ELIZABETHTOWN — The Band of Oz, like the land it’s named after, brought the magic to Elizabethtown on Thursday night.
The eight-member, all-male group took the stage at the Cape Fear Farmer’s Market for the third installment of the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual Summer Sounds Concert Series. One of the most sought-after groups in beach music, the band — featuring a full horn section — started things off with “Hard Goin’ In, Easy Comin’ Out” from their 1995 album Let It Roll. Guests didn’t waste any time taking to the dance floor, and the group had dozens of people on their feet before the first song was over.
“We came to have a good time,” volunteered Rita Walker before coaxing her friend to the dancing area.
“Hard Goin’ In, Easy Comin’ Out” was followed by “Pretty Little Angel” and the 2009 Beach Music Song of the Year “Build Me Up.” Other favorites included Chairmen of the Board’s “Give Me Just a Little More Time,” The Tams’ “Be Young, Be Foolish, Be Happy,” Charlie Puth’s “Marvin Gaye,” another Let It Roll song — “Ocean Boulevard,” and the tune that catapulted the Band of Oz to stardom in 1995 when it became the People’s Choice Song of the Year at the Cammy Awards — “Shama Lama Ding Dong.”
More people than usual were up and dancing, possibly because the weather was so cooperative.
“I’ve been talking to Mother Nature all week about the weather, and it looks like she was listening,” remarked Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Dawn Maynard, as she was welcoming guests.
At the start of the concert, temperatures were hovering around 82 degrees, and the skies were sunny. By 7 p.m., however, clouds were looking dark and angry, but the rain held off and the overcast skies brought the temperatures down even more.
Bladenboro’s Mandy Hester was one of the people who turned out at least in part because of the weather.
“I have two boys, and it’s just been too hot to come to some of the other concerts,” she explained. “But with the cooler temperatures tonight, we thought we’d come out and see what this is about. I’m glad we came.”
In between dancing and listening to music, guests snacked on BBQ from Cape Fear Chicken & BBQ, as well as slushies from Lu Mil Vineyard and Sunset Slush.
Up next for the Summer Sounds Concert Series is the popular group Blackwater Rhythm & Blues, set to take the stage Thursday, Aug. 24. All concerts in the series take place at the Farmer’s Market in downtown Elizabethtown from 6 to 9 p.m. and are free to the public.
Chrysta Carroll can be reached by calling 910-862-4163 or emailing ccarroll@s24515.p831.sites.pressdns.com.
