Decades Rewind Rocks The Manatee Performing Arts Center
Nostalgia and the best beats from the 60s, 70s, and 80s filled the Manatee Performing Arts Center Tuesday night as Decades Rewind: Jukebox Revolution took the stage. Beforehand it was apparent this show was a draw for the young to the old. We saw young couples strolling in enjoying drinks before the show began, mingling with seniors also ready to imbibe on great music. The excitement in the theater before the lights went down was palpable as everyone was gathered to reminisce and listen to some of their favorite tunes. Many people were fans of Decades Rewind and so excited to see them on stage again.
From the opening songs of the 60s which included Motown, the British Invasion and the eventual Disco Era, nobody in the venue could sit still. Everything from chair dancing to those who had to take a spot in the aisles to get their groove on was on tap at MPAC. Rock, Country, and honoring legends such as Whitney Houston, Prince, and even Dolly Parton kept everyone engaged in the super energetic show. This time around, Decades Rewind has a narrator who helps set up each musical era with a few tidbits and trivia true to the sounds of the music playing. The screen played fun commercials and videos which only enhanced the show.
For approximately 2 hours, attendees rocked, bopped, swayed, and reminisced about the songs of the good old days. Truly, this is a show for everyone. Father and son duo Jimmy and Gio DeLisi delighted the crowd as they traded rifts and took turns on solos at centerstage which drew huge approval from the guests. Lisa Larkin showed her tremendous versatility in rocking everything from Elvis to Dolly. Coya and Calvin Jones brought such stage presence and superstar vibes with songs like Imagine from John Lennon and I Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston. Peter Gatti showed his prowess on the keyboards and bass guitarist, Mike Ziggy Ziegler found his funk keeping the backbeat to the whole show along with drummer, John Spinelli who did an excellent job on percussion. Desmond Boone was narrator throughout the evening and also is head of choreography for the show.
Overheard in the parking lot on the way out of the Decades Rewind show: “When I closed my eyes, I pictured Whitney Houston on stage, the singer was so good!” “Wow, that father son duo is easy on the eyes and quite good on guitar!” And my favorite, “ You don’t know how dear the old days are until you hear great music like this!” As for me, my day job takes me to a very cool school for special needs children. Today, I treated my students to a morning of Happy Motown tunes (actual station on Pandora) in honor of the great evening I had spent with the Decades Rewind gang. If you have an opportunity to catch this Broadway style show, please check out Decade’s Rewind website Meet the Cast | Decades Rewind.
Photos from The Suncoast Post