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8Track: "A baby boomer's dream come true! Rousing...unbridled fun!"
St. Paul Pioneer Press Back
"Magic...makes you feel young again!"' 70s pop musical is fun with polyester. This show could be a nostalgic baby boomers dream come true. The mood is one of unbridled fun. I had an eerie feeling of Déjà vu while watching "8-Track: the Sounds of the 70's." It reminded me of my grandparents watching Lawrence Welk's weekly show featuring unknown singers crooning nostalgic favorites from their youth. Now in the 21st century, gray-haired boomers don't "take a stroll down memory lane," as Welk would say, they boogie down it instead. I couldn't help thinking my kids would be more embarrassed by this version of nostalgia than I was by my grandparents'. Maybe it's the garish '70's clothes the four singers wear during this show. Or perhaps it's the silly '70's dance moves. Of course, it could just be the music itself. Trivial songs such as "Car Wash" and "Afternoon Delight" hardly suggest a decade of creative genius.
It's not pretending to be anything other than what it is: a light show of '70's music with no overlaid plot to distract from the tunes. After almost every song, the enthusiastic opening-night audience cheered and clapped. But a few songs earned roars of approval after just the first few notes sounded, including "I Am Woman," "YMCA" and "Lady Marmalade." During one rousing performance, some members of the crowd even raised lighters in appreciation.
Attendees wore '70's style plaid pants or sparkly dresses with plenty of polyester ó although most of the audience did not carry their adulation that far (probably a good thing, since the combination of lighters and a room full of polyester could have been dangerous!) If you're old enough to remember the '70's, this show could make you feel young again. Even if you're not that old, this kitschy musical interlude could take you away from your daily stresses faster than Calgon. It's not a particularly memorable show, but it's full of fun memories.
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