Hippiefest - Brooklyn Style

Thousands gathered in Brooklyn’s Asser Levy / Seaside Park for the Seaside Summer Concert Series presentation of Hippiefest last Thursday night. Featuring icons Felix Caveliere’s Rascals, The Turtles, The Zombies, Country Joe McDonald, Denny Laine and Melanie, the show was jam-packed with memorable classics from the 60's and 70's and, well, hippies. Highlights included Denny Laine formerly of The Moody Blues and Wings performing “Band On The Run,” The Zombies playing their biggest hit “Time of the Season” and The Turtles bringing me back to family road trips with “Happy Together.”

Backstage the bands chatted with crews from NY1 and the Madison Square Garden Network, which brought a sizable entourage led by Steve Shirripa of The Soprano's. DJ Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow of Sirius and guest of honor Sid Bernstein, who was responsible for bringing The Beatles and several other British rock acts to the States in the 60's and 70's, also reminisced with the artists. As I listened to Denny Laine, Country Joe McDonald and Felix Caveliere share stories, I realized Hippiefest was more than a tour -- it was a caravan of long-time friends brought together once again by music.

Here are some pics –

L-R (Top Row): DJ Bruce “Cousin Brucie” Morrow and Felix Caveliere.
L-R (Bottom Row): Denny Laine and Sid Bernstein.
Photo credit: Bobby Bank.

Denny Laine, me and Sid Bernstein in the backstage area before the show.

"Flo" of The Turtles and Melanie.

Photo credit: Bobby Bank.

Shore Fire's Mark Satlof with "Cousin Brucie" who co-hosted the show with Country Joe.

L-R: Debbie Garcia, the organizer of the Seaside Summer Concert Series, with Shore Fire's Nancie Martin.

Shore Fire's Rebecca Shapiro handing out credentials. Scroll down to see the Hippiefest tie-dye in action.

Melanie with Steve Shirripa of The Sopranos.

Photo credit: Bobby Bank.

Me, WNYC Producer Melissa Egan and Denny Laine right after Denny's interview on the Leonard Lopate show, which you can listen to here.

L-R: CBS Producer Brian Bingham, Corky Laing of Mountain (Mountain, Iron Butterfly, Mitch Ryder and Badfinger are also on the tour) and me before Corky's interview on the Saturday Early Show.

Ryan Shaw happened to be performing on the Saturday Early Show. Here are Shaw and Laing together. Priceless.