Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth

Five Emprees

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THE FIVE EMPREES' RETURN: REPORT FROM HIDDEN POINTE (9/03/23)

Sep 12, 2024

Time never stops playing tricks with your mind. The Five Emprees' first reunion show in four years seemed so far away when details of it were announced in late July, and tickets went on sale during the first week in August.

Bit by bit, though, the clock began ticking more loudly, as updates about the pace of ticket sales began appearing on the Five Emprees' Facebook page, with one message being quickly, and urgently, driven home – don't wait.

That message reached a fever pitch on August 28: “As of yesterday, tickets were almost completely sold out. For those of you who want to go and are planning to get tickets at the door, you might want to rethink that plan and get them NOW.”

The countdown toward the final week has whizzed by, in a blur, toward tonight's result: the band has sold out Hidden Pointe, which holds 500 people. It's an amazing outcome, considering how much time has passed since the band first called it a day in the early '70s.

“Fifty years later, and they can still pull a crowd,” Don marvels. “How many local bands can say that?” “Not many, I wager,” I respond.

Sadly, however, longtime bassist Ron Pelkey isn't here tonight, for reasons that become clearer after a dramatic announcement between sets. He and his wife, we learn, are both in assisted living care, which means that any future reunions will likely go on without him. (The first one happened in 1988, at Babe's Lounge, in downtown Benton Harbor.)

Steve Phillips, who replaced Pelkey when his predecessor quit the band, to attend college – ably covers the bottom end basics, leaving vocalist/guitarist Don Cook, guitarist Tony Catanaia, and keyboardist Bill Schueneman as the other remaining original members to carry the flag. Drummer Bill Winans fills in for Mike Derose, who left music long ago to become an architect, while Cook's wife, Debbie, and Terry Vandenberg provide additional vocals.

Guess what, though? The band is as potent as ever, and doesn't skimp on pulling out all the stops, as Catanaia's crisp leads and Schueneman's synthesizer and piano blasts make clear on well-worn '60s rockers like “You Really Got Me” (The Kinks), “Kicks” (Paul Revere & The Raiders), and a giddy romp through The Beatles' “Back In The USSR,” where Rick Pirri joins for a one-off cameo on bass.

It's one of many spontaneous moments that pop up during these shows, and help to make them so fun, and memorable. Ditto for a second set coupling of “Sugar Shack” and “Sugar Sugar,” which is truly inspired, and helps to keep the dance floor humming.

Another surprise comes when the band breaks into “Eye Into The Sky,” by the Alan Parsons Project – which seems at odds with the overall emphasis on the '60s. Yet, on another level, it's not a stretch at all, because it allows the band to showcase its harmonies – another quality that set the Emprees apart back in the day, along with their R&B influences.

Debbie Cook's vocals prove relevant in this regard, enabling the Emprees to expand their sound. She steps up to the mike to belt out girl group and soul staples like “Be My Baby,” and “Lady Marmalade,” respectively, with able support from Vandenberg. Her voice also shines through on pop nuggets like the Turtles' “Eleanor,” a mainstay of recent reunion shows, and “The Air That I Breathe” (The Hollies).

Catanaia also proves himself a capable singer throughout the night, as he demonstrates on a swooning version of Sam Cooke's classic, “You Send Me” – not exactly a choice for a novice to tackle, especially if you're trying to fill those particular shoes. But the band pulls it off, with all the panache you'd expect of seasoned veterans, who also make sure to inject plenty of their own, highly individual styles into the equation.

As ever, eclecticism is the name of the game. How many average bar bands could swing from the likes of “Fun, Fun, Fun” (The Beach Boys), to “Sweet Caroline” (The Beach Boys), and “You Don't Have to Say You Love Me” (Dusty Springfield)? The Five Emprees manage, without missing a beat, making them like a natural fit alongside their classic debut single, “Little Miss Sad” – the only song that gets a repeat airing, in both sets, yet inspires an all-out romp along the dance floor.

What makes these shows all the more remarkable is that Cook is the only member who lives in the local area fulltime anymore. Catania divides his time between South Haven, while Phillips lives in Florida; Schueneman, in Georgia; and Winans, in Kalamazoo. (Pelkey until his recent health issues, also came from Georgia, to do his part.)

These sorts of logistics complicate the rehearsal picture, to put it mildly, so it's not surprising that the odd rough spots creep in here or there – at one point, Cook has to redirect his cohorts on one of the soul numbers into an ending that clearly isn't planned, for instance.

For the most part, though, both sets flow seamlessly toward the one-two punch ending of “Little Miss Sad,” and the Abbey Road medley – another longtime staple of past reunions. That pairing primes the crowd for the lone encore, a fun romp through “The Letter.” This time, however, we're being treated to the funkier, grittier Joe Cocker version, instead of the Boxtops' breezily familiar soul/pop original.

It's another reminder of the band's ability to put its own spin on what we've been hearing all along, and there's no sign of the interest letting up, judging by the fervency of the response – as well as the odd bit of banter that bounces back and forth.

“I'm old. Older than most of you!” Cook jokes, before the second run through “Little Miss Sad,” until someone in the audience suggests otherwise. “You're 78?” The singer asks. “I'm glad to hear that! I'm sick of being the oldest!”

Speculation had been rife, going into Sunday's show, that this affair might mark the Five Emprees' “last dance,” hence – the sellout. I'm not so sure about that, myself. That kind of talk has floated around for a long time, as I discovered in going through my archives, such as a 2015 preview I wrote about the 50th anniversary show at Hidden Pointe, for the Herald-Palladium: “Whether any more reunions happen is still uncertain.”

So much for predictions, right? But in a sense, it doesn't matter. Time will tell if Sunday's show marks the final exclamation point on a long-standing tradition, but based on what Don and I witnessed, there's no doubting this much – they'll be talking about this night for a long, long time.

