By Audrey Anderson
Hometown Weekly Reporter
On August 3rd, a large, enthusiastic crowd of adults of all ages and many children gathered near the gazebo to enjoy 60s, 70s, and 80s rock hits played by one of their favorite local bands. The band Back Pages is well known to Medfield, as they have been playing a summer concert for several years, and the group includes one of Medfield’s own residents.
Back Pages members includec Doug Betschart on guitar, bass pedals, and lead vocals, Inky Fair on drums and lead vocals, and Medfield’s own Steve McCrossan on keyboards, bass guitar, and backup vocals. They are accomplished musicians with over 40 years of experience, and it surely shows!
The band played a varied program of memorable tunes such as “Don’t Dream It’s Over” by Crowded House, “Pinball Wizard” by the Who, “One After 909” and “Nowhere Man” by the Beatles, “Sharp Dressed Man” by ZZ Top, and “Keep Your Hands to Yourself” by The Georgia Satellites.
The band sounded fuller and larger than what you might expect from the three members. Their vocals were outstanding, clear, and strong, notably in the higher ranges called for in many of the songs they played. Their ringing 3-part harmony was flawless, and the groove was tight and fun. The guitar solos were crazy good, especially in the finale, when Betschart played a busy two-part “flute solo” on his Les Paul style guitar run through a guitar synthesizer. Fair’s drum riffs and vocal leads were fantastic, and McCrossan’s keyboards added slick vintage melodies and rhythm to the tunes.
The band was certainly a hit with the little children present, who danced, blew bubbles, ran around, and piled up near the gazebo railing like groupies to watch the musicians. Adults slapped their knees to the rhythm and sang along to their favorite songs, wearing large smiles on their faces.
The concert on August 3rd was one of those that people hated to see end. Medfield will be waiting for next year’s Back Pages concert! In the meantime, more information on the band and their extensive gear is available at https://backpageswebsite.wixsite.com/backpages. YouTube videos of previous performances are also available.
