Hackensack Street Fair – performances by Average White Band & African drumming-dancing
September 28th, 2014 by Mr. C
Lately, I’ve been looking for more & more excuses to stay on the Jersey side of the hudson river due to time contraints and in general just trying to take advantage of some events we easily dismiss in the Garden State. Yesterday 9/27 Saturday gave me a good opportunity to not exercise my old EZPASS toll thingama-jingy’ because of a local street fair headlined by the live tunes of funk/R&B/Soul by way of the Average White Band! Average they are NOT! At first the band’s name didn’t ring a bell but as I listen to some of their old hits from the 70s, I was like oh crap! Everyone has got to have heard “Pick up the pieces” at one point in their life as well as “Cut the Cake”. Quite a few hip hop/rap groups have also sampled a tune or two from the Average White Band arsenal! My jaw dropped when I heard “Schoolboy Crush”. Pretty impressive!
(Alex Gorrie – bass/vocals original member of AWB)
(Brent Carter – brought the vocals!)
(David Spinnoza – guitars)
It sounds like AWB has gone through a few reincarnations and iterations of band members. The bass player/vocals – Alan Gorrie is the only common denominator from the original crew to the present. All original band members or not, the Average White Band that I saw at the Hackensack Street Fair sounded pretty damn good! The band melded together and in sync like they have been playing together for years. Guitarist David Spinnoza who has worked with the Beatles, James Taylor, Paul Simon, & others was a hired gun for the tour. The vocals from Brent Carter was amazing especially when he reached deep for that falsetto! Some of my favorite performances from their set at the street fair included Marvin Gaye’s – I want you, Pick up the Pieces, Oh Maceo, & The Isley Brothers’ – Work to do. Original band member Alan Gorrie gave a shoutout to The Isley Brothers and their own record label T-Neck (Teaneck) records which is a neighboring town by Hackensack. I’ve included the setlist below and some videos of their performance. Enjoy!
I had a good time strolling through the street fair as local vendors from the town opened up shop on the sidewalk. Food was the only thing on my mind and latin food was well represented in the fair as well as a few asian choices. Wondee’s, an authentic Thai restaurant on the block for years had a small stall for their excellent drinks like their delightful Thai Iced Tea. Morton’s Steak house had a setup going offering gourmet sliders.
Another fun performance from the day included the African drum and dance routine. Have a look see at some of the African percussions and soulful dancing! Visit the Center for Modern Dance Education at 84 Euclid Avenue Hackensack,NJ 07601.
(Audience participation – learning African dance)
New Jersey senator and former mayor of Newark was also roaming around the premises to meet and greet people as well as endorse Hackensack resident Roy Cho in running for Congress.
Hackensack residents unite! Johnson Public library on main street needs your help! Please head into the libary and sign the petition to help save the library from getting drastic budget cuts. The Johnson Public Library had a $2 fill a bag with books specials.
Average White Band Setlist
Got the love
Whatcha gonna do for me
I just can’t give you up
I want you (Marvin Gaye)
If I ever lose this heaven
Oh Maceo (Maceo Parker)
Work to do (Isley Brothers)
Cut the Cake
A Love of your own
Put it where you want it
Schoolboy Crush
Person to Person
Pick up the pieces
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