Herman’s Hermits * July 27, 2005 * Bensalem, PA

What a great time I had! Lisa, Mr. John Beck and I arrived early hoping to stake out the best spot for our lawn chairs and blanket. Apparently quite a few other people had the same thought. We didn’t sit in the extreme front but we did get close enough. I guess it was around 6:30 when a guy came out on stage and said, “I’ve been watching the doppler and we are in the path of some major thunderstorms and we won’t start the concert until they pass. Please people, we don’t want any accidents, please stand by the pavilions we have errected.” I thought he might mention something about some brown acid going around, but he didn’t.

Lisa, John and I just laughed, we decided to stay put and maybe even move our lawn chairs up a bit once people started leaving. Fifteen minutes later a huge bolt of lightning ripped through the sky and a fierce wind blew across the field. Very calmly we folded our lawn chairs and took off across the field to the pavilions. The skies opened up and a fierce rain slammed down upon us. All in all, it probably lasted about 45 minutes. Soon, en masse, we made our way back to the stage. The Rip Chords came out and performed. I opened up my rucksack and pulled out the food I packed. As the Rip Chords sang Beach Boys and Jan and Dean songs, we dined on hummus, red seedless grapes and canned wine (not bad!).

The Rip Chords didn’t have to warm up for very long before I found myself bouncing around in my seat. No, I didn’t have to pee! I had the music inside of me! I knew I wouldn’t be able to spend the entire concert seat bound. It was just as they started to play Hey Little Cobra I jumped up and danced. Very lucky for me, John and Lisa joined me, there was the possibility they could have chosen to point and laugh.

It didn’t take long for Peter Noone to come out. Once he did, we ran right to the front of the stage and stayed there all evening. It was during his first song that it started to rain again. In no time at all, I was completely soaked. Actually most everyone without an umbrella was soaked. Peter was a good sport and just kept on singing, very much like Diana Ross at that 1983 Central Park concert. It was fun, dancing in the rain, especially when he sang the Hollies song, Bus Stop. In between songs, he would tell funny little stories, most of which were puctured by Lisa screaming, “PLAY NO MILK TODAY!” Peter told her to shut up as the band started to play the song. I jumped up and down and screamed like a little 1960’s teenager as soon as my ears met those familiar strains. No milk today, my love has gone away Peter looked at me, shook his head and then mimicked my screaming and jumping. John said, “Don’t you feel special, Peter Noone just made fun of you!” It’s true, I did feel special! I felt he did it good-naturedly as opposed to Peter Tork who is a Dork. Speaking of a Monkee, Peter Noone did a fabulous version of Daydream Believer! He followed it with, “Davy’s son is also a rock star, let me play you one of his songs…” The band ripped into It’s Not Unusual and Peter did his best Tom Jones impression.

Peter ended the concert with Henry the Eighth. Everyone sang along. Then at the very very end he sang Heartbeat. Supposedly after the concert he was going to sign autographs and sell CDs at the main pavilion but since we were knee deep in muddy water, I didn’t feel like sticking around to find out.

The Viewmaster has the Herman’s Hermits Concert Pictures