Grease is the word
Photos and review by: Michael J Mangano / ModestoView
The soundtrack to the classic film Grease and classic hits from the doo-wop years created the backdrop for a perfect show for Modesto’s Graffiti Summer celebration with Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The legendary New Jersey singer is 85, yet pulls off a almost a 90min show with more than two dozen songs that we all know and remember fondly. He had the crowd at the Fruit Yard amphitheater sing along to his catalogs of hit like,“Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry” and “Walk Like a Man.” and of course his big hit “Grease” . Valli was backed by a new generation of the Four Seasons as they sang and danced back up for the star.
I had to say, Valli who just turned 85 in May, was very impressive and he still has the singing chops to pull off his piercing falsetto. It is the most amazing voice he seems to do so effortlessly. You might think that many performers who have toured for decades with the attitude of” been there done that” already would have a simplified his show, but not Frakie Valli. He knows how to put on a pop rock show with a 9-piece band, light show and a massive screen that would change for every song.
They say this is the farewell tour for the Italian-American singer who entertained us through the decades from the doo-wop days and thought the disco era. We’ll remember this as one great Graffiti Summer night in Modesto.
“Oh what a night” in June of 2019 in Modesto USA, the home of American Graffiti.
Here is his set list:
Working My Way Back to You
Dawn (Go Away)
Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘Bout Me)
Beggin’
Save It for Me
I’ve Got You Under My Skin
(Cole Porter cover)
Grease
Silence Is Golden
Tell It to the Rain
My Eyes Adored You
Swearin’ to God
Who Loves You
Spanish Harlem
(Ben E. King cover)
My Girl / Groovin’
Stay
(Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs cover)
December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)
Can’t Take My Eyes Off You
Sherry
Big Girls Don’t Cry
Walk Like a Man
Bye, Bye, Baby (Baby Goodbye)
Encore:
Rag Doll
Let’s Hang On!