THE FIVE EMPREES RISE AGAIN...TONIGHT, AT HIDDEN POINTE (9/03/23)

Sep 12, 2024

The countdown has nearly ticked down -- in just under four hours, the Five Emprees will retake the stage at the Hidden Pointe Fun Park & Event Hall, 1062 Nickerson Ave., Benton Harbor, and write another chapter in the groundswell of a legend that's continued to grow since they began doing the first of their periodic one-off reunions since 2006 (though some would go back farther, to 1989, when they recorded a nearly impossible-to-find live album at Babe's Lounge, near downtown Benton Harbor).

Tonight's affair will mark the first one they've done since the COVID-19 bomb dropped, I believe, but I'm assuming that it will be a great show, as always. We're fortunate to have four-fifths of the original band -- Don Cook (singer, guitar, percussion), Ron Pelkey (bass, vocals), and Bill Schueneman (keyboards, vocals) -- still with us, doing what they do best. (Drummer Mike DeRose hasn't been part of these recent get-togethers, having left music long ago, to become an architect.) I'd also expect to see Steve Phillips (guitar, keyboards), who played an important role in the band's existence near the end of their original run, as members started getting drafted.

Interest in this show is running high, as I see from this comment on the Five Empress official Facebook page: "Tickets are LIMITED, and I personally think it is very likely they could all sell out, so I suspect time may be of the essence in procuring them. I am taking no chances, I got my tickets yesterday, 'cause I do not want to miss this historic event."

And, just so nobody missed the point, this update, from 8/29: "If you still need tickets, as of about an hour ago there was a very limited number at Hidden Pointe, and as of Sunday night Don Cook of the Five Emprees still had a few dozen tickets. I do not think there will be any tickets left at concert time based on what I am seeing at this point. So if you want to go to this historic concert this Sunday, September 3 at 8 PM, I urge you to buy them NOW."

Mine and my friend Don's are numbered 367 and 370, out of 500, respectively, so it's fair to say we got near the end of the post -- but not so close, as to cut it too close, which is just the way you want it, right?

So what keeps the flame burning after all this time, when the original fivesome landed a song ("Little Miss Sad") onto the bottom rungs of the national charts in July 1965, peaking at #74 (Billboard), and #85 (Cash Box), depending on which survey you believed? (It's also fair to note that the song did much better in the Chicagoland area, peaking at #33 on WLS's "Silver Dollar Survey," where it held a spot for two solid months.)

I'll hand that answer over to Ward Merrill, who administers the page: "You asked and asked for them. The Five Emprees heard you and will be giving one more concert this Sunday, Sept 3. They have to travel here for Georgia, Florida and Arizona to do this for you, but they heard your requests and agreed to come.

"This will be an historic evening. A trip back in time, back to the good music most of us remember from our youth, back in the 60's and the 70's. (yes, there will be some music from other decades, but they will be heavy on that music you remember from back in the day.) You will be able to hear them play oldies you have been wanting to hear. You will be taken back to a different time period for an evening and relive some of your younger days. You won't need lyric sheets because you will know the words and be able to sing along.

"Make sure your friends know all about this night, because you will want them to be there also. This will be a night you will not forget! If you have heard the Five Emprees play, then I do not need to tell you more, because you already know how good they are. If you have not heard them before, you are in for a wonderful treat, a truly great evening from this historic band. Some of you still have some of the records they made from back then.

"Linda and I look forward to seeing you at The Five Emprees concert at Hidden Pointe."

I think this posting from Kevin William Bell, on the Five Emprees Facebook page, sums up the feeling well, too: "They opened the door and and struck lightning with Little Miss Sad. For Benton Harbor and St. Joe....what a great accomplishment. Break a heart boys ..yer always in this Benton Harbor boy's rock n roll heart."

There you have it. We'll see what tonight brings! And if you snatched up a ticket? I'll see you there.

FIVE EMPREES : BACK FOR MORE AT HIDDEN POINTE (7/13/19)

Jan 7, 2020

This time, I vow, I'm coming prepared. No half measures allowed.

That's what I told myself, anyway, after learning the date of the latest Five Emprees reunion show, which started almost 15 years ago as a crisp fall pleasure, at Lake Michigan College, and is now firmly anchored down after the Fourth of July, at Hidden Pointe. You mark it on your calendar with pleasure, like a dinner date with those old friends who aren't always on time, but always a pleasure to see.

I couldn't make last year's reunion, because I was out on the East Coast, on a book tour promoting We Are The Clash: Reagan, Thatcher & The Last Stand Of A Band That Mattered, with my co-author and good friend, Mark Andersen. There went 2018. I couldn't make it the year before, either, due to a power window repair that ate nearly all my disposable money, leaving me feeling pressed and squeezed like a grape, peeled like a lemon running right off the blender. There went 2017.

So this year, I made a few careful advance preparations. I set money aside, and put off whatever tedious life exercises don't need to get funded right away. I charged my camera battery all night, to avoid a repeat of my Shadowland Ballroom experience in 2010, when the damn thing packed up (after only 13 shots). I made sure I didn't have to cover an event that day, so I wouldn't show up exhausted and sweaty, having dashed off whatever story I needed to dash off.

The first strains sound reassuring enough, as my wife, Lisa, and I pull into the parking lot, and head inside. It's a rousing version of "Time Won't Let Me," by The Outsiders (the Cleveland variety, not the Dutch one, though they're both fine '60s bands), and the chorus ("Time won't let me -- waaa-aaa-aaa-aaait that long!") certainly seems like a fitting reminder of these last couple reunion-less years that I've endured. But hey, what's past is past, right? We're here now, and that's what matters.

Lisa and I park ourselves against far right hand wall, next to a dormant poor table covered with green cloth. Doesn't look like any cutthroat corner pocket action is happening tonight, which is fine with us, since we don't want to deal with a steady stream of people -- especially since the hall seems packed to the rafters.

