Justin Medve
For the Beaver
Just like the classic songs they cover, John Malcolm and Reagan Smith of A Bit of Nostalgia leave fans with a lasting impression.
The father and son drew an audience at the Napanee Lions Hall for a Lennox and Addington Seniors Outreach Services (L&A SOS) benefit concert on Sunday afternoon.The two local musicians are no strangers to fundraising, having played in support of L&A SOS last year and plenty more charities since their act was established almost 30 years ago.
“We try wherever possible, sometimes it gets a little tough to spread ourselves out but we enjoy doing that and we’re lucky to be able to do it,” Malcolm told the Beaver. He explained some of the special touch that reliving the glory days of jazz, swing and early rock can offer.
“The older music, it attracts a different kind of crowd. They’re all looking for memories and it brings them back,” Malcolm said.
But what resonates can be different for everyone – A Bit of Nostalgia works with that by reading the crowd and working to set a mood.
“The first few songs we do give us a good indication – and we can change on the fly,” Malcolm said.Sunday’s set list included hits from The Monkees, Neil Diamond and Paul Anka.
Malcolm gave a warm opener with a signature Frank Sinatra cover of “Nothing But The Best.”
L&A SOS social diners and fundraising co-ordinator Ruth Graham said these shows are one example of a creative way to fundraise while providing a social atmosphere in the community.
“We had 236 seats and there weren’t too many empty ones,” Graham said.
A 50/50 draw, cash bar and silent auction of communitydonated items also helped the cause.
The next stop for A Bit of Nostalgia is the Grand Theatre in Kingston where they and Canadian Idol winner Ryan Malcolm will join the cast of Sinatra, The Man, His Fans, His Music.
Proceeds from that fourshow run, May 10-12, will go to L&A SOS and Seniors Association Kingston Region.
The Scott Woods Band, a fiddle and country group, will be the next act returning to the stage in support of L&A SOS come April.