The Defibrillators Rock The Ages at EMPL

They refer to themselves as “The World’s Oldest Boy Band," and that was 10 years ago.

No matter, The Defibrillators are still going strong as a group of talented musicians whose music reflects the aging baby boomer who refuses to grow old gracefully.

The Long Island-based band played before a packed and enthusiastic house at the on Sunday. The band members are Sonny Speed on keyboards and vocals, Bob “Pops” Westcott on lead and rhythm guitar, Robert Langley on drums, Sonny Meadows on lead vocals and harmonica, Bobby “Buddy Boy” Cattrano on bass and Jon “Dr. Max” Foreman on lead and rhythm guitar. Westcott was not at Sunday’s performance.

The “rockin blues” band performs original material that “helps aging baby boomers on the way to the Social Security office.”

They performed some of their “classics,” including “Get Yourself A Middle-Aged Man,” “Do It While You Can,” “Closing Down the Diner,” “I Survived A Triple Bypass,” “I Get My New Teeth Tomorrow,” “Blue-Haired Ladies,” Widower’s Waltz” and “I O.D.ed on Viagra.”

The songs are interspersed with humorous lyrics. For example, in “Triple Bypass:”

“I survived a triple bypass/they say it was touch-n-go.”

“I survived a triple bypass/I got some nasty scars to show.” 

“I survived a triple bypass/you gave me a goodbye kiss.”

“[You] left a get-well card and ran off with my cardiologist/I should have seen it comin.”

“Guess I ain’t that smart/cause I survived a triple bypass, then you broke my heart.”

“Closing Down the Diner” refers to "Nick’s Diner,” an old-fashioned railroad coach-style diner in Atlantic City that the band used to frequent. “One time we went to Atlantic City and it wasn’t there,” Meadows told the audience. “Mr. Donald Trump turned the diner into a parking lot for one of his hotels.”

Meadows told the audience that “Get Yourself A Middle-Aged Man” was written a decade ago.

“We were middle-aged men 10 years ago,” he said. “If anyone has a suggestion for a new title – maybe ‘Get Yourself A Senior Citizen’ or “Get Yourself A Dirty-Old Man” – we’d like to hear it.”

The Defibrillators are a blues-rock band that distinguishes itself musically while setting itself apart with clever lyrics, humor and a willingness to laugh at themselves.

But they are clearly no joke even if they have fun on stage. They have opened up for such national acts as Leon Russell and Bruce Springsteen’s E-Street Band.

“We’re essentially celebrating the aging process,” Meadows said.

Now celebrating their 10th anniversary together, the Defibrillators play throughout the year. Judging by Sunday’s attendance at the East Meadow Public Library, the Defibrillators will be back again as they “Jump Start Your Heart and Revive Your Spirit.”