Chuck Negron Formerly of Three Dog Night Mayo Performing Arts Center June 28

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Past Spotlight Cardinal

originally published: 04/18/2022

Music lovers are streaming into Toms River, NJ's Grunin Center for the Arts this Friday, Apr 8, 2022 evening for a live concert by The Hit Men, a group of talented musicians who have performed with a who's who of legendary artists including members of Foreigner, Journey, Inexpensive Trick, Cream, One thousand Funk, and The Who. The group was founded in 2010 by Lee Shapiro, former musical manager/keyboardist for Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

In 2019, members of The Striking Men were recognized by the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville with the organisation's first-always "Road Warriors Award," given to award "their years of dedication to the music and the countless miles they take traveled in delivering so many hits throughout the earth."

The current members of The Hit Men are drummer Steve Murphy, guitarist Mark Newman, bassist Greg Smith, guitarist/keyboardist Tommy Williams, and keyboardist Mike DiMeo.

Drummer Steve White potato has worked as a vocalizer, musician, producer, and engineer for artists including The Alan Parsons Projection, Eric Burdon and the Animals, Three Dog Dark's Chuck Negron, Todd Rundgren, Mickey Dolenz, Gary Puckett, and Mitch Ryder.

Guitarist Mark Newman has performed with Sam Moore of Sam and Dave, John Oates of Hall and Oates, Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds, and Bobby Whitlock of Derek and the Dominos.

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Bassist Greg Smith has worked with such artists every bit Billy Joel, Alice Cooper, Ted Nugent, Blueish Oyster Cult, Tommy James and the Shondells, The Turtles, and Glen Frey of the Eagles.

Guitarist/keyboardist Tommy Williams served as musical director for Debbie Gibson, directing iii of her acknowledged albums. Williams has also performed with Tommy Shaw of Styx, Steely Dan, Denny Laine of Paul McCartney and Wings, and The Hooters.

Keyboardist Mike DiMeo has performed with Tommy James and the Shondells, in addition to Deep Imperial, Johnny Winter, Bonnie Tyler, and many more than.

Inside the Grunin Center, the members of The Hitting Men take their places behind their instruments equally a video introducing the musicians plays on a large screen at the rear of the stage.

Drummer Steve Murphy announces the grouping'due south opening number and gets the oversupply clapping along to Greenhorn's "Feels Like the Commencement Time." As he sings, "It feels similar the starting time time/Information technology feels like the very get-go time," Murphy's powerful atomic number 82 vocals are supported by energetic three-office vocal harmonies. Guitars wail and keys fill on this dynamic opening number that ends with thank you and adulation.

"How are we doin' Jersey Shore?" asks White potato as he comes downwards from his drums to sing heart phase with a mic. Launching into Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'," his voice cries out, "Simply a small town girl/Livin' in a lonely world." Keys and guitars swirl equally Murphy retakes his identify backside the drums and rocks out on percussion as the song builds. Heads in the audience bop and music lovers sing along with White potato on the well-known "Don't finish believin'/Hold on to this feelin'" chorus.

Guitarist Marker Newman handles the lead vocals on a nostalgic rendition of The Monkees' "(I'm Not Your) Steppin' Rock." All v singers harmonize together on the familiar "I — I — I — I — I'grand non your steppin' stone" chorus, earlier guitars duel to avid cheers and applause.

Potato explains to the crowd that all the songs The Hitting Men play come from artists which the band members have either "performed with alive" or "played with on their recordings." Equally such, he explains that the next option comes from The Hit Men's association with Denny Laine, a fellow member of Paul McCartney and Wings. On this number, "Jet," Murphy energetically sings lead as Greg Smith and Tommy Newman duel on bass and guitar.

Smith talks about his years working equally a member of Tommy James and the Shondells. Smith'south youthful voice effortlessly handles the atomic number 82 on "Draggin' the Line" before Tommy Williams shines on a guitar solo.

Adjacent, The Hit Men segue into Tommy James' "I Recall We're Lone Now," where Smith invites the audience to sing along every bit they dance in their seats.

Following thank you and adulation, Spud recognizes The Hit Men's founding member, Lee Shapiro, who is seated offstage, and fans in the audience cheer for him. Calling the next option "one of the most beautiful songs always written," synthesized strings peachy as Irish potato sings lead on Toto's 1983 ballad, "I Won't Hold You Back." Singing downstage — his full baritone serenading the audience — Murphy returns to the drums to kick in on the song's powerful "You know I won't concord yous back now" chorus. Equally he continues to sing and play, rich background vocals and yard keyboard chords compliment his emotional lead.

Tommy Williams sings low and Greg Smith sings the high counter part on The Alan Parsons Projection'south "Center in the Sky." And then, all five singers harmonize together while rocking out on The Yardbirds' "For Your Love."

