David Cassidy on the Web
This year's Pacific National Exhibition concert
Thursday, August 17, 2006
By John Mackie
Vancouver Sun
www.canada.com/cityguides
This year's Pacific National Exhibition concert lineup looks like the PNE Star Spectacular, circa 1972.
David Cassidy!
Tony Orlando!
Glen Campbell!
The difference, of course, is that in 2006 all these acts are playing at the Rogers Amphitheatre for free admission, rather than for a pricey ticket at the Pacific Coliseum.
The '70s superstars are supplemented by a handful of '70s superstar tribute acts, along with a pair of a cappella groups, some modern country acts and a Canadian Idol runner-up.
It's anyone's guess who will be the highlight. Some aging stars are still happening, while others are pale shadows of their former selves.
Glen Campbell is a case in point. Who will show up -- the stellar musician who recorded timeless classics like Gentle On My Mind, Wichita Lineman and By The Time I Get To Phoenix, or the scary-looking guy whose mug shot was flashed around the world after Campbell's arrest for drunk driving a couple of years ago?
Campbell is now 70 years old, by way. He appears Monday, Aug. 28.
Tony Orlando apparently is big in Vegas, which means the masses should be treated to a show with lots of pizzazz. The 62-year-old is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his mega-hit Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree, but sadly, it is without his former backing group Dawn. He's up Thursday, Aug. 31.
David Cassidy is now 56 but retains his youthful good looks, which should please the legions of 40-something female fans who will no doubt show up to check him out. He'll be appearing Monday, Aug. 21.
Former Blood, Sweat and Tears singer David Clayton-Thomas will be at the PNE Sunday. No doubt he'll be hauling out BS&T hits like Spinning Wheel, And When I Die and You Made Me So Very Happy.
But there may be a couple of hardcore music fans in the audience hoping he will reel off his garage rock classic from the late '60s, Brainwashed.
(The same people will probably be at the Glen Campbell show hoping against hope he sings I Guess I'm Dumb, an obscure but brilliant song written and produced for Campbell by Brian Wilson, who Campbell once replaced in the live version of the Beach Boys.)
There's a lot of Canadian content in the PNE concerts. Chilliwack kicks off the concert series Saturday, country singer Jason McCoy appears Aug. 22, Canadian Idol's Theresa Sokyrka appears Aug. 23, the Nylons are on Aug. 27, and Aaron Pritchett is Aug. 30. The highlight could well be Jeff Healey and the Jazz Wizards on Aug. 24.
Friday, Aug. 25 will be Carnaval time at the fair with Ache Brasil, "B.C.'s foremost Brazilian dance and percussion troupe." Manhattan Transfer will take the stage Aug. 29.
The remaining dates are filled up by tribute acts: the popular Neil Diamond show Nearly Neil featuring Bobby Bruce (Aug. 26), a Tina Turner show featuring Luisa Marshall (Sept. 1), a Cher tribute starring Karen Grainger (Sept. 2), a Motown Revue featuring Riley and the Ryze Band (Sept. 3), and a Rod Stewart tribute with Dave Battah (Sept. 4).
All shows start at 8 p.m.
THE LINEUP
- Saturday, Aug. 19: Chilliwack
- Sunday, Aug. 20: David Clayton-Thomas
- Monday, Aug. 21: David Cassidy
- Tuesday, Aug. 22: Jason McCoy
- Wednesday, Aug. 23: Theresa Sokyrka (Canadian Idol)
- Thursday, Aug. 24: Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards
- Friday, Aug. 25: Carnaval at the PNE with Ache Brasil
- Saturday, Aug. 26: Nearly Neil
- Sunday, Aug. 27: The Nylons
- Monday, Aug. 28: Glen Campbell
- Tuesday, Aug. 29: Manhattan Transfer
- Wednesday, Aug. 30: Aaron Pritchett
- Thursday, Aug. 31: Tony Orlando
- Friday, Sept. 1: Tina Turner tribute
- Saturday, Sept. 2: Cher tribute
- Sunday, Sept. 3: Motown tribute
- Monday, Sept. 4: Rod Stewart tribute