Which is another way of saying that the temperature inside is getting a bit steamy, though tonight's 78-degree-ish temperatures interrupt -- temporarily, at last -- several mid-80s dog days. At times, I suspect, it takes a hit on the equipment, as there are several brief pauses to deal with monitor volumes, and other technical matters, that cause singer Don Cook to crack: "I assume, at this point, that I'm singing in tune." (He is, and he does, though one imagines that the massed bank of stage lights isn't making his task any easier.)

My initial vow to avoid the crush proves a bit harder to maintain, as I make my first round of taking pictures, which finds me ducking and diving a steady stream of concertgoers, moving on and off the dance floor, as the mood strikes them. If that's not challenging enough, I'm also bobbing and weaving away from the odd Hidden Pointe employee, or videographer, for whom I quickly develop a nifty workaround: He's over here? Okay, well, I'm over there. He's heading right? Fine, I'm going left. Works for me.

Tonight's edition, as it doesn't take long to figure out, is sleeker, poppier, and more baroque overall than in past shows, as evidenced by selections like "The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine Anymore" (The Walker Brothers), "Bus Stop" (The Hollies), and "Elenore" (The Turtles), which allow plenty of room for Don, and wife Debbie, to flex their vocal chords, and bring out the anticipation, the yearning that underpins so many of these songs from that time period, like the latter nugget ("I really think you're groovy/Let's go out to a movie/What do you say, now, Elenore, can we?").

History does not record who led, in these situations; that's where we, as the listener, get to fill in the blanks. In any event, it's a natural fit, especially when you have two keyboardists, Bill Schueneman, and Steve Phillips, who ensure that the sound stays lush and full throughout. If you saw the 2007-08-era reunions, where the band treated us to the side-long Abbey Road medley, you'll get the memo right away.

That's not to say, the band neglects to rock out -- you can't really do that, with a guitarist like Tony Catania, or a bassist like Ron Pelkey, to push the proceedings along, as they do on a fine romp through The Beatles' "Back In The USSR." No, that side is evenly slotted into place beside the above-named examples. The band also nods to its R&B/soul roots -- a quality that sets them apart from more psych-minded brethren of the time period -- with a stab at The Ronettes' "Be My Baby," where Debbie Cook's vocals come to the fore, and the Emprees' own "Hey Lover," a song that neatly straddles those Motown tendencies with the garage rock ones (which sum up the two main strands of the Five Emprees story, musically speaking).

There are surprises, too. We get a brief trip to the '80s, via "Eye In The Sky," from the Alan Parsons Project, which gives the band a chance to showcase its collective harmony strength. Purists might suggest that a band like the Five Emprees should stick to selections from its particular time period, which ignores how that period actually played out...meaning, most local bands were working bands, ones that played the hits you knew and loved, within the teen club circuit that sprang up to service the demand. Recordings, if the principals managed them, typically required a label to fund them, serving mainly as a way to generate the next round of bookings. As Tony told me several years ago, "We're a dance band. Those are our roots, and that's what we're about."

But with this particular dance band, there's plenty of personality that shines through, which explains how they can go from their "bubbling under" classic of 1965, "Little Miss Sad," to the lengthy final workout of "Soul Sacrifice" (Santana), one that allows room for Cook to bat the congas with abandon, Pelkey to play a little guitar himself, and the drummer to give himself something, with that inevitable solo of his own -- all without blinking an eye, or missing the proverbial beat.

For many who showed up this year, I suspect, it's those ringing opening chords to "Little Miss Sad" that will probably stick longest in the old subconscious. Having seen these guys several times by now, the sheer pandemonium that it ignites, followed by the mad rush to the dance floor, never ceases to amaze ("Lose those blues to the sound of the drumbeat?/BUM, BUM, BUM-BUM-BA-BUH-BUM/Work out your cares to the rhythm of dancing feet"/BUM, BUM, BUM-BUM-BA-BUH-BUM).

At the end of the day, it's all about the elemental power of those guitars and drums, and that magic combo of rhythms and chords that brings us back to whatever mood hit, when we bought a record like "Little Miss Sad" and heard it for the first time. Whatever vibe or feeling takes over, you never forget it, and you don't mind hearing it one more time, if the opportunity presents itself -- which, I suspect, is what keeps on driving these reunions. So here's to next year.

IT'S 2017: THE FIVE EMPREES RISE AGAIN TONIGHT

Aug 22, 2017

Well, here we go again: the Five Emprees are returning at 8 p.m. tonight, for what's become a reliable recent midsummer rite: the annual reunion at Hidden Pointe. Sadly, though, I won't be able to make it, due to a last-minute window repair to my car ... which also ate all my disposable cash that would have gone for a ticket. Such is life, I'm afraid!

So, unfortunately, I won't have an update this weekend, though I may check for footage that surfaces on YouTube -- and if I find it, I'll post the links here, so your fingers won't have to do their own walking. ("We've done the work for you," as Time-Life says in all those late night infomercials for their "do you remember when?" comps.) Naturally, you're welcome to send your own comments and photos, if you like.

At any rate, I'm sure the proceedings will be good, and all those who do turn up should have a fab time, as the saying goes. As for the title on the poster ("The Last Dance?"), I'm naturally a bit skeptical -- every show's billed as the last one, until the next one happens, of course.

In the meantime, though, we have a reunion from one of Berrien County's other local legends, White Summer, on the books for July 22. I'll try my utmost to make that one, and hope that all my car parts finally behave...and leave my wallet alone. :-)

***UPDATE: Well, I'm afraid I'll have to do a similar hunt for links (and pictures) of the White Summer experience, too. Although I did finish my "rent money party" work by Friday night/Saturday afternoon, I was too worn out to think about doing anything else, but unwinding in front of the TV set...apologies in advance to all who expected a similar update on the White Summer front -- but when you're feeling squeezed from every direction, something's got to give. Such is life. :-)

FIVE EMPREES: MYSTERY GIG POSTER

Nov 25, 2016

Remember that tagline from "Unsolved Mysteries," when Robert Stack would introduce the next segment by intoning: "Watch, and learn. Perhaps...you can solve a mystery."

