Dave Woods: Original Comets’ energetic show fires up crowds

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June 18, 2010

By Jeremiah Tucker Globe Columnist The Joplin Globe Fri Jun 18, 2010, 12:40 PM CDT

JOPLIN, Mo. — I admit, I didn’t really know too much about Bill Haley or The Comets until last week. I was in Branson for the weekend and decided to catch their show.

After a couple of drinks at Moon River Grill, I caught the Comets over at Andy Williams’ theater. The Comets fill the first act of the show and Paul Revere and The Raiders rounds out the evening.

I forgot what an impressive theater Andy owns. It’s huge and the interior is decorated with pieces from his art collection: Japanese kimonos hang on one wall and a collection of BIG works of modern art hang on the sides of the auditorium. The proscenium, which frames the stage, is a work of art itself.

A short video introduced the Comets and offered up a short rock ’n’ roll history lesson. Then, suddenly the video stops, the curtain rises and the original Comets -- as they are billed -- take the stage belting out their hit song “Shake Rattle and Roll.”

I admit, the first thing that entered my mind was, “Damn, they are old.”

Don’t start dialing me up yet. They are old. The lead singer and front man of the legendary group is 72, and he’s the young one.

Old or not, the show was great. Dick Richards and Joey D'Ambrosio are only original members of the classic group who remain in this production. Bill Haley passed many years ago and several different versions of the group have toured under the Comets’ name throughout the years. The group sold more than 80 million records during their half-century careers.

D’Ambrosio, 72, plays a mean saxophone and handles many of the vocals. Dick Richards, 86, beats the drums like a hyper kid on a sugar high. Both impress.

The crowd at Moon River clapped, danced and sang along the entire show. Veteran performers on standup bass, guitar and keyboards support the original members on-stage.

I didn't realize how many tunes the Comets made famous. “Rock around the Clock,” “Mombo Rock,” “Crazy Man, Crazy,” “Shake, Rattle and Roll” and “See You Later, Alligator” are just a few of the band’s long-loved hits.

Throughout the hour-long show the band reminded the audience of simpler times when drive-in movie theaters and lovers’ lane were king, and when malt shops and slow dancing reigned supreme. The crowd swayed back and forth in their seats when the band covered Ronnie Milsap’s hit “Lost in the Fifties Tonight.” Old couples placed their heads on their spouse’s shoulders and spooned in their seats.

I love it when old folks hold hands and sneak a kiss or two in the dark. That’s love.

At one point in the short show, Richards launches into a six-minute drum solo. It seemed like he either didn’t know when to quit, or simply couldn’t stop the runaway train that was his percussion solo. The crowd leapt to their feet with a standing ovation for his efforts.

The show ended with the group’s most famous tune, “Rock Around the Clock.” Dick Clark, they inform the audience, called the song “America’s rock and roll anthem.”

Rick Hirst, 61, and his wife, Fern, 60, traveled from North Carolina on a Honda Gold Wing to get to Branson. After the show, the Idaho couple told me they loved the Comets’ trip down memory lane.

“I’m amazed that these guys can still get up and do that stuff,” Rick said as he laughed. “We used to do that kind of shaking when we were younger, when we were kids. You know, dance and wiggle around like that.”

“Our kids would have been so embarrassed for us,” Fern said. “I’m shocked they still have the strength and stamina and breath to do that stuff.”

Rick said he was “worn out just watching them perform.”

Fern and Rick told me they are still big fans of music from the 1950s and ‘60s. It’s the music the couple grew up listening to, they said.

“A show like this lets me remember our younger years and when you graduated from high school,” Fern said. “I can’t help but love it.”

I loved it, too.

Want to go?

Paul Revere and The Raiders and Bill Haley’s Original Comets perform Monday through Saturday at 7 p.m. through August 7 at The Andy Williams Moon River Theatre in Branson.

Details: 800-666-6094, www.andywilliams.com.

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