Arts, Etc.Music

Compulsions offer up a blast of the ’60s

Guitarist Hai Muradian jams to the eclectic rock sounds of Jim Gallucci and the Compulsions beside bass player Doug Dalley and percussionist Ron Powell. Jim Gallucci and the Compulsions played for a packed house at the University of La Verne's Dailey Theater Saturday. / photo by Bailey Porter
Guitarist Hai Muradian jams to the eclectic rock sounds of Jim Gallucci and the Compulsions beside bass player Doug Dalley and percussionist Ron Powell. Jim Gallucci and the Compulsions played for a packed house at the University of La Verne’s Dailey Theater Saturday. / photo by Bailey Porter

by Gloria Diaz
Arts & Entertainment Editor

Dailey Theater was rocking to the tunes of Jim Gallucci and the Compulsions Saturday as people of all ages nodded their heads to revisited hits of the ’60s.

Melanie Gartenbaum hosted the evening and opened with some comedy, about all of her failed relationships. The audience was receptive to the jokes, some of which were sexual.

At first, the stage looked like it was going to be a lounge performance, with chairs, closed curtains and blue lights giving a mellow feeling that went along with the music.

The first musicians up were Michael Ryan and Ken Soderlund with the musical style called “nuveau flamenco,” which almost sounded like something heard in an elevator. They performed five songs of this style. “Malagaña,” requested by Jim Gallucci himself, brought the audience to its feet. Soderlund’s quick fingers in his guitar solo had everyone wondering how much longer he could keep it up.

Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for, Jim Gallucci and the Compulsions took the stage. Gallucci, clad in a cream sports jacket, black button shirt, black slacks and leopard print creepers, gave the impression that it wasn’t going to be a boring night.

This group of fortysomethings consisted of Hai Muradian on guitar, sax, and flute, Bob Hughes on lead guitar, Doug Dalley on bass, Wild Bill Cheney on keyboards, Randy Levinson on drums, and featured Ron Powell, percussionist for Madonna.

Both guitarists had the ’80s long hair rock star look, taking the audience back to the long hair loud rock days of Van Halen and Bon Jovi.

Gallucci kicked off the concert with a Jimi Hendrix song, which included a stellar guitar solo by Bob Hughes that brought a loud cheer from the audience.

Gallucci excited the crowd with their cover of “Light My Fire” by the Doors. The audience bobbed their heads to the beat in enjoyment. The band continued the upbeat roll with “My Sharona” by Knack.

There were instances where the band engaged in what Gallucci called “needless bar room banter,” but the crowd didn’t seem bothered by it. The disco ball effect paired with blue lights and smoke gave a meaningful place for the bar room talk.

A rather unusual pick was “Day-O” by Harry Belafonte.

“We are going to try this for the first time, maybe the last,” Gallucci said.

Gallucci involved the audience by asking them to sing “day-o” on cue. The crowd sang along with a smile.

Other hits included “Lady Madonna” by the Beatles, and “You Really Got Me” by the Kinks. Looking around you could tell who in the audience was a product of the ’60s, as they were the ones closing their eyes and bobbing their heads to the beat- probably remembering the first time they heard the song.

Although there were times when Gallucci did not seem to have much of a stage presence, the music overshadowed that small detail.

Soderlund and Ryan can be found be at Casa De Salsa in Claremont on Wednesday playing their Nuveau Flamenco sound.

Gloria Diaz, Arts and Entertainment Editor
Gloria Diaz
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Bailey Porter, LV Life Editor
Bailey Porter
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