Rock artists from the ’60s and ’70s often draw a wide range of concertgoers, as new and old fans alike gather to experience the music of an artist whose career has survived generations. This was not the case with Three Dog Night at Kleinhans Friday, Oct. 13. The audience consisted almost entirely of original fans, and older folks who might feel out of place at a more traditional rock concert. In hindsight, it’s pretty obvious why younger fans hadn’t come out to see Three Dog Night, a soul-rock outfit once so popular that they played two Superbowl shows and landed 18 consecutive singles in the Billboard Hot 100. Though hugely popular in the late ’60s and early ’70s, the group’s jingly pop-rock hasn’t survived the test of time very well (with the exception of “One,” which has become a kind of cliché post-breakup song for TV).
However, it seemed the fans who packed Kleinhans Friday night hadn’t stopped missing the band for a second, even though it’s been about 30 years since the band’s last studio album. Led by vocalists Danny Hutton and Cory Wells, the latter of whom grew up in Buffalo, the group ran through hit single after hit single, starting with the do-do-do of “The Family of Man” and the let’s-all-get-along message of “Black and White.” The band was backed by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, but the strings were mostly drowned-out by guitar, bass and drums throughout the night.
The performance was an excellent showcase for late-60s rock, when the doo-wop rock ‘n’ roll of the ’50s was fading and the infant known as hard rock was slowly taking shape. Singers Hutton, Wells and vocalist/bassist Paul Kingery alternated between solo singing and uplifting three-part harmonies, with backing from a band that offered the occasional whomping bass or screeching guitar part.
Notable moments in the show included when Hutton took the stage alone to sing the intro to “One” with backing from the Orchestra. It was a unique take on an old, familiar hit, and showed the kind of orchestra-rock experimentation that has helped the band stay relevant in recent years. Another notable moment came when the band sang an a cappella piece known as “Prayer to the Children,” which was more like something you’d hear from a church choir than a rock band. But then again, most of the show was a kind of Twilight Zone between the two.
The band ended the night with “Joy to the World,” a feel-good, juke-box tune which pretty much epitomizes the group’s upbeat, non-offensive take on soul-rock.
Set List:
The Family of Man
Black and White
Never Been to Spain
Shambala
Out in the Country
Easy to be Hard
Old Fashioned Love Song
Leave Your Hat On
One
Heart of Blues
Liar
Brickyard Blues
Mama Told Me (Not to Come)
Celebrate
Encore:
Prayer to the Children
Joy to the World
All Photos by BackstageAxxess.com Correspondent Michael Mietlicki. We would like to thank Mike Montoro from Kleinhans for the credentials to cover the show.
