A GREAT 70s TRIBUTE HAS VINYL-LY ARRIVED

Normally, calling a show predictable isn’t a compliment. But when I heard that director Kerry Meads and musical director Vanda Eggington were once again teaming up for a musical tribute, The 70s! The Golden Age Of The Album, I predicted a joyous celebration of feel-good music, performed by a talented cast, filled with personal reflections and fascinating trivia—and that’s exactly what I got.

It’s hard to say where Kerry’s work ends and Vanda’s begins, as the two have collaborated seamlessly for decades. Together, they’re responsible for long-running hits like Boomers, American Rhythm, R•E•S•P•E•C•T, and miXtape. When you do something well, there’s no harm in doing more of it—as long as it’s both familiar and fresh, which this is.

As in previous shows for Lamb’s Players, they’ve assembled a cast of over a dozen performers, in this case 16: some play instruments, some sing, and some do both. The first part of the show loosely traces a chronological journey through the hit albums of the 1970s, spotlighting musical trends and breakthroughs. Eventually, chronology gives way to curation, as the team navigates the impossible task of choosing which iconic songs to feature, trim, or skip entirely. To their credit, they offer not just a wide-ranging sampling of the era’s greatest hits, but an impressive mix of styles—from a heart-wrenching Tapestry medley by Carole King, to Led Zeppelin’s acid rock, to The Commodores’ funk, Simon & Garfunkel’s folk, and Aretha Franklin’s gospel. And just when I started to wonder, “Are they really skipping disco?”—in comes Christine Wisner Hall with infectiously choreographed routines that light up the stage.

A clever narrative thread centers around West Hollywood’s legendary Troubadour nightclub. Founded in 1957, the venue was a launching pad for many of the decade’s musical greats—Carole King, James Taylor, Neil Diamond, The Eagles, Elton John—and their stories offer a natural way for the creators to introduce fun facts and smooth transitions between tribute performances. Those tributes vary in size—from solos to duets, quartets to full ensemble numbers—keeping the pace dynamic and engaging.

The live band, quite frankly, kicks butt. I counted at least four guitarists, a trombonist, saxophonist, drummer, trumpeter, violinist, upright bassist, harmonicist, and multiple pianists—though I’m sure I missed some, lost as I was in the sheer joy of the music.

With so much ground to cover, you may only hear one verse of a beloved tune—but it’s a worthy trade-off for the breadth of nostalgia packed into one evening. The ensemble works beautifully together, with no clear “leads”; every performer gets their moment. A few deserve special mention:

• Terrific harmonies on the kick-off number, the Doobie Brothers’ “Listen to the Music”
• Natasha Reese’s unexpectedly gospel-infused rendition of “Desperado”
• Nathan Nonhof’s dead-on “Take It Easy”
• Bryan Barbarin’s electric “Shining Star” by Earth, Wind & Fire
• A stunning a cappella version of “For All We Know” by the ensemble
• Guitarists Steve Gouveia and Garry Hall swapping riffs in a salute to iconic intros
• Scott Glenn Roberts belting the high notes on a majestic “Stairway to Heaven”
• Barbarin and Roberts teaming up for a high-octane “Soul Man”
• Rik Ogden, who plays what seems like every instrument under the sun, with standout harmonica work

Still, the biggest showstopper came when Reese stepped into the role of Aretha Franklin for “Amazing Grace.” I thought, brave choice. Then she opened her mouth. I don’t know how that much voice fits inside that frame—unless it truly is by grace. Sydney Joiner followed with the next verse and held her own beautifully. And when they harmonized? Good God. Afterward, I went home and listened to the original—and with all due r-e-s-p-e-c-t to the legend herself, I preferred the arrangement I heard at Lamb’s.

A close second highlight came at the start of Act II. The room fell silent—pin-drop silent—as Sydney tore into Roberta Flack’s “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” with haunting accompaniment from Angela Chatelain-Avila on violin and Avery Nelson on upright bass.

Chatelain-Avila offered a lovely, if unconventional, choice for Joni Mitchell’s “Blue” (which earned wild cheers for her sultry Stevie Nicks impression), gave a chilling performance of Barry Manilow’s “One Voice,” and absolutely nailed the high notes in “Bohemian Rhapsody.” But for “Close to You”—originally sung by Karen Carpenter, perhaps the richest voice of the 1970s—her sweet, gentle delivery didn’t quite hit the nostalgic mark. But given that roles and songs were excellently matched, and with the vast amount of tunes, it wasn’t problematic that just a few choices felt slightly off.

If I had one suggestion, it would be to make space for even more of the trivia and behind-the-scenes nuggets that pop up throughout the show. These little gems—like James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt singing backup on a Neil Young album, or or Paul Simon joking in his 1975 GRAMMY speech that he only won because, at long last, Stevie Wonder didn’t release an album that year—make the experience deeper and more personal.

The 70s! isn’t out to change the world. It just wants to entertain—to stir some warm memories. On both counts, it succeeds beautifully. This is the kind of show that could run for years in Vegas—not because young partiers would flock to it, but because anyone over 50 would welcome the break from synth-heavy pop to gladly bask in the music of their lives. Which isn’t to say the under-50 crowd won’t be dazzled. Indeed, as performers shared their own connections to the music, twenty-something Caleb Schanzenbach described how his piano teacher urged him to buy Billy Joel’s The Stranger. Initially skeptical, he fell head-over-heels for the nearly 50-year-old album. And who wouldn’t?

photos by Ken Jacques

The 70s! The Golden Age of the Album
Lamb’s Players Theatre
1142 Orange Ave in Coronado
Wed at 2 & 7; Thu & Fri at 7; Sat at 2 & 7; Sun at 2
ends on September 14, 2025
for tickets ($59-$118), call 619.437.6000 or visit Lamb’s Players