Arts & Entertainment
The Gilleece Twins and Chris Benedict Bring Sing-Along Fun to Riverhead
The 19th annual appearance by the trio was forced indoors by impending rain.
Riverhead Town and the Modern Snack Bar in Aquebogue co-sponsored a concert by the Gilleece Twins and Chris Benedict on Friday night as part of the TownScape series. Threatening weather forced the concert, usually held on the grounds of the East End Arts Council, into the Vail-Leavitt Music Hall.
The trio, known for its interaction with the audience, did not disappoint. Encouraged by the performers, audience members clapped and sang along on many of the songs. The small but enthusiastic crowd enjoyed the 90-minute performance, during which the group covered favorites including "Sweet Caroline," "Margaritaville" and "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," among others. One of the largest ovations came when the group performed their version of Pete Seeger's "Where Have All The Flowers Gone?"
The band stimulated audience interest by sharing anecdotes about how and when they had learned the songs themselves and by telling brief stories about who had penned the songs and why. The songs in The Gilleece Twins and Chris Benedict's repertoire spanned more than 50 years of popular music history.