That's definitely the case here, with this image of this gig poster of the Five Emprees sent by Joe Redman (Rock Island, IL), who says that he's been trying to pinpoint a year/venue for awhile now, but without success. This is what he has to say about it:

"I actually grew up in the city where Tommy James got his start (Niles, MI). Three years behind in high school. I saw him when he was playing at high school dances with the band of Niles boys. Have some other TJ memorabilia. This poster I got some time ago from a friend who got it from his father when he passed away. He had no info on it, but I snatched it up. Sorry I don't have anything for you."

So that's the back story, as basic as it gets. Readers, that's where you come in -- does anybody out there know when (or where) this gig took place? Were you there, or even if you weren't -- can you help shed a little bit more light on the details? Like the man said....perhaps you can solve a mystery.

THE FIVE EMPREES RISE AGAIN....AT HIDDEN POINTE (ROUND TWO: REFLECTIONS)

by Words/Images: Chairman Ralph

Nov 25, 2016

Well, here we are again, for what's become a mid-summer rite: the Five Emprees, present and correct, back for another go-round at Hidden Pointe. What else needs to be said? What more needs to be said?

The best answer to those questions comes near the end of tonight's second set, as lead singer Don Cook pauses to catch his breath, and address the crowd. "You make this fun," he says. "You're the reason we do this."

Last year's fiftieth anniversary reunion to celebrate the release of "Little Miss Sad" -- the song that, for a brief time, put the band on the national map -- marked an emotional high point, one that sold out rapidly. Of course, such moments carry plenty of their own implied pressure (as in, how are you gonna top that, kid?).

The answer is equally simple: keep on keepin' on, and leave it there. The Five Emprees hark back to a simpler time, when the night's mission focused on forgetting your problems, and having some fun -- before the extended soloing and lengthy conceptual opuses that typified the counterculture at its best (and worst) kicked in.

At this point, the Five Emprees' only competition is themselves, and they remain tight as ever, as even a casual listen to the interplay of their vocal frontline -- Cook, Ron Pelkey (bass), and Tony Catania (lead guitar) -- suggests. Tonight's set tilts toward the Beatles, as well as R&B nuggets like "Ain't Too Proud To Beg," and "Sugar Shack," which also allow ample room for the gutsy backup vocals of Becky Rotter, and Dale Owen, to shine through. (The latter selections are also a reminder of the band's musical roots, which set them down a different path than most of their more overtly rock-oriented contemporaries.)

Everyone gets their chance to shine, as Catania proves with his energetic delivery of "Back In The USSR" -- or Pelkey, when he straps on a massive blonde Gretsch guitar, for an emotionally-charged rendition of Santo & Johnny's after-hours instrumental, "Sleep Walk." Yes, you may have heard it in countless movies and TV ads, but not this way -- not in this intimate of a setting, where Pelkey sits onstage, wringing new clusters of feeling in each string that he bends.

Then and now, that ability to raise songs to another level is one of the Five Emprees' signature talents. However many times you may have heard songs like "Fun, Fun, Fun," or "The Letter," the band always finds a new twist to interject -- whether it's a burst of acapella interplay between all those onstage, in the former, or the "dueling versions" game that they play on the latter. Hence, Cook leads off with the Alex Chilton version, before yielding to guitarist/keyboardist Steve Phillips -- who raises the rafters with his take on the Joe Cocker version.

Along the way, we also get detours through the worlds of pop ("Eleanor," "Tell Her No"), and garage rock ("You Really Got Me," "Woolly Bully"), driven along by Catania's no-nonsense lead approach -- ah, if only all rock 'n' roll could have scaled such gloriously crunchy peaks back in '65-'66, right? -- with an epic run through the Beatles' Abbey Road medley, "Louie Louie," and "Little Miss Sad" rounding out the night.

Only, there's just one small hitch: nobody's really ready to go home yet, leaving the band to flip through their fake books and sheet music stands for a couple minutes. A brief glance here, a hurried consultation there, and what's the solution? Why, what any self-respecting dance band does -- pull out a crowd pleaser that you've already aired, in mid-set, and try scaling some newer heights in the process.

In this case, the song is "Satisfaction," by the Rolling Stones -- delivered with all the sass and rhythmic drive that characterized the original, with plenty of fist-pumping affirmation from the crowd. Now, the night can officially come to an end, the house lights can flicker on again, and the crowd can file out, leaving another memory to put in its scrapbooks (mental or physical).

Dave Carlock, local uber-producer made good, and I exchange glances, and quick verdicts...."Yeah, this just have been...." He nods. "The best one yet." He nods again. We'll see what next year holds.

FIVE EMPREES RISE AGAIN....AT HIDDEN POINTE (7/08/16)

by Text/Photos: Chairman Ralph

Oct 30, 2016

Benton Harbor's certified '60s garage band legends, the Five Emprees, returned for their annual reunion last week at the Hidden Pointe banquet hall, off Nickerson Avenue, in Benton Harbor....

