The Norfolk Sound Reunion at the Attucks Theatre

Bonds. Gary US Bonds.

was one of those incredibly intimate nights on which it felt like everybody knew everybody, and all the old friends from Church Street were together once again, five decades later. Although it never reached sell-out point, the crowd for Gary U.S. Bonds and friends was one of the most devoted I have ever witnessed, filled with grandmothers and grandbabies, along with local music aficionados.

The program began with Councilman Paul Riddick declaring July 24, 2010, as The Norfolk Sound Reunion Day. After accepting a plaque in their honor, Bonds led his friends throughout the course of the first act, talking fondly about life on Church Street and introducing each and every one of them with a funny story or priceless memory. Bonds could easily work as a stand-up comedian, with his perfect timing and penchant for folly. And Bonds even provided the backing band with his stunning daughter and beautiful wife of 48 years as back-up singers.

A sharply dressed Lenis Guess.

The very first song was “High School U.S.A.,” performed by the original voice, Tommy Facenda, singing for the first time since that song was a hit. From there, a very sharply dressed Lenis Guess came out in an all-white suit with red accents, and did hits like “Just Ask Me” and “Working For My Baby.” Guess’s in-between banter was witty and sweet, and he let us know his whole family was in the house. His penchant for the long notes was still in check, and although you could tell that age had physically caught up with him, Guess’s timing still sizzled.

Next up was Ammon Tharp of Bill Deal and The Rhondels. Tharp pulled double-duty on the drums and lead vocals, which were steeped deep in the early-‘60s beach style twinge and sounded surprisingly crisp and clear. Bonds’ closest band mate, Gene “Daddy G” Barge, closed out Act I, slinging his sax and getting people on their feet. He performed a few numbers, including the original instrumental version of “A Night with Daddy G” and finished out with “Way Back Home.” This was a special closer because he referred to it as his theme song, talked about his life in Norfolk and now Chicago, and sang a few notes with his soulful pipes.

After a brief intermission and retrospective on the Attucks Theatre, the Norfolk Sound and Gary U.S. Bonds, we were treated to the finest in Bonds’ catalogue, including huge hits like “Not Me,” “School Is Out,” “Seven Day Weekend” and “Twist, Twist Senora.” He performed “Getting’ a Groove” for the first time ever, and paid homage to his passed friend, Jimmy Soul, with a cover of “If You Wanna Be Happy.” Before the shaky rendering of that tune, the only song that was in question that night, Bonds told us a story about the two of them working at a restaurant as teenage boys, performing as Wonder Boy and Nature Boy, complete with loincloths and a zip line.

Bonds then implored, “Are you ready to rock?!” and with that he went into his hit, “Quarter to Three.” Two Springsteen tunes followed, “This Little Girl” and “Daddy’s Come Home.” This last number, written by Steven Van Zandt for Bonds seemed like an especially emotional tune for him, and I do believe he was a little teary-eyed before putting his sunglasses back on. The final number, “New Orleans,” brought the house down, with folks dancing on both the ground floor and balcony. It was then that Bonds asked Guess and Daddy G. to come back out, and Bonds once again professed his love for the area.

Mr. Bonds and friends.

And that’s exactly how the whole night felt–like a giant love fest. It felt like being a fly on the wall, listening to Bonds, Guess and Daddy G. joke and reminiscence in great detail about the way Church Street was back in the day—especially as an African-American—and gave little vignettes and stories that illustrated that Norfolk is still a part of their souls. This was also the kind of concert where our performing heroes mingled during the intermission and afterwards, ready to meet new faces and greet old.

Oh, what a night.