Concert Review
The Spinners
Erie County Fair Grandstand
Hamburg, NY
Wednesday August 19, 2015
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
A hot August night did not detour fans from filling up the first come first served trackside seats at the Erie County Grandstand on Wednesday evening. As early as one hour before the show, the venue started to fill in. Yes, it may have been a free show at The Gusto Grandstand but The Spinners mean a lot to the Buffalo area music fans. Of course there were a good amount of older folk who probably go way back to when the group started out in the 60s.
The interesting thing was seeing the fair amount of younger people in the crowd. Not bad for a group who hasn’t had a hit on the charts in over twenty years.
The Spinners are still led by Henry Fambrough who is the sole surviving original member. Joining him on vocals these days are Charlton Washington, Jessie Peck and Marvin Taylor all of whom joined in 2009. The newest member Ronnie Moss signed up in 2013 to make the band a quintet again.
The backing band started things off by playing bits and pieces of the Spinners catalog before the band led by Fambrough finally came out to their top-5 smash “Could It Be I’m Falling In Love”.
Although the group started out in the 60s it wasn’t until the next decade that they made the biggest noise of their career. Songs such as “I’ll Be Around” and “Working My Way Back To You” were performed. As “Cupid” appeared to close out the set, the band quickly followed with their lone number one which was recorded with Dionne Warwick, “Then Came You”.
The show ended with perhaps the bands most popular songs in “Games People Play” and “The Rubberband Man”. The band pulled out all the stops by bringing huge rubberbands on stage while performing the latter song.
These days may be all about celebrating those great songs of yesteryear as they haven’t recorded any new material since the late 80s. The band remains a big draw on the oldies and nostalgia circuits. That’s the fun part about bands like The Spinners, who younger fans may know anything about. They go to the fair see a free concert and the next thing you know they are buying the bands greatest hits album. Thankfully Fambrough has kept the band alive by continuing to tour and by doing so has kept the name in the public eye.
Set List
Band Only Instrumental Medley
Could It Be I’m Falling in Love
It’s a Shame
Funny How Time Slips Away
I’ll Be Around
Working My Way Back to You / Forgive Me Girl
Sadie
Mighty Love
Cupid / We’re Having a Party / Cupid
Then Came You
One of a Kind (Love Affair)
They Just Can’t Stop It (The Games People Play)
The Rubberband Man
A very special thanks to Holly Smyczynski for the credentials