....but you'll have to wait just a little bit for the full report and photos, now that I've gotten them off my friendly neighborhood Walgreens photo kiosk. Here's the set list, which should tide you all over for now, till I post the complete package:

First Set Time Won't Let Me/Pretty Woman/Tell Her No/Day Tripper/I Saw Her Standing There/Laugh Laugh/Do You Love Me/Dancing In The Street/Hey Lover/Ain't Too Proud To Beg/Can't Buy Me Love/Be My Baby/The Long & Winding Road/Walk Don't Run/Mustang Sally/Black Magic Woman/Little Miss Sad

Second Set Blues Brothers Medley/In Dreams/Wooly Bully/Sugar Shack/Please Please Me/Fun, Fun, Fun/Shake/You Can't Do That/Sleep Walk (featuring Ron Pelkey, guitar)/Back In The USSR/Sweet Caroline/Eleanor/Satisfaction/You Don't Have To Say You Love Me/You Really Got Me/Lady Marmalade/ The Letter (dueling versions: Box Tops vs. Joe Cocker's, sung by Steve Phillips)/Beatles Medley/Louie Louie/Little Miss Sad Encore: Satisfaction

THE FIVE EMPREES AT HIDDEN POINTE: PICS & REFLECTIONS, ROUND TWO (7/03/15)

by Words/Images: Chairman Ralph

Dec 5, 2015

Memory is an irresistible force. Whatever name you call it -- history, nostalgia, local interest -- once a connection is made, there's no denying its power tonight, as the Five Emprees return for another one-off reunion show, with four of the original members: lead guitarist Tony Catania, singer-guitarist Don Cook, bassist Ron Pelkey, and keyboardist Bill Schueneman. (Drummer Mike DeRose hasn't played since the band's early '70s breakup; ironically, he was in town, but missed the reunion by a day, because he was flying back to Santa Barbara, CA.)

This time around, they're celebrating the fiftieth anniversary and first single, "Little Miss Sad," which earned them a slice of garage-rock immortality for several glorious weeks during the summer of '65. Depending on which survey you believe, the song peaked nationally at #74 on Billboard's Top 100, or #85 on Cashbox's competing countdown.
Though the band's national prospects essentially tapered off after that point, "Little Miss Sad" cast a ripple that echoed well beyond its initial chart run -- one representing the sound of youthful possibilities, when any group of four or five guys could make a run for the roses, fueled by the hopes of their fans.

Much of that action took place at teen dances, at venues like the Unicorn, in downtown Benton Harbor -- as well as the old Shadowland Ballroom (since restored), "down at Silver Beach," as longtime fan Gaye Keller told me, in our pre-gig chat. "It was way down at the end of the amusement park, by the pier -- so there were dances there, all the time. They also had dances at Blossomland: they were called 'the outdoor Unicorn Dances.'"

And that's how tonight's gig proceeds, too -- as a dance band, playing the songs you know and love, but with a few little twists to keep you going. (Before I go any further, let me take care of the full disclosure bit: my comments are about the first set. I didn't catch the second, since the wife felt tired, and wanted to go home during the break -- that's rock 'n' roll, as they say.)

Ron had promised a couple new things this year...and, sure enough, as my wife and I enter, our ears perk up: the night's starting with a snappy reworking of the James Bond theme, whose sinewy, menacing guitar line (duh-duh-duh-DUH-DUH,duh-duh-duh-DUH-DUH), leads into a full-blooded reworking of the Live And Let Die theme...which, then and now, remains one of the 007 movie franchise's most enduring musical signatures. The band handles it expertly, with keyboardists Bill Schueneman and Steve Phillips ably covering the orchestral and horn lines.

Aside from a brisk run through "Lay Down Sally," and "Black Magic Woman" -- which has become an epic set-closer, since these reunions began picking up steam in 2006 -- tonight's gig keeps its flag planted in the '60s, the decade that represented so much promise for those who remember it well. So, naturally, the band dishes out time-honored crowd-pleasers like "Pretty Woman," "Happy Together," and "Be My Baby," delivered with their signature touches -- including the lead guitar work of Catania, who returned (after a six-year hiatus) for the 2014 reunion.

The crowd also gets "Time Won't Let Me" (The Outsiders), and "Tell Her No" (The Zombies), which -- along with The Mamas & The Papas' anthem, "California Dreamin'" -- allows the band to showcase its harmonies....energetically aided by Cook's sister, Debbie, offering yet another reminder of an element that set the band apart. (On the first two songs, it's also nice to hear a couple era-defining numbers that classic rock radio formats haven't pounded into the ground.) Ron also takes the mike, as he's done at past shows, for an energetic romp through Dion's doo-wop call to arms, "The Wanderer."

Of course, the night wouldn't feel complete without hearing "Little Miss Sad" -- which moves at a slightly less galloping pace than the recorded version, but it's punchy, nonetheless -- and its flipside, "Hey Lover," whichactually garnered more airplay locally than its nationally featured counterpart. Hearing these songs offers a snapshot of the band's R&B roots (since the Emprees name is a shortened version of Five Empressions, which the boys ditched, following threats of legal action by the Impressions, their better-known Chicago counterparts).

It's also a reminder that the band were fully capable of writing songs that could stack up favorably against anything else from that era, local or national -- and, had circumstances turned out a bit differently, might have enabled the boys from Benton Harbor to take their ambitions a little farther than they went.

Tonight, though, nobody's taking notice of these things -- the dance floor action stays fast and furious, which is all that matters. As Ron noted, this year's show coincided with his own fiftieth anniversary class reunion, which prompted local DJ "Rockin' Randy" Poole to tell him: "He said, 'You guys are just a big part of my childhood, growing up, and my love of music.' I mean, we didn't plan it that way...we wanted to be as good as we could. We make music as good as we're capable of doing, and it's just a lot of fun."

Michigan Rock 'n' Roll Legends Hall Of Fame Article
http://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/mrrl-hall-of-fame/220-five-emprees

THE FIVE EMPREES: 50TH ANNIVERSARY AT HIDDEN POINTE (PICS, ROUND ONE: 7/03//15)

by Words/Images: Chairman Ralph

Dec 5, 2015

The bright overhead light looked great onstage...but, photograph-wise, it made my night challenging...to put it mildly. Once I got past those technical issues, though -- and, oh, yeah, tried holding the camera a bit steadier -- the old instincts kicked in, leaving you with this batch of shots from the Five Emprees' 50th anniversary celebration gig.

