8-24-2020 5:32pm

Lebanon Hosts 3rd Friday Event

Rick Amburgey Neighbor

Photo credit: Scott Hall

Keeping the music of the 70s Alive

Scott Hall, Hall Around Town Radio

Friday night, I had the pleasure of making my second 3rd Friday Event on Mulberry St. in beautiful historic downtown Lebanon, Ohio. The folks of this small town are both proud of and welcoming to guests of this event that features a variety of displays, amazing food, local brews and great music. I was so excited to attend on such a beautiful night under the stars where the City provided a safe and social distancing atmosphere while working along with our Warren County Health Department.

I had the opportunity to catch up with Amy Brewer the Mayor of Lebanon who is such an amazing ambassador for this Warren County City. We asked the Mayor about how they were able to pull off this event during this difficult time with the Coronavirus. “We wanted to have this event if it was possible this year and we worked really close with the Health Department to ensure we could meet the criteria and mandates set forth by the state. We have a committee with the Chamber of Commerce who worked very hard and we figured it all out. You can see people are happy, engaged, smiling and having fun… this is what Lebanon does” said Mayor Brewer. She went on to say “thank you to everyone for supporting our community, coming out and helping the economic vitality of Lebanon, This is what its all about. We need to make it through these challenging times … God bless our community and our country.”

Opening the music portion of the night was a very talented group of young guys called the, Montgomery Tree Band. All four members of the band attended Moeller High School and have a really good classic rock look to them. The band has been together for only just a year and say they have a “Psychedelic Rock” style to them. This happened to be their first show in front of a crowd of this size and on a large stage. You could never tell it, they sound like a group of very polished performers featuring the strong vocals of Colin Dunaway, Logan Martin punching out guitar solos, Brent Patterson brining a steady bass line and Von Huhn pounding the drums in awesome rock and roll style. Their blend of covers from groups like Queen, The Beatles, The Stones, Poison and Van Halen along with originals make them a Hall Around Town Radio “one’s to watch” in the future of local entertainment. You can follow them @Montomerytree.band on Instagram.

Now on with the main event …. What do you get when you put some of the best local talent over the past 30 years into a project to keep the memories of (as I like to call it “A.M. Jam” or “Yacht Rock” music of the 70s and 80s) alive? Well you get “The Catalina Wine Mixer Band.”

It was a perfect night of smooth sailing in historic Lebanon as the Catalina Wine Mixer Band members: Clark Connley– Guitar, Adam Wheeler – Drums, Larry Feldner- Keyboards, Sean McGary – Guitar, Adam Scovanner – Bass and Jimmy Lee King - Lead Vocals took to the stage to bring a night of the smoothest musical sounds ever created by the likes of Steely Dan, Toto, Seals and Croft, Boz Scaggs, Robbie Dupree, Looking Glass, Boston, Christopher Cross plus so many more including one of my all-time favorites Brandy by Looking Glass.

On a personal note…. The environment was perfect, and the band was amazing, but the best part of the night for me was to sit in a chair next to my 19-year-old son and hear him name the songs and artists that were being played from an era long before his time! (his momma raised him well… she loves her “AM Jams” from the A.M. Radio days).

All in all, this was one of the best nights in a long time thanks to the City of Lebanon. The band captivated the crowd and their music brought so many smiles to those attending this incredible event on such a perfect summer night. The Catalina Wine Mixer Band is a must see for anyone who enjoyed those easy listening, sing along songs of the 70s.

This event was something many of us have missed greatly during these times of discussing virus numbers, masks and social distancing. I myself refuse to call what we are dealing with “the new normal” ….. it may be the “new reality” for now, but as we learned during this evening, music can bring people together and soothe the soul even if just for a few hours on a Friday night.