Do you remember the 21st night of September? Love was changing the minds of pretenders, while chasing the clouds away...

"Red Stripe?" offered Pool Hall Stud MarkyMark as The Reet and I settled into our chairs in the VIP table section, up front and just to the right of the stage, for the Reach Music Festival in Simsbury on Saturday evening. Not a bad beer choice, big boy, I thought as I accepted his offer. Hooray beer! However, always a sucker for clever advertising, I subsequently trump him with my Dos Equis Amber and, oh yeah, everyone (we join hosts Barry/Cheryl, Mark/Maureen, Val/son) is suddenly hanging on my every word, even the prepositions! Missing from the party is one Johnny Gumbo, having relocated to Spokane, where his once eHarmonious relationship of the early Spring recently hit a sour note. Undaunted, reports have him quickly finding another to soothe his heavy heart. A classic toast to The Gumbo (glasses touched, then immediately set down). Cheryl is relaxing from her NYC Marathon training routine. In conjunction with the marathon, Cheryl is attempting to raise $5,000 for the North Shore Animal Clinic in memory of her dog, Phoebe- donate here.

While the early forecasts were ugly, it has turned out to be a cool, but dry night at the Simsbury Performing Arts Center, which has an impressive stage at one end of what seems to be an athletic complex. A large video screen has been set up to the left of the stage for those situated farther back. A decent-size crowd has turned out despite the weather to see headliners Earth, Wind & Fire supported by the Little River Band, Max Creek, the Kory Montgomery Band and opening act 3 Penny Acre. Grizzled local veterans Max Creek (yikes, brings back memories of the old Mad Murphy's!) are just finishing up their set as we arrive and none of our group heard 3 Penny Acre, but the Kory Montgomery Band got very good reviews.

Our co-host, PHS Barry D, breaks out dinner containers consisting of lobster salad on a yellow pepper and prime rib! How great is this! And this was his second choice, for he wanted to bring in a small grill and cook at the table.

Max Creek originated as a Grateful Dead clone but, as Barry notes, has broadened their set list over the years. Good band, great sound system here. The Little River Band follows with a serviceable, but fairly uninteresting, set of songs. Oh yeah, I think I remember that one! After a lengthy intermission, partially spent in the VIP tent (where we meet plenty of Southington people, for God's sake!), Earth, Wind & Fire finally take the stage. Sharie was so pissed at Thursday night's dinner at Anthony Jacks when she heard we were going to see E W & F. "You bastard, you always made fun of me liking them and YOU get to go," she whined (I think that was a direct quote, though I'll have to review my notes of the evening's dinner conversation). The current Earth, Wind & Fire is a huge ensemble, with three original members including vocalist Philip Bailey. And they sound great! No shortage of hits here as they roll out one after another. Lots of booty shakin' goin' on (not a pleasant sight, Mark, we're lucky you're with Maureen).
Thats the way of the world
Plant your flower and you grow a pearl
A child is born with a heart of gold
The way of the world makes his heart grow cold
It's closing in on 11PM and The Reet is fading, so we forego the big finale, say our goodbyes and head out to beat the crowd. As we pull out of the parking lot, either someone started shooting at us or we heard fireworks! Stay thirsty, my friends!