For those who didn't make it out, you missed an amazing night. I'm still processing it all, myself....especially when you consider that, 50 years after "Little Miss Sad" earned the Emprees an everlasting shot at garage rock immortality, the connection between the band and its dedicated local fans remains as undimmed as ever by the passage of time.

My favorite example came during "Can't Buy Me Love." Just as the Beatles song done and dusted for good, bassist Ron Pelkey got the crowd clapping and chanting the chorus: "Can't buy me love....luh-uh-uv..." Then, just like that, the band kicked back in, 1-2-3-4, sure as shootin'....and hammered the coda home, like their lives depended on it.

That's only one snapshot of the Emprees put their stamp on those songs we've heard so often throughout our lives. And, on reflection, that's what live music is all about -- as the old saying goes, "You had to be there."

More examples will come to mind shortly, I'm sure, but for now, here's a few photos to tide us all over until I sort out my thoughts. Stay tuned for round two.

THE FIVE EMPREES ROSE AGAIN (...AT HIDDEN POINTE: 7/11/14)

Dec 29, 2013

Well, I wasn't able to make last night's reunion gig at Hidden Pointe (for boring personal reasons that I don't need to elaborate here)...such is life, I guess. As it turned out, though, we did get the mighty Tony C. back on guitar -- and thus, four-fifths of the original band -- so that proved plenty enough reason to celebrate, and makes me feel sadder still that I missed this one!

For those in the know, Tony's sound is such as a big part of what makes this band tick. As Ron alludes in his original holiday 2013 email below, there's nothing like getting an original member back in the fold. (Billy Winans ended up back on the drumkit: I'm sure he did a solid job, as always.)

Anyway, I'm going to scour the Web this weekend and see if I can at least find some images to post here, by way of a consolation prize (and if you want to share with me, you're more than welcome!). Here's hoping that we don't have wait another three years for the Emprees to rise again!

MESSAGE FROM RON (12/29/13)
Longtime fans, take note! Looks like 2014 will be a year to remember, but I'll let Ron Pelkey take it from here in this special mass Christmas email:

"MERRY CHRISTMAS to all the fans of THE FIVE EMPREES! I want to announce today that THE FIVE EMPREES will be playing at Hidden Point this comming July 11---the Friday after the 4th of July. Please tell all your friends. Come to welcome Tony Catania back to the band. He skipped the last couple years and we are delighted he wants to play again.

"We will also have Steve Philips from Florida making a guest appearance. He was my replacement when I went away to college. And another local musician, Edward Skjordal, on drums and vocals. He is great and we are anxious to get together with him. We loved the playing of Mike Depoian and Billy Winans and hope to play with them again in the future. But this is getting back to the original Emprees and we are excited. Please spread the word!"

FIVE EMPREES ENTER MICHIGAN ROCK 'N' ROLL HALL OF FAME (6/01/13)

Feb 16, 2013

For those who read BLUE SUEDE NEWS's excellent Spring 2012 articles by Marc Bristol on West Michigan bands, there's no question that the '60s produced a wealth of local talent -- like the Five Emprees. Talk with anyone who was around at the time, and you'll get a vivid feeling for how much this era means to them, whether they were onstage, or out in the audience.

Nothing feels more exciting when you're lucky enough to stand at the epicenter of a cultural youthquake, and that's definitely what the '60s represented, then and now. Like future movements, such as the Britpunk explosion of '76-'77, the Age of Aquarius left a lasting imprint that -- no matter how much its critics deny it -- can never be shaken off.

Now comes another reminder, following the successful bids of the Five Emprees' and Sixth Generation to join the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame's Class of 2013, for which voting closed at midnight, June 1. The major categories included Legendary Bands, which saw the Five Emprees joining Anita Baker (Detroit), Cherry Slush (Saginaw), Frijid Pink, Joey Day & The Dares and Parliament/Funkadelic (Detroit), and the Riot Squad (Escanaba) join this year's Class of 2013, according to the official MRRL website, http://www.michiganrockandrolllegends.com/.

A look at the pie chart showed Riot Squad capturing the most votes (292), for 13.4 percent of the total, with the Emprees not far behind, at 246 votes (11.3 percent) -- far above the rest of the pack, though Frijid Pink also staked out a significant presence, with 130 votes (or 6 percent).

The Sixth Generation, on the other hand, already entered the hall in 2011, but were on this year's Legendary Song ballot for "This Is The Time," whose fond recollection of the era is also the linchpin of its new CD, THAT WAS...THIS IS. "This Is The Time" sailed into the Class of 2013 Songs, and it wasn't even close, with 151 votes, or 10 percent of the total.

Other notable recordings honored this year include "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" (The Temptations), "Crystal Blue Persuasion" (Tommy James & The Shondells), "Let's Get In On" (Marvin Gaye), "Stop! In The Name Of Love" (The Supremes), and "The Tears Of A Clown" (Smokey Robinson & The Miracles) -- all in all, "not too damn shabby," as the saying goes.

The triumph is made all the sweeter, since the Sixth Generation released the song as a double-sided 45 back in the day -- and didn't manage to record more original material before going their separate ways for 40-odd years.

THE BIG TAKEAWAY
So what do we make of these latest results, exactly, and what's the Big Takeaway for the audience?

If nothing else, these results show that the '60s spirit is alive and well. There's a reason -- well, more than several, actually -- why folks keep revisiting that decade's respective creative peaks in film, music and literature.

Suddenly, young people had money to burn on cars, clothes, records, and whatever struck their fancy -- so anybody vaguely south of the dreaded "don't-trust-anybody-over-30" demarcation line actually had to listen, or take the risk of falling behind, and getting weeded out. (If you need anymore proof, check out "Dr. J's Blog" on the MRRL site -- the articles that I've seen are a treasure trove of information.)

