{"id":322336,"date":"2026-08-16T00:44:54","date_gmt":"2026-08-16T00:44:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/322336\/"},"modified":"2026-08-16T00:44:54","modified_gmt":"2026-08-16T00:44:54","slug":"the-2026-happy-tour-live-at-bergenpac","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/322336\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Happy Tour LIVE! at bergenPAC"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery <\/a>
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originally published: 08\/15\/2026<\/p>\n

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Fans of \u201860s and \u201870s music inside bergenPAC in Englewood, NJ this Thursday, August 6, 2026 evening reminisce as they ready themselves for an outrageous concert of hits presented by the stars of the 2026 Happy Together Tour: The Cowsills, The Vogues, Ron Dante, The Fortunes, Gary Puckett, Jason Scheff, The Troggs, and The Association.<\/p>\n

Recalls Rich, a fan from Palisades Park, \u201cI saw The Association back in 1965 at Asbury Park Convention Hall and I\u2019ve been a fan ever since,\u201d before adding, \u201cGary Puckett is fabulous, obviously, and The Vogues are great, too, but I\u2019m looking forward to seeing The Troggs and The Fortunes for the first time tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Karen from East Rutherford reveals, \u201cWhen I originally saw the line-up of groups that were going to be here tonight, I thought, \u2018I\u2019m not gonna miss this!\u2019 I just had to be here! I grew up with Gary Puckett and The Cowsills, and I just love The Fortunes\u2019 \u2018Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again.\u2019\u201d Declares Karen\u2019s husband, Frank, \u201cI just love The Vogues \u2014 their harmonies are stunning!\u201d<\/p>\n

Lastly, Bob from Livingston Manor, NY, insists, \u201cI love The Cowsills \u2014 I saw them last year on the Jersey Shore and they were fantastic \u2014 and I love Ron Dante, too. He was part of The Turtles, he sang with The Archies and The Cuff Links, and he even produced Barry Manilow.\u201d Ruth from Cuddebackville, NY, agrees, adding, \u201cAll the acts on the Happy Together Tour are wonderful! I love The Vogues and their song, \u20185 O\u2019Clock World,\u2019 and The Troggs\u2019 \u2018Wild Thing.\u2019 I also have a lot of Chicago records, so I\u2019m looking forward to hearing Jason Scheff singing those songs tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before the show, several Happy Together performers talk behind the scenes about being a part of this show and about their appreciation for their fans. Relates Eddie Mooney, lead singer and bassist for the British band, The Fortunes, \u201cThis is our first time on the Happy Together Tour and we\u2019re loving it. Compared to England, the distances we travel are huge, but the biggest thing for us is the people. The audiences are lovely. The American people have treated us so kindly. We\u2019re really enjoying the tour \u2014 and I\u2019m especially happy tonight because today is my birthday!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Jules Alexander, a founding member of The Association, acknowledges, \u201cThe fans we have are just unbelievable!\u201d Recalling, \u201cThe first Happy Together Tour we did was 1984, and we were here at bergenPAC in 2015. Every time we play a place we\u2019ve played before we say, \u2018I remember this, I remember that,\u2019 but mostly we remember the sound and the sound here is really good,\u201d Alexander further suggests, \u201cI think this is the best Happy Together Tour we\u2019ve been on, ever. The line-up, the people, the crew \u2014 everyone is great \u2014 and we\u2019re having a tremendous amount of fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Lastly, Ron Dante talks about his concern for the fans in the audience when he explains, \u201cThe most important thing to me is that the fans have a good time tonight.\u201d Confessing, \u201cI love singing \u2018Sugar, Sugar.\u2019 Every time I do it, I know there are people in the audience who have never seen me sing it live, plus I get to sing \u2018Happy Together\u2019 every night,\u201d Dante concludes by acknowledging, \u201cThis is my ninth year of doing the tour \u2014 it\u2019s just gotten bigger and bigger and I\u2019m so grateful to have gotten to meet so many great fans!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Inside the bergenPAC auditorium, the lights dim and the members of the Happy Together Band \u2014 bassist Greg Smith, drummer Chris Camilleri, keyboardist Manny Focarazzo, and musical director\/guitarist Godfrey Townsend \u2014 take the stage for tonight\u2019s performance.<\/p>\n

The Cowsills \u2014 siblings Susan, Paul, and Bob Cowsill \u2014 make their entrance and open tonight\u2019s concert with a bouncy rendition of their 1967 hit, \u201cThe Rain, The Park, and Other Things\u201d (aka \u201cThe Flower Girl\u201d).<\/p>\n

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After Paul handles the lead on a lively version of \u201cIndian Lake,\u201d the siblings follow up by singing and playing the TV theme song they recorded in 1969 \u2014 the theme from\u00a0Love, American Style.\u00a0On the instrumental interlude, Paul exclaims, \u201cWithout you there\u2019s no us, so give yourselves a huge round of applause for making this happen!\u201d as Susan accompanies on guitar.<\/p>\n

