Their show was superb from start to finish. They kicked off their set with “Jesus is Just Alright,” and it was followed by “Rockin’ Down the Highway” and “Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While).” “Jones Beach! We’ve been coming here for years. You guys know how to rock,” lead singer Tom Johnston said.
Equally noteworthy was “Dark Eyed Cajun Woman.” “Where we come from, that’s the spirit of the blues,” Johnston said. “Just like this,” he added. Their vivacious version of “Spirit,” featured exceptional violin from John McFee. They had the audience clapping along to “Sweet Maxine” with Bill Payne on piano.
“Here’s a little R&B for y’all. Rhythm and blues,” Johnston clarified, and went on to sing ‘Eyes of Silver,” which featured the band’s soaring harmonies, and it was a masterclass on saxophone by Marc Russo.
“We are so glad to be here on Long Island in this steam-room tonight,” said Patrick Simmons. “We are The Doobie Brothers. Thank you for being here with us.” They shared that the song “Clear as the Driven Snow” was a track from The Captain and Me album, and were able to dust off the original recording and introduce it to a younger generation of fans at Jones Beach.
After a killer keyboard solo by Bill Payne, which was followed by an empowering drum solo by Ed Toth (who is the newest member of the band, for the past 12 years), they got the audience on their feet with “Takin’ It to the Streets,” which earned them a deserving standing ovation for a job well done. Again kudos to Marc Russo for a spellbinding sax solo.
They picked up the pace with “The Doctor,” as blue and green lights dimmed from the stage, and Johnston praised the Long Island audience for sounding good, as they sang along.
The highlight performance of the evening was that of their signature song “Black Water” with an impressive guitar solo from Johnston and perfect harmonies from the band members. They even personalized one of the verses to “New York moon won’t you keep on shinin’ on me?” Another standing ovation followed this bravura performance.
“Long Train Runnin'” was a neat jam, which they incorporated as a neat sing-along, and they closed on a rocking note with “China Grove,” where they got all of the fans in the amphitheater on their feet, which at Jones Beach, is a difficult task to undertake (at a venue of this massive caliber), yet The Doobie Brothers nailed it.
“God bless you, New York. We love you,” Johnston said, effusively. They returned for an encore, which included “Without You,” where yellow lights shined from the stage. “How y’all doing out there? You guys are rocking this place. Give yourselves a hand! You wanna rock some more?” Johnston asked, and the answer was a resounding “yes.” They closed with the catchy “Listen to the Music.” “That’s what I’m talking about,” Johnston admitted, as the crowd sang along.
The Verdict
Overall, The Doobie Brothers were phenomenal at the Jones Beach Theater on Long Island. It is evident that each year with every performance, they get better as a band. The Doobies are like fine wine, and they are a band that belongs in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame! All members rocked as a whole, proving to be extraordinary musicians in their own right. Their music deserves to stand the test of time. Their show at Jones Beach with Chicago garnered an A rating.
