Founding Three Dog Night member Danny Hutton sings one of 16 band classics during a sold-out performance at the Albany Municipal Auditorium Friday. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
ALBANY — Here’s how good Three Dog Night’s hit-laden show at the Albany Municipal Auditorium was Friday night: Not just good as in “It’s good that those guys can still sing,” but good as in you could close your eyes and be in 1974 all over again.
Each of the 17 songs that the band played at the Spectra-produced — and what a coming-out party for the management agency — concert was a Top 40 hit, except one. And as concertgoers know, when bands break out the new stuff, that’s when everyone goes to the bathroom or the concession stand or to check out the merchandise.
But when Three Dog Night did “Prayer for the Children” — a capella, no less — the venerable venue became silent as the band sang a moving, four-part-harmony (a la The Eagles’ “Seven Bridges Road”) elegy for children impacted by war. When the song ended — before the song even ended — there were murmurs of “Wow,” and when the band finished, the crowd erupted in one of the loudest ovations of the night.
But there was no shortage of ovations in the jam-packed, not-one-seat-empty venue. From the opening chords of “Family of Man” to the show-closing encore of “Joy to the World” (as if it would have been anything else), and everything in between, there were moments of sheer magic as the band — founding member vocalist/guitarist Danny Hutton, original band member/guitarist Michael Allsup, vocalist David Morgan, bassist/vocalist Paul Kingery, keyboard man Howard Laravea and drummer Pat Bautz, who did the singing honors on “Mama Told Me Not to Come” — transported the mostly baby boomer audience back to its glory days.
Now 51 years into a career that produced enough hit songs for an entire show, Three Dog Night’s performance was not diminished — except for nostalgia’s sake — by the loss of Hutton’s fellow founding members, Cory Wells and Chuck Negron, or the ravages of time.
Songs like “Never Been to Spain” — an early crowd favorite — “Shambala,” “Mama,” “Black and White” and, of course, “Joy to the World,” drew roars of appreciation from the crowd. But the largest ovation may have come after a closing trio of songs that had the crowd up on its feet: “Liar” (for me, easily the best song of the night), “Mama” and the wonderful “Celebrate.”
When the band finished the latter song, the inevitable question was answered: Can a crowd of mostly 50- to 70-somethings still make noise? They nearly tore the roof off with the set-ender.
When Three Dog Night returned, they treated the crowd to “Eli’s Coming, “Prayer,” and “Joy,” which perfectly described the look on the crowd’s faces as they happily left the theater, thinking maybe for the first time in a while that the ’70s weren’t really that long ago.
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3 DOG NIGHT SET LIST
Family of Man
Black and White
Never Been to Spain
Shambala
Out in the Country
Easy to Be Hard
Brickyard Blues
One
Let Me Serenade You
Old-Fashioned Love Song
Sure as I’m Sitting here
Liar
Mama Told Me Not to Come
Celebrate
ENCORE
Eli’s Coming
Prayer of the Children
Joy to the World
File Photo: Carlton Fletcher
Original Three Dog Night guitarist Michael Allsup proved that he still had the chops on songs like “Liar.” (Staff Photos: Carlton Fletcher)
File Photo: Carlton Fletcher
Classic rockers Three Dog Night will bring their array of beloved hits to Wild Adventures Theme Park for a show this weekend.
Three Dog Night singer David Morgan joked that he’d eaten at the Waffle House adjacent to the Hilton Garden Inn twice on the day of the band’s show in Albany.
The jam-packed crowd at the Albany Municipal Auditorium got up to dance during Three Dog Night’s “Celebrate.”
Bassist Paul Kingery sang lead on several songs during Three Dog Night’s performance at the Albany Municipal Auditorium.
The sellout crowd at the Albany Municipal Auditorium sang along to most of Three Dog Night’s hits. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
The years have done little to diminish the singing voices of Three Dog Night’s Danny Hutton, left, and David Morgan. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
Above, singer David Morgan and original Three Dog Night guitarist Michael Allsup shared backing vocals on “Eli’s Coming.” At left, the years have done little to diminish the singing voices of Three Dog Night’s Danny Hutton, left, and David Morgan.
From left, Danny Hutton, David Morgan and Paul Kingery led Three Dog Night in an exceptional 17-song performance. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
File Photo: Carlton Fletcher
Veteran acts like Three Dog Night packed the Albany Municipal Auditorium before COVID-19 brought a halt to live entertainment events.
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
A jam-packed Albany Municipal Auditorium was rocking Friday night when classic rock superstars Three Dog Night came to town. The band — featuring original members Danny Hutton and Michael Allsup, as well as Paul Kingery, Pat Bautz, David Morgan and Howard Laravea — played 17 of its classic songs (16 hits, plus a new, beautiful a cappella number, “Prayer of the Children”) to the delight of the cold-out crowd. (Staff Photo: Carlton Fletcher)
Except for a brief period, Albany Herald Editor Carlton Fletcher has been a newspaperman, working as Sports Writer/Columnist for the weekly Ocilla Star, as Sports Writer/Sports Editor with The Tifton Gazette, and as Sports Writer/Copy Editor/News Reporter/Features Editor and Editor of the paper. He has won numerous awards for sports, news, business and column writing, including a first-place Business Writing award in last year’s Georgia Press Association awards competition.
This week’s War Horse story follows the systemic failures before and after the death of Cpl. Drew Mobley who was the third in two years at Marine Corps Base Quantico to die by suicide.
The annual juried exhibition, one of the region’s largest showcases of visual art, features approximately 46 artists and nearly 90 works spanning painting, sculpture, ceramics, photography and mixed media.
From the street, strands of purple ribbon wind around the white columns of the historic theater, hinting at the story waiting beyond its doors. Inside the foyer, a carefully curated slideshow flickers across a large screen, cycling through the faces of the cast. Some are seasoned performers. Others are stepping onto a stage for the very first time. Teachers stand alongside former students. Parents perform beside their children. People who worship in different churches, work different jobs and come from different corners of Southwest Georgia gather beneath the same lights to tell the same story.
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