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The Cowsills end their set with a high-energy interpretation of their 1969 smash, \u201cHair,\u201d which has music lovers singing along before standing and applauding and Paul exclaims, \u201cWe love you guys!\u201d<\/p>\n

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The Vogues \u2014 Sean Moran, Troy Elich, and Royce Taylor \u2014 take the stage and chime into the group\u2019s 1966 hit, \u201c5 O\u2019Clock World.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Music lovers cheer and The Vogues move on to their 1968 million seller, \u201cMy Special Angel,\u201d and follow up with gorgeous vocal harmonies on their 1968 Top Ten hit, \u201cTurn Around, Look at Me,\u201d which elicits a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

Elich introduces musician Lenie Colacino \u2014 the original Paul McCartney in\u00a0Beatlemania on Broadway and a current member of Jay and The Americans \u2014 who is seated in the audience before The Vogues end their set with their 1965 hit, \u201cYou\u2019re the One.\u201d The crowd sings along with Royce Taylor and the trio on this happy-go-lucky tune which inspires cheers, applause, and a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

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Ron Dante takes the stage to perform the 1967 Turtles hit, \u201cShe\u2019d Rather Be With Me.\u201d<\/p>\n

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The crowd cheers and Dante explains that in addition to being a member of The Turtles, he was also a member of two other \u201860s groups. Here, he launches into a number he recorded with The Cuff Links, the 1969 hit, \u201cTracy.\u201d Then, revealing that, in 1969, he also had \u201cthe #1 record of the year\u201d with a different band, Dante delivers a sparkling performance of his hit with The Archies, \u201cSugar, Sugar,\u201d which has the audience cheerfully singing along before reacting with a standing ovation.<\/p>\n

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The Fortunes \u2014 drummer Glenn Taylor, bassist Eddie Mooney, and keyboardist Chris Hutchison \u2014 take the stage where Mooney announces, \u201cGood evening America and good evening, Englewood!\u201d The British group opens tonight\u2019s set with their 1971 hit, \u201cHere Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Mooney explains to the crowd that, tonight, Bob Cowsill is filling in for guitarist Michael Smithham. After performing The Walker Brothers\u2019 \u201cThe Sun Ain\u2019t Gonna Shine (Anymore),\u201d The Fortunes step into their 1965 smash, \u201cYou\u2019ve Got Your Troubles,\u201d where concertgoers sing along on the song\u2019s well-known \u201cYou\u2019ve got your troubles, I\u2019ve got mine\u201d refrain.<\/p>\n

Cowsill tells the crowd that today is Eddie Mooney\u2019s birthday and the audience sings \u201cHappy Birthday\u201d to Eddie. Then, following a rockin\u2019 rendition of The Beatles\u2019 \u201cTwist and Shout,\u201d audience members cheer for Bob Cowsill, Eddie, and The Fortunes.<\/p>\n

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Following a short intermission, Gary Puckett makes his entrance and opens with a powerful rendition of his 1968 hit, \u201cLady Willpower,\u201d where concertgoers sing along with Gary on the tune\u2019s \u201cLady Willpower\/It\u2019s now or never\u201d refrain.<\/p>\n

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\u201cWhat a crowd! I hope you\u2019re having a great time!\u201d declares Puckett as he slips into 1968\u2019s \u201cOver You.\u201d After Puckett asks that the house lights be brought up, he performs his 1968 hit, \u201cWoman Woman,\u201d where the crowd sings along with Gary on the well-known \u201cWoman, woman\/Have you got cheating on your mind?\u201d refrain.<\/p>\n

Puckett concludes his set with 1968\u2019s \u201cYoung Girl\u201d where he has the audience chiming in on the tune\u2019s \u201cYoung girl\/Get out of my mind\u201d chorus before they stand and cheer and Puckett responds, \u201cThank you everybody. Have a great rest of your evening!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Jason Scheff \u2014 long time lead singer for the band, Chicago \u2014 takes the stage and the audience claps along as he plays bass on the opening strains of Chicago\u2019s 1972 million-seller, \u201cSaturday in the Park.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\u201cLet\u2019s keep it in the \u201870s!\u201d exclaims Scheff as he presses into a dynamic rendition of Chicago\u2019s 1973 hit, \u201cFeelin\u2019 Stronger Every Day,\u201d and follows up by singing with style on the 1976 Chicago ballad, \u201cIf You Leave Me Now.\u201d<\/p>\n

After telling the crowd about how he sang the next song at the 2016 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, Scheff leads a high-energy version of Chicago\u2019s 1970 hit, \u201c25 or 6 to 4,\u201d where concertgoers sing along with Scheff before standing and cheering at the conclusion.<\/p>\n

