Concert Review
The Grass Roots
Bear’s Den Inside
Seneca Niagara Casino
Niagara Falls, NY
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
The Grass Roots made a return trip to The Bear’s Den this past Saturday evening. They brought along their classic hits and sounds of years gone by as they treated the crowd to another delightful show. It was almost a year ago that they last played the intimate venue. As singer and bassist Mark Dawson mentioned in between songs, this is one of the band’s favorite venues to play. With great sight lines and pristine sound one can see why that is commonly stated by several artists that perform at Seneca Niagara Casino’s most enchanting venue.
The band played all of their best known songs to an overwhelming response. When the band dedicated a section of the show to the veterans, the Vietnam Vets in particular is where the patriotic crowd gave the first standing ovation of the evening. Other notable songs of the seventy-five minute affair were “Heaven Knows,” “Sooner Or Later,” “Two Divided By Love” and the band’s highest charting hit 1968 classic “Midnight Confessions.”
This particular version of the band has been together since 2008. Dawson had been filling in for longtime vocalist Rob Grill as needed and took over full time following Grill’s death in 2011. Grill wanted the band to carry on and continue the band’s legacy as he chose Dawson to take over someday. Guitarist Dustin Hanvey and keyboardist Larry Nelson have been in the band since 1984. Drummer Joe Dougherty has been manning the skins since 1990.
The Grass Roots put on one of the more entertaining shows from band’s of their era. Mixing in songs, telling stories and doing some comic relief, one will never be bored at a Grass Roots show. The band also did a lengthy meet and greet following their show as they signed every last autograph and following took pictures with fans who stayed after. In all a great night celebrating the music of a band that truly deserves to be kept alive.
Set List
I’d Wait A Million Years
Don’t Pull Your Love
Heaven Knows
Sooner or Later
Things I Should Have Said
Baby Hold On
Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)
Find The Cost Of Freedom
Let’s Live for Today
Where Were You When I Needed You
The River Is Wide
Mamacita
Come on and Say It
Two Divided By Love
Temptation Eyes
Midnight Confessions
Encore
Glory Bound
Special thanks to Tony Astran for setting us up to review this show.
