Yacht Rock Revue set the stage and atmosphere on August 3, 2024 at the Xfinity Theater in Hartford, CT for an entertaining and lively night with a 3 band line up.
Yacht Rock Review is a band who started their long-standing run in Atlanta in 2008 and city by city have built quite the following. The lead singer Nicholas Niespodziani proclaims at the very beginning of the show you are guaranteed to be treated to an evening of soft rock. They deliver on the promise and it’s excellent. Including the 70’s and 80’s era font and styling of their clothing down to each member wearing their gold rim Ray-Ban aviator sunglasses.
The band by choice plays covers of some of the most memorable songs from the past when laying on a yacht sipping a cool drink in the sun with your shades on was a past time many strived for in the summer. When there was no internet and smart phones to distract and distance and the radio waves were the common denominator for most of us. They have perfected the covers of many of the songs and pay attention to detail to deliver them so they sound like they’re coming from the original artists.
The audience was tuned in and perked up from the first notes. The songs were familiar and most everyone knew the words and didn’t hesitate to sing along. I even spotted the security personnel singing along and walking to the beat as they scanned the grounds.
One of the things I like about this band is they know they do mostly cover songs with the exception of a few of their own tunes added for each show. This show they included the song “Tropical Illusion” co-written by Elliot Laure of Looking Glass and Nicholas Niespodziani. But, they don’t take themselves too seriously. It’s clear they are out there to push lighthearted fun and they do. Each member just makes sure to do their utmost to entertain and be on point.
They all mesh well and it’s actually a diverse bit of songs. From “Escape” to “More Than A Feeling” they had the audience’s attention the whole set.
It’s a band I would like to see again in the future. They bring you back to a much simpler time and place and it’s “Heart to Heart.”
Band Members:
Nicholas Niespodziani – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Percussion
Peter Olson – Vocals, Guitars, Keyboards, Percussion
Greg Lee – Bass, Vocals
Mark Dannells – Guitars, Vocals
Mark Bencuya – Keyboards, Vocals
David B. Freeman – Saxophones, Keyboards, Flute, Piccolo, Percussion, Vocals
Keisha Jackson – Vocals, Percussion
Kourtney Jackson – Vocals, Percussion
Jason Nackers – Drums
Ganesh Giri Jaya – Drums
Review by Donna Erichsen
Photos by George Bekris
For more information on Yacht Rock Revue and their tour schedule visit Yacht Rock Revue
SETLIST:
- Sweet Freedom – (Michael McDonald cover)
- Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – (Rupert Holmes cover)
- Kiss You All Over – (Exile cover)
- Heart to Heart – (Kenny Loggins cover)
- You Make Loving Fun – (Fleetwood Mac cover)
- Brandy – (Looking Glass cover)
- Tropical Illusion
- Africa – (Toto cover)
- Baker Street – (Gerry Rafferty cover)
- More Than a Feeling – (Boston cover)