For established artists, the basic rule could well be summarized in a sentence: "Move it, or lose it." Nobody wanted to hear the same story told twice, so there was no greater sin than repeating yourself: you either pushed the envelope, or got out of the way. Without the various rivalries that ruled the decade -- such as the Beatles versus the Rolling Stones, to name the most obvious suspect -- we'd have suffered through umpteen editions of "Sing Along With Mitch" (enough said on that score!)

For young rockers aspiring to reach those same heights, the ride often proved short, yet exhilarating. Many of them, like the Emprees, were only a hit or two away from rewriting the rulebooks of their lives, and leaving the nine-to-five routine behind for good. Some of West Michigan's native sons (Tommy James) pulled off the latter trick, while others (The Five Emprees) had to wait a couple decades or more for another moment in the sun.

The best part of all this? That's not too hard to work out. Unlike the big-time Rock 'N' Roll Hall of Fame, politics didn't enter the equation -- marking one of those occasions where we, the people, actually got a direct hand in the matter, for a change. Congratulations to both bands for their respective achievements, and here's hoping that we get a few more chapters to the story, while the iron's still hot.

"BLUE SUEDE NEWS" PUBLISHES CHAIRMAN'S FIVE EMPREES PHOTOS

Jun 19, 2012

For 25 years, BLUE SUEDE NEWS has been staking out its own distinctive presence in publishing -- covering the gamut of American roots music, from '50s rock, to blues, country, garage, and beyond, as editor and publisher Marc Bristol explains: "Basically, anything we like."

As usual, Issue 97 (Spring 2012) makes good on that promise, with a cover story on Chris Isaak, plus features on Ron Holden & The Playboys, and Edward Union & The Volumes. From my perspective, however, Marc's article, "Western Michigan Garage Bands" -- of which he was an active participant -- is truly the jewel in the crown.

Among other delights, you get a writeup on the Five Emprees, for which Marc used two of my photos from the 2008 and 2010 reunions held at Lake Michigan College, and the Shadowland Ballroom, respectively. You also get extensive looks at the Aardvarks, Poor Boys Pride and The Mussies -- all of whom recorded for the legendary Fenton label -- with Marc's in-depth recollections of the scene.

My favorite bit has to be Marc's description of his face-to-face meet with Animals vocalist Eric Burdon, whose band happened to be playing in Benton Harbor...and the Five Emprees were the openers! I won't give the game away, though...suffice to say, it involves Eric's tightrope walk with a bottle of Southern Comfort...you'll have to buy the issue to read the rest.

In short, don't just buy the mag because Marc used my photos -- his article harks back to a time when anyone, or so it seemed, could grab some short-lived notoriety off the back of their latest single, as the Five Emprees did with "Little Miss Sad...or the Aardvarks, in scraping the lower rungs of the Top 200.

For the people onstage, it was a time when all the possibilities seemed wide open, and real life could still be kept at bay, for just a little bit longer...an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives...and if it's not already some kind of blazing bio-pic, suffice to say, someone needs to make it.

Blue Suede News: http://www.bluesuedenews.com/.

WE CAME, WE SAW: THE FIVE EMPREES AT LMC (5/07/11)

May 17, 2011

The original master plan called for three days of rehearsals, but this year's reunited Five Emprees lineup settled for just one -- a fact not apparent to longtime fans turning out to see Benton Harbor's original '60s heroes at Lake Michigan College...and undoubtedly felt the heartstrings tug during the Beatles medley, as Don Cook sang: "Once there was a way...to get back home..." (And, unlike last year, my camera batteries didn't crap out after 13 shots...giving me about 150 to choose from, which I narrowed to just shy of 100!)

"Oh, I tell you, it was so tight when we did it the first time," bassist Ron Pelkey reflected, after the night end. "If we'd have taken more (time), we'd have done more (songs). The important thing is, Bill and Don and I have done this thousands of times. (Guitarist) Mike Depoian and (drummer) Billy Winans are such professionals -- they do it by memory, and they're way ahead of me." Pelkey noticed one other change on the bandstand. "I used to have count the songs out for everybody. Since Winans is our drummer -- he knows how fast to count it out (for each tempo). He takes the pressure off of me."

Keyboardist Bill Schueneman concurred, saying, "That (single rehearsal) was enough. We do real familiar stuff, and we shouldn't have had to do more than that. That's my ideal. It helps playing with Billy and Mike, in that regard, because they're prepared. They make it easy for us, for sure."

From Depoian's standpoint, having to learn roughly three dozen songs isn't radically different from the experiences in his current band, where he might shift from playing songs by Blondie, to Steely Dan and the Pretenders, all in the same night. "I like it, for that reason," Depoian said. "Dave Zane, the singer, plays with the Buckinghams. It's kind of his side project." As far as this year's reunion went, Depoian observed: "It took a little bit of work, but I had to chart it out, so it was no problem."

As expected, this year's show adhered to songs from the Emprees' era, including their own singles ("Little Miss Sad," "Hey Lover") and songs that remain radio cornerstones today ("Dancin' In The Street," "I'm A Believer," "Spooky," "Summer In The City"). The crowd got some nifty surprises along the way, too -- including a two-song Paul Revere & The Raiders medley ("Just Like Me"/"Kicks"), plus dips into the blues (with "Sweet Home Chicago"), and the '70s ("Lady Marmalade"). The show closed with Santana's epochal Woodstock instrumental, "Soul Sacrifice," complete with an extended percussive breakdown to keep the dance floor humming.

So what's ahead? As always, the answer depends on those classic variables of time, place and opportunity, according to Schueneman, who -- like Pelkey -- now lives in Atlanta, GA. "We would like to do it, as long as people would like to come and listen to us. We'll see where it takes us. We've had some really nice events. It's a chance for the family to get together, and sometimes, my kids can see what I (used to) do, when I was a kid – it's kind of fun."

