Today, we're doing something amazingly local and seriously goofy--the New Jersey Festival of Ballooning. Having never been to anything like this before, we decided to go on a friday evening with the hope that the kids will make it OK into the 6:30 balloon inflation and then the 6:45 balloon ascention. However, there are a number of other "events" that should prove interesting.
First of all, these festivals are never complete unless they have "headline entertainment." In this case, that means a concert at the end of each day, but you KNOW they're never going to get the Rolling Stones or U2 at one of these things--not, at least, until those bands have been broken up for years and some pathetic lone member is trying to relive glory days by performing the band's music solo with a backup band. The towering lineup of talent is as follows:
Friday night, 8 PM, Herman's Hermits, featuring Peter Noone. Yes, that's right, singing their one pointless hit about Mrs. Brown's daughter, Ole' Peter will be dragged out of mothballs to croon like the washed up flowerchild he is. The kids will see some of that, and, I'm sure, wonder what's wrong with Mommy and Daddy when they are, invariably, unwillingly, singing along anway.
Saturday night, 8 PM, Dennis DeYoung, former lead singer of Styx, will run through the songs that I used to like...in 1975...without the rest of his former band, all of whom are probably doing the same exact thing at OTHER ballooning festivals. At least this will sound like Styx, although I'm guessing at his age, it won't sound like anything to him.
Sunday afternoon, 3 PM. The grand finale. The Doobie Brothers! Now, I remember the Doobies being old when *I* was a kid. They must be ancient now, but at least they have some pretty good songs, if they still remember them.
In addition to the huge concert events, there are a number of smaller events going on around the same area as part of the festival. Who could say no to "The Music of Dr. Planet" or "Patriot Media Kachunga and the Alligator Show" (I have NO idea what that last one means). There's a visit from "Jay Jay the Jet Plane" and "Belmont - A Special Kind of Magic! " Oooh...a Special kind!
There are also "smaller" concerts, e.g., people without quite the star power of the above mentioned performers, including the "Suzanne Carrington Band" and "Brian Fitzpatrick/Jimmy Vigilante." I just LOVE the idea of a singing vigilante. Reminds me of Alex from A Clockwork Orange. Maybe we'll get lucky and Jimmy Vigilante will sing Beethoven's 9th while kicking Suzanne Carrington for our enjoyment.
If this sounds like your kind of fun, by all means stop by! On a nice hot day, there's no better place to be than the tarmac of a local airport.
See you there!
as president of the peter noone i take umbrage at your insinuation that 'herman's hermits' 1) had only one hit. in fact, the group had other hits. who can forget 'hear my heartbeat' and 'smile please?' and 2) they are in decline. in fact, peter and the boys just signed a long term deal to appear at wal-mart stores all across the u.s.a. in addition to their pay for play, wal-mart has agreed to pick up the band's expense for their long-term health insurance. so, before casting asperions on this revered group, please check your facts.