Yacht Rock Schooner made its triumphant return to the Millwald Theater on Friday, March 28th. Despite not receiving the sellout they deserved, the Wytheville crowd gave an uncharacteristically enthusiastic response, which made it feel like a full house.
Named after a genre for the easy rock of the late 1970s and early 1980s, the term “Yacht Rock” swept the world by storm after a YouTube craze twenty years ago spoofed a fictitious meeting between Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins and their subsequent creation of the song “What a Fool Believes.” However, Yacht Rock Schooner offered nothing during its 2-hour show that resembled easy listening. Instead, they delivered a 25-song set list that showcased the rock and soul blend of pop music during an era when flashy trends and a lack of talent did not overrun the mainstream. Back then, pop music had to be polished and inventive to become number one, and these eight musicians from Atlanta, Georgia, showed us exactly how the professionals did it in an electrifying evening filled with songs by the Bee Gees, Steely Dan, the Little River Band, Michael McDonald, Jackson Browne, and many others.
Each of the eight members walked out on stage with the presence of an artist who could carry their own show. No doubt they could have, but together, they were on fire. Brenda Nicole Moorer brought a soulful touch to numbers like Fleetwood Mac’s “You Make Lovin’ Fun” and “Thunder Only Happens When It’s Raining,” that Stevie Nicks and Christine McVie would surely envy. Moorer’s rendition of Barbra Streisand’s “Guilty” had an R&B edge that Streisand could only wish for. Her performance of Carly Simon’s “You Belong to Me,” with its sultry feel, brought half the audience to their feet by the end.
Her fellow vocalist, Cleveland P. Jones, matched that soul on songs like the Doobie Brothers’ “Taking It to the Streets,” the Bee Gees’ “Nights on Broadway,” and Steely Dan’s “Peg.”
A highlight of the show for me was drummer Ganesh Lee’s impeccable drumming and unstoppable vocals on two of my favorite numbers: Hall & Oates’ “I Can’t Go for That (No Can Do)” and Kenny Loggins’ “Heart to Heart.” He delivered show-stopping performances in both areas. My lifelong hero, Phil Collins, has often said that singing behind the drum kit is difficult. Lee exploded that theory, effortlessly delivering Loggins’ breathy tenor and soulful growl while maintaining tireless drumming. To watch his swagger and precision at the drum kit was an awesome sight. At the very least, he never missed a beat and was the driving force behind the band, proving he could lead it with zero struggle.
Described by Lee as the “blunt force trauma” of the band, saxophonist Jordan Shaloup stole the show several times, especially during the iconic solo in Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street.” The final song before the encore, someone shouted a request for the song just as the band was gearing up to play it. It was the perfect cherry on top after the band flawlessly performed two of my other favorites during the evening.
When I thought Lee couldn’t top his performance of the Hall & Oates’ dance favorite, he launched into the fabulous yet rarely heard Kenny Loggins track “Heart to Heart.” We had a brief conversation a few days before the show, and I had to ask him if he had Loggins ready to play.
“You know it,” he assured me.
When that number kicked off, I flattered myself by thinking maybe he had me in mind as he played it, knowing I’d be in the audience.
In fact, I wouldn’t have been there if Ganesh Lee hadn’t secured spots for my family and me. Interviewing him for his appearance at the Millwald Theater last year was one of the most exciting interviews I’ve ever had in my career. For him to invite me and my family to see the show was more than just an unforgettable evening—it capped off my week-long celebration of turning 40. Not only did he add to the festivities, but he also reminds me I could still be cool, even at an “over-the-hill” age. If I possessed even half the smoothness Ganesh Lee displayed onstage that night—right down to the hair and sunglasses—I’d never have to worry about going out of style. All the clichés about drummers catching the eyes of the ladies and the admiration of the guys came to life when you watch him perform.
I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to see this unbelievable show. I was also happy to bring my Aunt Pam along. Although she has spent her adult life in Raleigh, she returned to her native Wythe County to help me celebrate my milestone birthday. Having spent much of her childhood at the Millwald, she was eager to see its renovation and its continued success as a production house. She couldn’t have been more impressed with the results. We even had dinner at a revitalized version of another hangout from her teenage years, Burger Haven. The delicious food brought her back in time, and we topped it off with wonderful desserts from Frozen in Time.
I hope that Yacht Rock Schooner will return to Wytheville soon. It’s a one-of-a-kind experience that music lovers can only fully appreciate in person. These musicians are top-tier, and in a single evening, they turned our sleepy little town into the most happening place in America.