Looking back, Pelkey has little trouble putting his finger on the Five Emprees' biggest achievement: "Probably that we did it our own way. We didn't get into drugs, like the other people -- at the time, we had a lot shorter hair than we've got today." In many respects, the latest reunions are an ongoing reminder of the Emprees' dance band roots, when 3,000 teenagers packed venues like the original Shadowland Ballroom -- where they could see all the day's biggest names for a single-digit price.

"We were in a unique position," Pelkey said. "We had dances on Sunday nights, and we were between Detroit, and Chicago –- a lot of these big name groups were looking for something like that. We could get 'em for a good price. We never charged more than $2 at the door, and it's just something that you can't duplicate today."

IT'S OFFICIAL: FIVE EMPREES AT LMC THIS SPRING

Apr 21, 2011

***UPDATE (5/8/11): Due to the large number of photos that I shot this year -- starting with 150, which I weeded down to 108, give or take -- I've uploaded some images to this announcement, which is now archived for posterity! More to come when I do the full report...stay tuned.***

It has finally been approved! Live music is alive and well in southwest Michigan and I have been working on a benefit to promote musicians in the area. I want to do my part in making a bright musical future for you.

The BENTON HARBOR SUNRISE ROTARY presents THE FIVE EMPREES with the LMC Jazz Band Sponsored by Lake Michigan College

Proceeds of the benefit go to a music scholarship fund targeting Benton Harbor area students through THE SUNRISE ROTARY.
This word is just in from longtime bassist Ron Pelkey...the Five Emprees will be back in action this spring, for another benefit show at Lake Michigan College. Here are the details, according to Ron:

"It will be held 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, May 7 at Mendel Hall at Lake Michigan College in Benton Harbor. The plan is to have the jazz band perform as well as THE FIVE EMPREES. We will also perform together, and have members play with THE FIVE EMPREES. It should be a wonderful night of music! I am excited about this event!

"Please help us generate scholarships for local talented incoming freshmen at LMC. Tickets will be available on the Mendel Centers website for $25 per person + handling, at the Mendel Center box office for $25 per person, or at the benefit for $30 per person.

"For tickets and information contact:

Lake Michigan College
Mendel Center Mainstage
2755 E. Napier Avenue."
Benton Harbor, MI 49022-1899
(269) 927-1221.

WE CAME, WE SAW: THE SHADOWLAND BALLROOM (6/25/10)

Jul 12, 2010

The crowd was filing out, the management itching to start cleaning up, and the band getting ready to pack, when Five Emprees lead singer Don Cook pointed to my tape recorder: "You look like you've got something up your sleeve."

Technically true, though that had happened earlier, when I'd been snap-snap-snappin' my time away, documenting the Five Emprees' one-night/one-off gig at the rebuilt Shadowland Ballroom, just a stone's throw from Silver Beach County Bark..and the site of many triumphs back in the mid-1960s, when teen culture reigned supreme (present company included, as well).

Indeed, once attractions like the Curious Kids' Museum Discovery Zone and the Carousel Ballroom are factored into the equation, the restored Shadowland Ballroom is an impressive attraction, as bassist Ron Pelkey enthused afterwards: "They had this so well-planned -- I mean, they've got stuff going on, over and over again. They allowed us to set up last night -- they got it going like clockwork."

This time around, Cook, Pelkey (plus sister Debbie Pelkey Cook) and keyboardist Bill Schueneman held down the frontline, while guitarist Mike DePoian deputized for Tony Catania (who was off traveling, and essentially indisposed). With original drummer Mike DeRose embedded in the West Coast architectural life, Billy Winans kept the beat...thus prepared, we were off and runnin' for two 90-minute sets!

For the 2010 model, we heard many of the highlights that have lit up previous reunions, including "Black Magic Woman" (Santana), "I'm A Believer" (The Monkees), "Spooky" (Classics IV), and "Summer In The City" (The Lovin' Spoonful)...along with the Beatles medley from ABBEY ROAD. (I'm going from memory at the moment, since my yellow notepad has seemingly absconded from view.)

There were a few surprises along the way, such as "All She Wants To Do Is Dance," which caused Cook to joke, after the slam-bang ending: "You thought it was from the '60s? Well...we lied." From the band's side of things, we got "Over The Mountain," and "Hey Lover" (the flipside of their classic single, "Little Miss Sad"), which serve to remind us that the Five Emprees' sound owed as much to classic R&B and soul as it did to the British Invasion.

The biggest, and most audacious choice, was an extended set-closing jam on yet another Santana raver, "Soul Sacrifice," which became one of the highlights of their '69 Woodstock Festival performance. Watching the crowd go crazt after those famed opening Latin bars (Dun-DUH-DUH-Dun/Dun-DUH-DUH-DUN-Dun) isn't something that I'll forget easily, if ever, while DePoian, Pelkey and Scheuenman made the most of their golden opportunity to stretch out.

What makes these shows so special is the Emprees' ability to make these well-worn songs sound as though they're playing 'em for the first time, while injecting their own instrumental character along the way...which is no mean feast, and not easy to do (as I can attest, having witnessed many reunited bands from all different eras).

Right around 11 o'clock, it was over, just like that, leaving the true believer and newcomer alike to add this particular show to their stack of memories...for which DJ "Rockin' Randy" Poole's choice of song (The Beatles' "In My Life") seemed so apropos. (Special thanks to Randy, by the way, for allowing me to use three of his Facebook pics -- which I've labeled, "THE VIEW FROM STAGE LEFT," "DRUMMER BILLY WINANS," and "WORKIN' THE CROWD" -- after my trusty punk rock digital camera's batteries crapped out after about 15 shots.)

Since these reunions currently happen one at a time, I naturally had to ask, "What happens now?" It's hard to believe that another year, at least, might pass before we see these guys again.

However, nobody's breaking out the crystal ball yet, as Ron made clear afterwards: "I don't know -- it's not up to us. We play whenever we can. Somebody has to ask."

Well, let's put this way...if anyone finds a better ideal cue, let me know.