It is a humid summer night at Duke Island there are about 3000 people gathered in an open field waiting for the Godfather of Hippy's "Richie Havens" to take the stage. It is a portable stage sitting right next to a covered shell stage that has been in the park for years. Why are they not playing on the main stage? Probably because of some local political bull shit , well that NJ for you. Most people in the area know about Duke Island Park it is one of NJ nicest parks period. Back in the early eighties it was a big hang out for the younger crowd you could go there drop a tab"of you no what" and hang out all day getting high and listening to music for free. That is until the police raided the place arresting hundreds of people, a great thing came to an end real fast. Allright enough park history. Richie Haven opens with a Bob Dylan song" Just Like A Woman" his guitar work is still great. There is a acoustic bass player and a drummer playing with him. Richie's voice is low and brittle I guess if you have performed for over 40 years your entitled to this. He does sound good though the sound is real low for open field concert, by the way the concert is free. Richie seems to spend alot of time telling old stories from the 50's & 60's he talks a while plays a song talks a while plays another song, you get the idea. Another high light is a Joe Cocker song " My love is a Live" shit it may even be Richie song that Joe Cocker does , who knows. Richie plays an 1 1/2 set. His performance is solid for a 60's folk singer.

From a 1 to 10 i give this show a 6. It was free and I wouldn't dare to give one of Woodstock's biggest stars a lower number on a review. The show was good and everyone had a good time. For me it was great to be back in a park ,I used to spend so much time at. It made me shiver thinking about all the good times me and my friends had there. It seems like a life time ago!!!!! It was great to see at least a few hippies back in Duke Island!

By Brandon Dilks
Manager - Nuse

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