Glen Burtnik loves the music that came out of 1967. That Summer of Love turned 50 this year and he is celebrating with a tour paying homage to that era.
“I still listen to it. Long before I put the show together, I had a playlist on my iTunes called ‘The Summer of Love,’ and I go back to that music often,” he said. “It’s my comfort music.”
The New Jersey native is bringing that groovy music and concert experience to Naperville Sept. 22 for an 8 p.m. show at North Central College.
“I was 12 years old in 1967,” he said. “Usually, there’s a period in everybody’s youth where the music and the culture of that era just stays with you for the rest of your life and it’s your favorite. No matter how guilty a pleasure it might be. Even though I’ve gone through the ’80s and everything else that was very different from that era, I’ve always had a very soft spot in my heart for the whole hippie culture and pop music of that era.”
Burtnik, who has an extensive musical resume, was a member of the band Styx and appeared in the Broadway production of “Beatlemania” as Paul McCartney.
About 10 years ago, he put a show together celebrating the Summer of Love, which spans from 1967 to the Woodstock era, he said. The songs constantly change because there are so many good ones, he said.
“We try to touch on the icons of the era,” he said. “You’ve got to do Janis Joplin, and you want to do some Santana, and of course Jimi Hendrix. There’s so much great, great music from that era and we do our best to touch on all of it within the course of a show.”
Audiences will hear songs from Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young, Jefferson Airplane, The Turtles, The Beach Boys, Mamas and the Papas, Procol Harum, Joe Cocker, Melanie, The Spencer Davis Group, Cream, The Youngbloods, The Rascals, Chicago, Tommy James and The Shondells, Otis Redding, Sonny and Cher and more.
And he’s constantly changing the set list.
“If we did everything that we know and that we love, the show would last three days,” he said. “It is hard sometimes to cut out the material, but we don’t want the show to last four hours. We do remember there’s audience out there sitting in seats all night and they’ve got to wake up in the morning. So we’re constantly selecting which songs would work best in this environment and with this cast. There’s a constant changing of material, which also keeps it fresh.”
Touring with him is Marc Rubinstein’s Pig Light Show, which is recognized as one of the most famous psychedelic light shows in rock history, he said.
“So we have that going on behind us and we have a very large cast of about 20 people,” he said. “It’s a really talented ensemble and it’s full of variety, even though it’s all music from that one era. It’s a very enthusiastic show.”
He has a Christmas show (with proceeds donated to local food banks) and a Beatles show in his repertoire as well, but this show has been the most successful.
“It’s colorful, we dress up and encourage the audience to dress up, we have this incredible light show going on … it’s just a really fun, joyous evening,” he said.
One of his personal favorite moments is performing “Darling Be Home Soon” by The Lovin’ Spoonful.
“It’s a moment where I am just there with an acoustic guitar basically just singing this favorite song of mine that wasn’t their most popular hit but nevertheless is a personally gratifying moment,” he said. “When Joey Law comes out and does ‘The Star Spangled Banner’ a la Jimi Hendrix, that’s often an amazing moment. And at the end of the show, we usually go into a Sly and the Family Stone medley and that’s an absolute celebration.”
The reaction from audiences has been “really amazing,” he said.
“By the end of the night, the audience is all on their feet, dancing and singing along to the music,” he said. “It really is like a love-in. I guarantee it’s a fun night. If you’re a fan of rock ‘n’ roll music, and if you can relate at all to the ’60s peace and love culture, you’ll have a great night.”
That response is what compels him to keep touring with this show for as long as he can, he said.
“I was 12 years old when that era hit me hard, and this is the music I’m going out with,” he said. “As long as an audience will have me and my friends doing it, I’m sure I’ll continue.”
Annie Alleman is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
Summer of Love Concert Experience
When: 8 p.m. Sept. 22
Where: Pfeiffer Hall at North Central College, 310 E. Benton Ave., Naperville
Tickets: $25-$45
Information: 630-637-7469; www.northcentralcollege.edu/show
