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Wilkes-Barre —
Close your eyes for a minute and listen.
The year is 1975 and Marty Balin, a founder of the Jefferson Airplane, is singing his first major hit "Miracles," a song that will reach No. 3 on the charts.
Balin has just rejoined fellow Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner's spinoff group, The Jefferson Starship, after an absense of five years.
Now open your eyes.
That's Balin singing the same song on the stage at the F.M. Kirby Center Saturday night with Kantner and charter member David Freiberg on tour as the Jefferson Starship commemorates its 40th anniversary this year.
While the band played to a sparse crowd, Balin's soaring vocals stole the show.
Dressed in a suit with an open neck collar, Balin looked like a lounge singer and certainly sounded like one during his solo spotlight for the early 1980s hit "Hearts," milking the melody to the fans' delight.
Opening with "When the Earth Moves Again," Kantner dug deep into the past with a track from the Airplane's 1971 "Bark."
Strong vocals on "All Fly Away" by Freiberg and newcomer Cathy Richardson (in the Grace Slick role) followed before Richardson shined on the classic "White Rabbit" before Balin was brought on for "Miracles."
He came right back with another big ballad hit "Count on Me" and then "Runaway" -- two big mid-1970s hits -- before an intermission.
Throughout the two-hour performance, Kantner and company pulled out some blasts from the past: "Starship," a song from 1970's "Blows Against the Empire," which kicked off the Jefferson Starship's career; "All Fly Away" from 1974's "Dragon Fly," and "St. Charles" from 1976's "Spitfire."
The band was strong behind the singers with precision drumming from Donny Baldwin, solid keyboard play by Chris Smith and ace guitar licks from Slick Aguilar.
As the show progressed, the band went back into the Airplane catalogue, offering "Wooden Ships," "Today" and the show closer/Summer of Love anthem "Somebody to Love."
That 1960s spirit remained when Balin and band whipped through the rally cry "Volunteers," a song that would make any veteran of Woodstock smile.
Another 1960s spirit, former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten opened the show, playing Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" with a snippet of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London."
He mixed some humor in with his piano chops and ended his spot with a version of Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party."
Jefferson Airplane/Starship sealed its legacy as a Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame group long ago.
Kantner and Balin proved to the audience Saturday night that this legendary band can still soar more than 40 years later.
Close your eyes for a minute and listen.
The year is 1975 and Marty Balin, a founder of the Jefferson Airplane, is singing his first major hit "Miracles," a song that will reach No. 3 on the charts.
Balin has just rejoined fellow Jefferson Airplane founder Paul Kantner's spinoff group, The Jefferson Starship, after an absense of five years.
Now open your eyes.
That's Balin singing the same song on the stage at the F.M. Kirby Center Saturday night with Kantner and charter member David Freiberg on tour as the Jefferson Starship commemorates its 40th anniversary this year.
While the band played to a sparse crowd, Balin's soaring vocals stole the show.
Dressed in a suit with an open neck collar, Balin looked like a lounge singer and certainly sounded like one during his solo spotlight for the early 1980s hit "Hearts," milking the melody to the fans' delight.
Opening with "When the Earth Moves Again," Kantner dug deep into the past with a track from the Airplane's 1971 "Bark."
Strong vocals on "All Fly Away" by Freiberg and newcomer Cathy Richardson (in the Grace Slick role) followed before Richardson shined on the classic "White Rabbit" before Balin was brought on for "Miracles."
He came right back with another big ballad hit "Count on Me" and then "Runaway" -- two big mid-1970s hits -- before an intermission.
Throughout the two-hour performance, Kantner and company pulled out some blasts from the past: "Starship," a song from 1970's "Blows Against the Empire," which kicked off the Jefferson Starship's career; "All Fly Away" from 1974's "Dragon Fly," and "St. Charles" from 1976's "Spitfire."
The band was strong behind the singers with precision drumming from Donny Baldwin, solid keyboard play by Chris Smith and ace guitar licks from Slick Aguilar.
As the show progressed, the band went back into the Airplane catalogue, offering "Wooden Ships," "Today" and the show closer/Summer of Love anthem "Somebody to Love."
That 1960s spirit remained when Balin and band whipped through the rally cry "Volunteers," a song that would make any veteran of Woodstock smile.
Another 1960s spirit, former Grateful Dead keyboardist Tom Constanten opened the show, playing Bob Dylan's "All Along the Watchtower" with a snippet of Warren Zevon's "Werewolves of London."
He mixed some humor in with his piano chops and ended his spot with a version of Ricky Nelson's "Garden Party."
Jefferson Airplane/Starship sealed its legacy as a Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame group long ago.
Kantner and Balin proved to the audience Saturday night that this legendary band can still soar more than 40 years later.
