Rockin' Sixties Fuels 'KGAY'

by William Randall Beard, Star Tribune, April 3, 2005

For audiences of a certain age, the performance by the Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus of "KGAY-FM: Sounds of the '60s" will feel like a nostalgic return to their youths. For others, it may be just a quaint time capsule. But artistic director Stan Hill has programmed a comprehensive survey of the decade, featuring more than 60 songs effectively arranged in thematic medleys.

A male chorus of more than 100 members might seem overkill in this music, but these men know how to groove. On Friday, they sounded like a big boy group when performing hits by the Beach Boys or the Four Seasons and were equally successful when honoring girl groups such as the Vandellas or the Shangri-Las.

Hill's arrangements are clearly made with great affection, but they never take the homage too seriously. How could anyone take the Mashed Potato seriously? Or theWatusi? The set of dance crazes added a certain poignancy to the silliness as men danced together, something that would not have been possible in public at the time the songs were popular.

The first-act finale attempted more silliness, with gay re-enactments of popular theme songs of '60s TV shows, from "Gilligan's Island " and "The Beverly Hillbillies" to "The Patty Duke Show" and "The Brady Bunch." The comedy fell flat, especially given the creativity that the chorus has demonstrated in the past.

The most winning humor was the simple choreography performed by the Chorus en masse. The variety of witty movement enhanced the performance without overwhelming it.

The small group Out Loud did a set it called Tragic Loves, including songs such as "Teen Angel" and "Leader of the Pack." But they couldn't resist camping up the performances, diminishing their effectiveness.

The second half of the concert turned psychedelic, with enough tie-dye to trigger an acid flashback. Flower-power anthems by the Strawberry Alarm Clock, the Mamas and the Papas and the Fifth Dimension nicely evoked the hippie era.

Plaintive performances of folk songs by Peter, Paul and Mary, Simon and Garfunkel and Joan Baez were the show's emotional center. The finale of "Bridge Over Troubled Water" sent the heart soaring as did the passionate rendition of "We Shall Overcome" and other protest songs.

Occasionally, soloists betrayed the chorus' amateur status. And some choices, such as a Native American parody to the song "Running Bear," seemed culturally insensitive. But for the most part, this is a professional ensemble with a professional sound. Whether a trip down memory lane or a discovery of your parents' music, it was an amusing, heart-felt and musically satisfying evening.

Concert Tickets are now available for purchase online!