If you want to see ageless joy and celebrate the universal language of music, the chain that keeps us all together, you should treat yourself to a Baba Ghanooj set.
If you’re really lucky, you’ll get to see their whole show, which is especially perfect under the Edison lights at the historic Fox River House.
And, if you hit the jackpot, you’ll enjoy the night with your lovely daughter while she visits you from Los Angeles.
That’s what happened to me Friday night and I’ve been smiling and humming ever since.
Baba Ghanooj has been playing together almost as long as their namesake snack has been around. (That’s a long, long time. I Googled it.)
Still, they play with the same infectious joy they did when they were children sitting around Rosie and Ron Reynolds’ living room back in the super cool seventies.
Siblings Ric, Rod and Marci form the heart of the band, together with Marci’s husband Fran, drummer Johnny Baldus and singer Jeff “Romy” Romenesko.
They play the classics in a way that makes you want to travel back in time and also makes you grateful to be exactly where you are.
Are you reelin’ in the years? Maybe. But music lasts forever and sometimes you have to let yourself be grateful for the moments that let you celebrate it.
I’m sure I was grinning like a lunatic as I watched them play, but it felt so good to hear live music again and to see such a talented group enjoying themselves up there.
When Hillary Reynolds, daughter of Ric and Trina Reynolds, jumped up to join the band, you could see both nature and nurture at work. Grandma Rosie, the Grand Dame of the clan, was a concert pianist and Trina was a singer as well. Hillary is a Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter who performs as Peridot. She and her husband Ted Toussaint, another talented musician, are in Wisconsin to visit family and it was fun to see them Friday night too.
Baba Ghanooj plays tonight in a rain-rescheduled set at South Park Beach in Waupaca. You can follow them on Facebook to see other shows.
I’m so glad I got to hear them play live Friday night and I’m looking forward to lots more live music this week.
Oh how I wish I would have been with you for this performance! I can see my brother Steve in one of your pics! Loved your write up Laura, I will definitely check out their schedule, it has been way too long.
Let me know when you can go. I’d love to meet you there sometime.
I love Baba Ghanooj! My favorite song is the one that Marcy wrote for Fran. I wish I could remember the name. I just call it “Fran’s Song”. Absolutely beautiful.
I love that song too.
How fun!!
MY APPLETON FRIEND SUE Z. CALLED AND TOLD ME ABOUT THIS SITE. WANT TO TELL YOU, LAURA, THAT RON AND IARE THE PARENTS OF THIS VERY TALENTED GROU. WE APPRECIATE YOU TELLING PEOPLE ABOUT THEM. IT IS GREAT TO SPREAD THE JOY AROUND. AS TO THE PERSON WHO COULDN’T REMEMBER THE NAME TO THE SONG FOR FRAN, COULD IT BE THERE IS A WALL IN CHINA? THAT HAPPENS TO BE MY FAVORITE. OF ALL TIME. GLAD YOU GOT TO SEE ;;HILLARY JOIN THE BAND. WE NOW HAVE OTHER GTRAND KIDS WHO HAVE ;INHERITED THE MUSIC GENE, AND ALSO GREAT NGRAND KIDS. WHAT A WONDERFUL LIFE WE HAVE LIVED,THANKSTO THEM. AND THANK YOU FOR SPREADING THE WORD. I LOVED THE ARTICLE AND PICS.
ROSE MARIE REYNOLDS
So wonderful to hear from you. I am told you are a very talented pianist. I would love to hear you play sometime.
W;ISH I COULD PLAY AGAIN, BUT LOSS OF CENTRAL VISION MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO READ MUSIC. I ALSO PLAYED WITH NOTES AND CAN’T DO IT ANY MOARE. THANKS FOR THE THOUGHTS. NOW, JUST ENJOY OUR FAMILY.
The entire show is so fun. Love how the band interacts with the audience and each other. Their smiles are infectious and the music is compelling. Wishing you all the very best!
It was a perfect night.