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July 13, 2024

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Tommy James and the Shondells put on a Hall of Fame worthy performance at the beautiful Robins Theatre on Friday night.  It's crazy to think with the amount of hit songs James has that he isn't in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame already.

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James kicked off the show with the hit "Dragging The Line" which segued into another banger "Crystal Blue Persuasion."

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In the middle of the set, James told the sold out crowd that his book, Me, The Mob and The Music was going to be made into a movie.  He went on to say that the Roulette Records company owner, Morris Levy was a mobster with the Genevese crime family out of New York and the movie was going to deal with some of those shenanigans.  He said that a slower, rearranged version of "I Think We're Alone Now" was going to be the song that's played during the end credits of the film, and he played that version for the audience.

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Then the party really got started as he and his great backing band fired off four consecutive Top Ten hits, "Tighter, Tighter," "Crimson and Clover," "Hanky Panky,"  and an electric version of "I Think We're Alone Now."

 

He then ended his set with an extended version of "Mony Mony."  In the middle of the song, James ventured out into the audience to shake some hands and take some selfies with people in the first few rows.

 

The band returned to encore with "Sweet Cherry Wine," "Mirage" and a reprise of "Mony Mony" leaving the crowd on its feet wanting more.

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The next time he comes to town, he should have Hall of Famer after his name.

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Review and photos by Greg Drugan

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