Darlene Love Rings in the Holidays at Landmark on Main

On December 11th, 2016, the great Darlene Love graced the stage of Landmark on Main Street yet again. It was, believe it or not, the sixth sold out Darlene Love performance in as many years. I have had the good fortune to be at the five previous performances, and I still enthusiastically looked forward to this one.

Love knows how to put on a show. She is an old-time performer of the greatest sort – the kind who throws everything into her performance, leaving both the audience and performer exhausted but happy.

There is a comforting similarity to her holiday shows – a big band, in this case eight musicians (including a horn section), a trio of superbly talented backup singers, and a lineup of holiday songs mixed with Love’s classics (“Da Do Ron Ron”) and songs from her new album, produced by Steven Van Zandt. And as usual, Love managed to throw a jab at her personal Svengali, Phil Spector, who used her vocals without credit in the 1960’s. “Look where I am, and look where he is,” she said about Spector, who is currently serving a prison sentence for murder.

And indeed, Love is doing magnificently well. Her career has found a new life, she has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the documentary she was in (Twenty Feet from Stardom) received an Academy Award, and her newest CD has received critical acclaim.

Her show, as always, was impeccable. She dresses, looks, acts, and sounds like someone a fraction of her age. In fact, it’s almost impossible to believe that she is 75 years old. The audience actually gasped when she admitted it. Love appears to have a wealth of energy as she dances across the stage in high-heeled boots and throws her all into every song. To the delight of the audience, she performed several of her 60’s favorites, including “The Boy I’m Gonna Marry,” “Wait Til My Bobby Gets Home,” “He’s a Rebel,” and “Da Do Ron Ron.” These songs stand up surprisingly well with Love’s strong delivery.

In the early 1960’s, Phil Spector released a Christmas album containing several songs performed by Darlene Love. These have become some of the favorite songs of the season, and a standby in her holiday shows. Love treated the audience to “Marshmallow World,” “White Christmas,” and “Winter Wonderland” from the Spector album, as well as “All Alone at Christmas” from the Home Alone soundtrack.

After the intermission, Love’s talented backup singers took the stage for a beautiful rendition of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” (Love never forgets where she herself came from, and always gives her backup performers their moment in center stage). Finally, Milton Vann, Love’s sole male backup singer performed an inspired version of “Oh Holy Night” that I can only describe as “goose bump inducing.”

Love performed several songs from her new CD, including the Van Zandt-penned “Among the Believers” and the Elvis Costello-written “Forbidden Nights.” All of Love’s musicians are top-notch, but I must note that Crispin Cioe (who has played with the Rolling Stones) on saxophone was superb and contributed a wonderful solo to “I Listen to the Bells.”

Love closed the show with her penultimate Christmas song, “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” The audience was on its feet, swaying, singing, and clapping along. And just like that, the holiday spirit was upon us.

Up next at Landmark - Cherish the Ladies -- A Celtic Christmas on December 18th. For more info, visit www.landmarkonmainstreet.org.