reCAP :: Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons :: 2014.07.18
At 80, Frankie Valli can’t move and shake as he used to. His voice, however, is just as angelic as it was in the hay day of The Four Seasons and his stage presence is as commanding as ever. At The Capitol Theatre Friday evening, the living legend performed a set with some new Four Seasons (displaying the signature sound and shakes) and a rockin’ band behind him. The set was an eclectic mix of big hits, B-sides, covers, and under-the-radar tracks that resonated now more than ever.
In a sold-out crowd of grandparents, parents, and their kids, Valli rocked the house and the crowd was more than game – giving standing O’s in the middle of the set, and singing along as if Valli was a walking jukebox. Since we all know the story behind Valli and The Four Seasons thanks to the Broadway hit and its recent film adaptation Jersey Boys, it was just nice to watch the man perform songs with little backstory and occasional banter. Case in point: Valli seemed to be having the time of his life asking “permission” from the audience if it was alright with them if he performed tunes from their breakout year in 1962. He also joked with them about purchasing albums off their most recent album Romancing the ‘60s. “We have 400,000 of them in the back,” he cracked.
Speaking of which, the iconic Jersey Boy shined with a segment of the show in which he played songs off that album – covers of classic songs he’s always admired. “Spanish Harlem” and a mash-up of “My Girl” and “Groovin’” really resonated and fit right in with the Seasons arsenal. Sure, Valli found time to perform hits like “Grease,” which started the show,” “Silence is Golden,” and countless others, but as mentioned, it was nice to hear him perform disco-laden songs off his Chameleon album. But, let’s be honest. Of course, the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer and his backing band nailed the classics like “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night),” Cole Porter’s “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” and especially the deeply poignant 1975 classic “My Eyes Adored You.”
And The Cap crowd ate it all up. How could they not? Valli’s tunes are as timeless as the seasons of the year.