--- In doobiefans@yahoogroups.com, inspmark@... wrote:

The little town of Sonoma rocked today. Paul Rodgers may have been
a
no-show, but Bruce Cohn managed to fill the vacancy with the Turtles
and David
Pack.

The show started with the Rowan Brothers. I had never heard to
this band
but my concert neighbors filled me in. I didn't know any of their
songs but
they were great.

Then David Pack came on. For those of you unfamiliar with his
name, he was
the Lead Singer in a 70's group called Ambrosia and THAT should ring
a bell.
He played "how much I need" along with more of his hits and his
voice was
the one you heard on those records. Amazing talent and amazing
range.

Then Pablo Cruise came on with three of four original members and
here I
have to add a more personal note....When I returned from my tour of
duty (2
years at Ramstein Air Base, W. Germany, 1975-1977) I was assigned to
Travis AFB.
My very first concert after my return was Pablo Cruise at the Napa
County
Fair, and it was the BEST concert I ever saw for the band to just
be enjoying
themselves. They played songs and added rifs that lasted forever
and they
smiled and laughed through it all. It is a memory I have treasured.

Forward to the Cohn Winery and three of the ORIGINAL, including
keyboardist
Cory Lerios was just as clean as he was in 1978 at the Napa County
Fair. The
man can play the songs with his eye closed and he and Dave Jenkins
(lead
guitar) just melted the years away. Of course the hair color was a
little
lighter but the hits (included was Rio, Whatcha Gonna Do, and Love
will Find a Way
got the band one of the longest ovations of the day.

Then came the Turtles. They actually cancelled a show in New York
and flew
out to be in the lineup just for the Cohn event. They did Eleanor,
Happy
Together, NO NO NO, and other hits by 60's groups including Pretty
Woman and had
the place singing along.

Michael McDonald didn't perform solo but joined the Doobies for
their set.
There was a delay and Bruce had to make an announcement to remind
Michael
that he was needed on stage for the Doobies to start, and they
started with
"What A Fool Believes" and it sounded just like it did on that album
so many
years ago.

There was a bit of delay as it was clear that the band and Michael
hadn't
played together in some time, but it was also clear that the band
could still
play the songs and it made for one blazing ending for the event.

And one more important thing. Last year the sound was very rough
on the
ears. The speakers seemed to be overloaded and it was a fun
concert, just not
the best.

THIS year the speakers were on the money. The venue is the best
I've ever
been to for a concert and I met a woman that came all the way from
Denver just
to see Michael play with the Doobies. She had met Michael before
and hoped
to get autographs on the photos she had of him with her. I hope
the trip was
worth it to her. MY trip was more than worth it, and I'll be there
next
year!!

Well, that's my report folks.

Mark H.

--- End forwarded message ---