At first glance, it's easy to mistake the Happy Together tour for that
other annual oldies trek known as Hippie Fest. It boasts one of the same
headliners in the Turtles, whose onstage antics under the aegis of their original frontmen Mark Volman and Howard Kaylan
(AKA Flo and Eddie) always provide a reliably rousing stage show. With a
classic catalog consisting of timeless delights "Eleanor," "You Baby,"
"She'd Rather Be With Me," and, of course, the tune providing the banner
for this bonanza in the first place, their star billing remains
well-deserved. But here's the difference -- while the audience for the
two tours may be practically the same, the Happy Together extravaganza
recognizes that hippies and hipsters weren't the audience for the
giddier radio fare that distinguished AM from FM back in the day.
Consequently, there may be broader appeal for the Boomer brigades, given
a supporting cast that includes Micky Dolenz of Monkees fame, Rob Grill of the Grassroots, Mark Lindsay of Paul Revere
and the Raiders, and the Buckinghams, whose biggest number, "Kind of a
Drag," kind of makes them an also-ran in these leagues. Still, with a
combined repertoire that includes "Last Train to Clarksville" (Dolenz), "Let's Live for Today" (Grassroots), "Kicks" (the Raiders) -- in short, enough hits to sustain several seasons of Glee -- count on the Happy Together tour to instill a merry mood all around.
Happy Together 25th Anniversary Tour, with the Turtles, Micky Dolenz,
the Grassroots, Mark Lindsay, and the Buckinghams. 7:30 p.m. Thursday,
July 29, at Hard Rock Live, 1 Seminole Way, Hollywood. Tickets cost $34
to $54. Call 800-745-3000, or click here.