most importantly, getting up early gives me time to exercise and walk to get my 15,000 daily steps. Since I enjoy walking and hiking outside, being on tour is the perfect way for me to experience new cities and towns healthily. The weather was beautiful, albeit cold, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky; it is a good thing for me that I like cold weather. Walking around Michigan City, Indiana, I got a strange feeling that it was a city severely affected by Covid 19 and a failing economy. Of course, this is my first impression, and I could be wrong. But there were many old houses in disrepair and many closed businesses that looked the same. I walked around all day and did not see anyone until I bumped into Chris and, later, the rest of the band walking around town. They also shared the same observation. On a positive note, however, they did score some great deals at the only large outlet mall in town. On an even more positive and educational note, I came across a park with a beautiful tribute to a female African American suffragist from the 1800s named Naomi Anderson. I looked her up on the internet and read all about her. There is too much information to post here, but I encourage everyone to do the same. She was an incredible woman, and her story is worth reading. I found a certain charm about the town, which I found hard to pin down. I guess that, along with the beautiful fall weather, set a perfect background for a good Halloween or Stephen King movie. Both of which I love deeply. Our venue for the evening was a distinctive, small concert venue that had been converted from an old church. The venue's name is Uptown Social, and it is absolutely gorgeous inside. It only holds under 200 people, so tickets were a bit pricey, but that did not stop people from coming out and having a great time. I do not think it was the best venue for a group such as MANIA, but it worked, and I enjoyed the intimacy of the small room and the close audience. I would love to play here as a solo artist; the room is perfect for that type of performance.
MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA) October 18, 2022 Peoria, Illinois The Peoria Civic Center Check out the LIVE page for all venue and ticket information for upcoming dates. As crazy as it seems, it is time to hit the road with MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA) again. I came in a week into the tour because my daughter got married over the weekend. If you are wondering, the wedding was to perfection, and everyone is splendidly happy, and I am extraordinarily proud and grateful. I joined the tour last night for our first show in Peoria, Illinois, at The Peoria Civic Center. Last night's show marked the first time I played in Peoria. It was a special night for me and a chance to mark something off my bucket list. In case you are unaware, the three foremost early musical artists that influenced my life, heart, music, and soul were Dan Fogelberg, Gino Vannelli, and David Cassidy. Dan Fogelberg was born and raised in Peoria. (As was Richard Pryor also, by the way) I have been here on two Dan Fogelberg pilgrimages before but have never had the opportunity to play in Dan’s hometown and a venue where he used to perform himself. So I had an eventful weekend. My baby girl got married, and I sang to the spirit of my hero, Dan Fogelberg. I played well, and the show was a lot of fun. It is funny how things work out sometimes. I suppose it’s all just part of the plan. |
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