Rob Rheubottom wrote:

04:48 PM, Dec 20, 2008 |

Date of Concert: 10/8/2008 | Location: Winnipeg, MB, Canada

Review: Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals Club Regent Casino: Winnipeg, MB October 8/08 4 out 5 Stars Rascals Have the Crowd “Groovin!” Though he may be sporting a few more wrinkles than in heyday of the Young Rascals back in the late 1960’s, there’s still plenty of sparkle in the blue-eyed soul of Felix Cavaliere and his latest version of the band. He kicked the 1 ½ hour set off with the familiar strains of the 1967 self-penned hit “Lonely Too Long.” From there, he transported the largely baby boomer audience back in time, blending covers of the 60’s soul masterpieces such as Wilson Pickett’s “Midnight Hour” with Rascal’s classics such as “Beautiful Morning” and “Groovin’.” Cavaliere’s energy never flagged throughout the show, if he was not belting out vocals, or hammering out chops on his vintage Hammond B3, he was the consummate showman, stalking the stage, playing air guitar and instigating the crowd to join in – which they did willingly. Though he’s now in his mid-sixties, Cavaliere’s pipes still had the familiar range, elasticity and quality of his prime whether handling the delicate falsetto in the poignant ballad “How Can I Be Sure?” or the summer of love soul anthem “People Got To Be Free.” He prologued the latter with a comment on his pride in being a US citizen following the previous day’s election of the first US black president Barack Obama. He closed out the night with an extended version of the Rascals’ 1966 No 1 smash hit “Good Lovin’” which wound through a Bruce Springsteen-like rave up of vintage 50’s and 60’s material ranging from such diverse songs as Ritchie Valens “La Bamba,” the Contours’ “Do You Love Me,” Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze” and even Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” before closing out the medley to a well deserved standing ovation. Cavaliere shook hands with everyone in the front row (happily - this writer included) and the crowd filed out, eyes shining, having spent the evening ‘groovin’ to the soundtrack of their youth. Rob Rheubottom Wpg, MB Canada tarryrob@yahoo.ca