It was 40 years ago this summer. The date was Saturday August 20, 1982. The place –– Beethoven’s, a local bar on the corner of Lakeville Road and Union Turnpike on the Queens/Nassau border. The event –– the first public performance of Just Sixties, currently the longest running 60s tribute band in the United States.
From The Beatles and The Beach Boys to Talking Heads and Twisted Sister, tales of unmanageable band discord abound. The fact personal harmony was not in tune with vocal harmony is unfortunate. Add in “life”– marriages, kids, career changes, relocations, health issues, etc., and you can see it is a pretty remarkable feat for any band, professional or amateur, to continue playing for four-plus decades.
In 2022, Just Sixties joined that unique club. Just Sixties was founded in drummer Rob Gerver’s basement in Queens, but has been a Smithtown-based band since 1992. The band members also include Ed Bowe on bass, Michael Gerver on keyboards and guitar, Donny West on keyboards and guitar, Phil Carollo on guitar, and Lisa Vetrone on vocals. The band has performed continually since 1982, in clubs, town concerts, and private events all over the tri-state area. They have been featured in articles in Newsday, News 12, and now The Messenger.
One notable performance amongst infinite: Just Sixties performed at the original 1969 Woodstock festival site in upstate Bethel, NY, where they were the warmup band for Paul Revere and the Raiders, as well as Felix Cavaliere’s Rascals. Just Sixties also performed at My Father’s Place in 1984, and again in 2020, selling out the venue a week before Covid-19 shut down the Island and world at large. They were the only band in My Father’s Place history to have a 36-year spread between performances, during which they continually performed every year under the same name. And, over the years, they played Long Island’s legendary clubs, many of which are sadly gone today.
This “Remember These Clubs?!” list includes: Dublin Pub, Rumrunner, Cinnamon, New York Avenue, Garvin’s, Claudio’s, 56th Fighter Group, Tabard Ale House, Salty Dog, Snapper Inn, Neptune Beach Club, and the Beach Huts on the South Shore. Other venues that played host to Just Sixties over the years include the Jones Beach Bandshell, Dix Hills Performing Arts Center, and Eisenhower Park’s Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre.
This summer, Ed, Rob, Lisa, Donny, Mike and Phil will be appearing at the Smithtown Library Main Building on Thursday, July 7, as part of the Dennis Cannataro Family Concert Series. The show is a benefit for Rock CAN Roll, which collects food for needy families. Bring any nonperishable food item to the concert, and check out www.rockcanroll.org for more information.
On Friday, July 15, the band will appear at Kings Park’s Musical Moments on Main Street in Kings Park. Both shows start at 7 pm. You can find the rest of the Just Sixties Summer 2022 schedule, along with videos, stories and photos, at www.JustSixties.com. Join in on the music and the memories –– you’ll have fun, fun, fun, and you’ll be glad all over!
