We saw the musical Jersey Boys about four years ago and it was excellent.  Jersey Boys is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.  The movie version came out the next summer and we saw that too.  It was also excellent.

But my love of old music started way earlier than the twenty teens.  Growing up, I loved listening to the oldies stations like Kool 102.  In college I legally amassed a collection of over a thousand songs from the decades before I was born (not including disco or classic country).  When I heard Frankie Valli was coming, I thought that would be a great show to check out.  I casually looked into tickets, but then life happened and I got busy and forgot to actually acquire them.  And the show sold out.  Naturally. The guy is a legend, and by the way he’s 83.

This week I went into concert ticket acquisition mode.  Starting slowly with a Facebook post, I moved into panic mode when that didn’t pan out.  The show was at Route 66 Hotel & Casino, but alas, my tribal connections were also gridlocked.  Time for social media.  I Facebook messaged radio stations like Big 98.5, Route 66.  Nada.  I also tweeted Route 66 and tagged Frankie.  In hopes maybe whoever manages his Twitter account would throw me a bone.  I will say it seems like you always get much politer customer service when you engage a company via social media rather than the traditional phone call.  Finally, for the first time ever I tried Craigslist.  Still no luck.  Sad panda.  Around 3pm, Allan IM’d me and said, there were tickets available on the website.  Have I mentioned I love that man?  Score!

So now for the actual show.  Wow, I mean imagine performing for over 60 years!  He sounded great, looked good too.  The original Four Seasons (Nick Massi, Bob Gaudio and Tommy DeVito) aren’t still touring, but nevertheless there were four very talented younger Seasons (blame it on climate change).  The band was also on point.  They played pretty much non stop for almost an hour an a half, charming the audience with hits like Sherry, Dawn (Go Away), Rag Doll, Walk Like A Man, Let’s Hang On!, Big Girls Don’t Cry, Working My Way Back to You, Swearin’ To God.

He suggested Silence Is Golden as some advice to politicians.  Coicidentally, former Governor Bill Richardson was there.  He was sitting two rows in front of us.  Frankie gave him a shoutout.  He called him Richards and at one point called us Tucson, but I am not complaining.  I’ll be Tucson.

He did a couple covers: The Temptations’ My Girl medley with The Young Rascals’ Groovin’ and Colt Porter/Frank Sinatra’s I’ve Got You Under My Skin.  A slow jam:  My Eyes Adores You.  Later cuts like Who Loves You and December 1963 (Oh, What a Night) and Beggin’.  I felt pretty dumb because I thought Beggin’ was a song by Madcon.  I didn’t realize Beggin’ was a Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons cover.  And his solo hits Grease and Can’t Take My Eyes Off You.

I’ve decided that I want to be an awesome octogenarian.  If the world is still a cool place of course.  I’m so glad we were able to see this living legend.  His voice was still on point.  Hats off to the Jersey boys for the amazing music!