| JOHNNY RIVERS at Lombardo's in Randolph
January 18, 2002
by Joseph Tortelli
 | When Johnny Rivers sang the yearning folk song "500 Miles" in the midst of his performance at Lombardo's, the evening reached an emotional peak. Not only because he referenced the nation's recent tragedy in the introduction, but also because the bittersweet ballad is not part of his standard repertoire.
Originally recorded for his 1965 album "Johnny Rivers Rocks The Folk," "500 Miles" delivered the kind of unexpected treat that his fans could cherish. After all, the singer-guitarist has loads of uptempo hit singles to pack into a two-hour show. Rivers opened the evening with a rearranged version of "Midnight Special," a mid-60s smash that doubled as the theme to the late-night concert television series starring howling disc jockey Wolfman Jack. Letting loose spirited guitar licks, Rivers unveiled the Willie Dixon voodoo ditty titled "Seventh Son," which finds the singer proclaiming his clairvoyant powers against a rocking musical background. |
Known as the king of the "a go-go" sound during the '60s, Rivers gained recognition for his chart-topping interpretation of Chuck Berry's "Memphis." No small feat in the summer of 1964 when Beatlemania and the British Invasion dominated pop music. He developed a unique style based on chunky rhythm guitar, memorable lead guitar riffs, and lots of hand-clapping behind his soulful/rockabilly voice.
Rivers created exciting records then. With the support of an exceptional three-piece band, Rivers creates a less frantic, more mature excitement now.
And no song better captures his sound than "Secret Agent Man," yet another TV theme song. In addition to the James Bondish "swinging on the Riviera" lyrics, "Secret Agent Man" uncoils Rivers' string-stretching guitar licks, which remain among the most memorable instrumental lines of the '60s. The slim, still-cool looking Rivers closed the set with "Secret Agent Man," a song tailored to rev up a crowd for an encore. |  |
 | As important as upbeat rock 'n' roll is to the Rivers style, it expresses only one part of his musical work. He introduced songwriter Jimmy Webb to a wider audience with his majestic production of "Summer Rain." In concert, the Hammond B-3 organ filled out the song's glorious sound. Rivers, himself, composed the Number One hit "Poor Side of Town," a bittersweet love ballad that has been covered by many other artists. On a Motown classic, Rivers coaxed the audience to sing the chorus to "Baby I Need Your Loving," exploiting one of the crowd-pleasing techniques he has mastered over a four decade journey inaugurated at the West Coast's Whiskey A Go-Go.
But that was the '60s. This night he was playing at Lombardo's with a similar spark and professionalism. The 750-strong audience responded, listening raptly to the intimate "Tracks of My Tears," clapping to the rollicking "Rockin' Pneumonia & the Boogie Woogie Flu," and hitting the dance floor for the slinky "Barefootin'." |
| For the encore, Rivers said "good night" with his moving arrangement of "Slow Dancin' (Swayin' to the Music)." The late '70s standard actually worked better in live performance, where Rivers crafted a dynamic arrangement. And Lombardo's floor overflowed with slow-dancing couples. Rivers stayed after the show to sign autographs for fans, who understood that his singing "500 Miles" had transformed an entertaining evening into a special event. |  |
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