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Murphy talks about doing a session with Elton John before launching into two songs from the artist's 1971 album,Madman Across the Water. Williams starts off "Levon" on keyboards every bit White potato sings downstage. Then, Murphy returns to the drums and the musicians segue into "Tiny Dancer." The rich, full sound of the band echoes throughout the auditorium equally an on-screen ballerina dances to a flourish of rolling drums and low funky tremolo piano.

Smith plays his bass low and funky and Williams comes down into the audition to get the audience clapping forth on Yard Funk Railroad'south "Some Kind of Wonderful." As Potato sings, Williams encourages the crowd to "Go along it up!" and they clap with their hands over their heads to the irrisistable beat. A group of women in the rear of the auditorium stand and dance to the mesmerizing groove earlier the vocal ends with a cool and funky Steve Murphy pulsate solo.

Smith'south voice pleads as information technology cries out, "I want you to desire me/I need you to need me/I'd love you to love me/I'm beggin' you to beg me," on Inexpensive Trick'south 1977 hitting, "I Want You to Want Me."

Audience members stand and trip the light fantastic to the driving beat out before the group performs a tribute to the recently departed Foo Fighters' drummer, Taylor Hawkins, with a functioning of "Times Like These" which features Tater on lead vocals and Williams on vocals and keyboards.

Smith talks most playing with Baton Joel at a Hurricane Sandy relief concert before the group launches into "Big Shot." Tommy Williams' vocal rocks on this number as he accompanies himself on keys and the band grooves together in the spotlight. Mark Newman is featured on a skilful guitar solo before the number concludes with enthusiastic audience cheers and applause.

Newman, who played with John Oates, tells pianist Mike DiMeo to "Have them to church!" every bit DiMeo plays a bluesy keyboard solo which has audience members clapping forth to Daryl Hall and John Oates' "Rich Girl."

Spud reveals that in 1987 he worked in a New York City recording studio with Sting on a song chosen "They Dance Alone (Cueca Solo)." Ring members leave the stage equally Murphy sings the mournful ballad accompanied solely past DiMeo on keyboards. The group soon returns to play a dynamic rendition of Sting's "If I Always Lose My Faith in Yous" to whistles and cheers.

The Striking Men follow up with a medley of songs by Badfinger including "Twenty-four hour period After Twenty-four hours," on which Marking Newman plays a dandy tremolo slide guitar solo, and "No Matter What," which has Smith energetically singing atomic number 82 on this upbeat pop tune.

The ring's sparkling interpretation of The Who'south "Who Are You" has the audition clapping and singing forth on the "Who are you/Who who, who who" refrain. After learning that Smith volition spend four weeks playing on the upcoming 2022 Happy Together Tour, the audience joyfully sings along with Williams on the well-known "I can't see me lovin' nobody merely you" chorus of The Turtles' "Happy Together."

Post-obit avid cheers, Murphy thank you the crowd for "coming out tonight and supporting live music." He dedicates the group'south last number to "everyone we lost during the pandemic" before The Hitting Men perform a knock-your-socks-off rendition of Derek and the Dominos' "Layla" featuring Mark Newson on vocals and slide guitar.

A wall of sound explodes from the stage as keyboards and guitars wail. Newman makes his guitar sing earlier the number transitions into the song's ethereal second motility and an "In Memorium" presentation rolls on-screen showing the names and images of beloved musicians and others from the amusement industry who have passed over the form of the last two years.

The crowd stands and thanks for this heartfelt tribute as Tater dons a New York Rangers jersey and all five members of The Hit Men have their places downstage for a well-deserved bow.

Every bit audience members brand their way out of the Grunin Center auditorium, we chat with several in the crowd who share their opinions of The Hit Men'south operation this evening. Whereas Grace from Aberdeen declares, "They're i bunch of talented musicians!" Gene from Aberdeen calls The Striking Men, "Astonishing," explaining, 'They were excellent, and the bear witness was a lot of fun." Paula from Howell concurs, calculation, "Information technology was a bang-up evidence — there was so much energy on that stage!"

Jeffrey from Toms River calls tonight'due south show, "Awesome!" Acknowledging, "I knew all the songs," Jeffrey reveals, "Nosotros were dancing in our seats," before final, "I will definitely see them once more." Ellen from Toms River, agrees, adding, "Information technology was really groovy seeing them here at the Grunin Heart. We've never been here before, and information technology's a dainty venue where you tin see and hear everything perfectly from whatever seat."

Whereas Carolyn from Toms River contends, "The Hit Men had so much free energy, and their songs brought back so many memories," Kim from Wycoff calls The Hit Men, "Excellent — and very talented! " Lastly, we conversation with Annamaria from Wycoff who exclaims, "The Hit Men are fabulous!" earlier last with a grin, "Every song was a hitting!"

To learn more about The Striking Men, please go to thehitmenlive.com. For further data on upcoming performances at the Grunin Center — including Shawn Colvin on April 30, NYC3 on June three, and The Bronx Wanderers on June 26 — delight go to grunincenter.org

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Source: https://www.newjerseystage.com/articles2/2022/04/18/every-song-was-a-hit-the-hit-men-live-at-the-grunin-center

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