by rod lee

Understood by most everyone who takes in concerts at Indian Ranch is that a staple of the experience is “people watching.”

On any given day performances by groups like the Little River Band, which took place the afternoon of July 17th, are sure to bring out an assortment of characters more colorful in attire and more captivating in personality than even Big Bird, James Cagney as Yankee Doodle Dandy, Liberace or Jerry Lee Lewis at the piano or Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in a lavishly embroidered jacket.

Such was the case again when hundreds of people (some of who, like myself, received a VIP invitation for a thank-you press party prior to the main event from Indian Ranch Publicist Adam Klein) gathered at the venerable location at the edge of Webster Lake in anticipation of the music they would be hearing from Wayne Nelson and his mates; songs like “Cool Change,” “Reminiscing,” “Playing to Win,” “Help is on its Way” and of course “Lonesome Loser.”

For me, the chance to sing along to the lyrics “Have you heard about the lonesome loser?/Beaten by the queen of hearts every time/Have you heard about the lonesome loser?/He’s a loser but he still keeps on tryin’” was made all that much better by the presence of a granddaughter who came along for companionship—and by a surprise reconnection with former colleagues from the Telegram & Gazette.

Seeing Jay Valencourt and Deirdre Baldwin again meant catching up on “the good old days” we shared on Franklin Street in Worcester, followed by lunch together at a picnic table (the food was provided by the staff of Samuel Slater’s Restaurant) and then seats in the bleachers to the right of the stage for the show.

Jay and Deirdre were much more familiar with the Little River Band’s catalogue than myself and so they did not raise their hands when Wayne Nelson asked “how many here are seeing the Little River Band for the first time?” To the many hands that shot up at this question, Mr. Nelson said “where have you been for the last forty-seven years?”

Perhaps more than is true at even the Comcast Center, The Palladium, the South Shore Music Circus, the Cape Cod Melody Tent, Boston’s Hatch Shell or the Hampton Beach Casino, there is an energy at Indian Ranch that can lift the most downtrodden spirit. This will undoubtedly continue to be true as the Mike’s Hard Lemonade Summer Concert Series continues with shows featuring such acts as ABBA The Concert-ABBA Tribute, Get the Led Out, Extreme and the Pike Rockfest—together with other bookings, which are being added all the time.

Long associated with Country & Western music, this is not so typical anymore, but as a venue Indian Ranch stands second to none in New England; and there is as compensation for the loss of Charlie Daniels and other cowpoke-oriented productions the Nash Icon Local Countryfest on September 11 to look forward to.

In the meantime, several rows in front of where we were seated, a young woman in sandals, black shorts and a sleeveless pink top (identified here as “Rose” for the purposes of this column) kept people around her entertained from start to finish.

In deference to the oppressive heat, Rose used a spray bottle to douse herself with cooling water — and anyone nearby who desired the shower as well — while dancing continuously. At times she left her place about midway up the grandstand to bolt down the aisle and engage with others she knew, without missing a beat. At other times she dropped into the lap of the man who was with her, still gyrating and singing along with the band.

Wayne Nelson may not have noticed Rose in the throng but if he did, perhaps he was toasting her when he raised a glass, took a sip and said “Kentucky water, brown.”

One thing is for sure. Rose got her money’s worth by letting off a little steam. She was not alone. Invariably concerts at Indian Ranch get the audience up on its feet. The acts — in this case the Little River Band — respond affirmatively.

“We’ll be back!” Wayne Nelson said, while paying homage to keyboardist Chris Marion, singer-songwriter-guitarist Bruce Wallace, drummer Ryan Ricks and guitarist Colin Whinnery.

An Australian rock group that has been around since the 1970s the Little River Band has been dubbed “the best singing band in the world” by Glenn Frey of The Eagles. LRB continues to demonstrate staying power as it moves from Webster to Dallas, Winder, Georgia, Anderson, Indiana, Nashville and beyond—in 2022.

Just like Rose, who never seemed to tire on a blazing hot day that left a lot of others wilting.

Contact Rod Lee at [email protected] or 774-232-2999.