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The Troggs \u2014 bassist Martin Andrew and guitarist Jason Feddy \u2014 take the stage singing and playing with attitude on their 1966 pop-rocker, \u201cWith a Girl Like You.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Andrew announces, \u201cWe\u2019re going to do a song that was a big hit in 1967 and, again, in 1994,\u201d before concertgoers sing, \u201cIt\u2019s written on the wind, it\u2019s everywhere I go\/So if you really love me, come on and let it show,\u201d with Feddy on the melodic ballad, \u201cLove is All Around.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Andrew asks \u201cDo you want to get wild?\u201d before leaping into \u201cWild Thing,\u201d where music lovers animatedly sing along on the song\u2019s \u201cWild thing\/I think I love you\/But I want to know for sure\u201d lyric of this iconic 1966 rocker prior to standing and cheering for the British twosome.<\/p>\n

The members of The Association \u2014 Bruce Pictor, Paul Holland, and Jules Alexander \u2014 take the stage and get music lovers\u2019 toes tapping to the group\u2019s #1 hit from 1966, \u201cWindy.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Moving on to one of the most-played songs of the past 100 years, The Association performs its 1967 smash, \u201cNever My Love,\u201d and follows up with the 1966 hit, \u201cCherish,\u201d where audience members wave their phone flashlights back and forth before ending with cheers and applause.<\/p>\n

The group concludes with the 1966 hit, \u201cAlong Comes Mary,\u201d which gets audience members leaping to their feet before the group takes a bow together.<\/p>\n

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Ron Dante returns to the stage to exclaim, \u201cWe can\u2019t do the Happy Together Tour without this last song!\u201d and the crowd dances and sings, \u201cI can\u2019t see me lovin\u2019 nobody but you for all my life,\u201d with Dante on The Turtles\u2019 1967 chart-topper, \u201cHappy Together.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the conclusion, Dante exclaims, \u201cThank you very much \u2014 we love you all!\u201d before, one at a time, the performers return to the stage to do a snippet of one of their hits, after which everyone joins in on a full cast reprise of \u201cHappy Together\u201d and music lovers stand and cheer while the musicians take a final group bow.<\/p>\n

As concertgoers make their way out of the theater, several share their thoughts on tonight\u2019s Happy Together Tour performance. Comments Josh from Wood-Ridge, \u201cI\u2019m here tonight with my father who loves \u201860s and \u201870s music. I was brought up on that era of music \u2014 plus I\u2019m a drummer \u2014 and I especially enjoyed The Vogues; their harmonies were great.\u201d Declares Josh\u2019s dad, Bob, \u201cI liked all the acts! The Cowsills and The Vogues were unbelievable. A friend of mine from Arizona and I grew up on \u201960s music, and as the show was going on, I was texting him about all of it and he was just blown away!\u201d<\/p>\n

Carla from Queens, NY, exclaims, \u201cI loved tonight\u2019s show \u2014 each year, it gets better and better! I especially loved the British acts like The Troggs \u2014 they had so much energy and were so much fun!\u201d<\/p>\n

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Michael from Queens concurs, adding, \u201cI thought it was a terrific show! We\u2019ve seen it several times in the past and this was one of the best versions ever!\u201d<\/p>\n

Harry from Fort Lee relates, \u201cI loved tonight\u2019s Happy Together Tour! Jason Scheff, The Cowsills, and The Association were great, and The Troggs were a lot of fun, too. It\u2019s not often you get to see so many great acts in one show, plus bergenPAC is such a nice venue with great seating and great sound.\u201d Lola from Fort Lee agrees, adding, \u201cIt was a fabulous concert! It brought me back to the \u201860s,\u201d before acknowledging, \u201cI wasn\u2019t feeling so great when I first came in but I\u2019m feeling on top of the world going out!\u201d<\/p>\n

Brendyn from Yonkers, NY, acknowledges, \u201cThis was my first time seeing the Happy Together Tour and I thought it was excellent! It was great to see so many performers in the same place, and I especially loved The Association \u2014 \u2018Never My Love\u2019 never disappoints.\u201d Gene from Brooklyn, NY agrees, explaining, \u201cI grew up a block away from the TV studio where they did the show,\u00a0Hullabaloo,\u00a0back in the \u201860s.\u00a0The Vogues actually played on that show, as well as at my dad\u2019s record store which was a block away from the studio, so tonight\u2019s concert brought back a lot of memories for me,\u201d prior to concluding, \u201cIt was a really crowd-pleasing and fun-loving show!\u201d<\/p>\n

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To learn more about the 2026 Happy Together Tour, please go to\u00a0happytogethertour.com.<\/a> For info on great upcoming concerts at bergenPAC \u2014 including Kenny G on September 19, Eaglemania on October 10, and Daughtry on October 21, \u2014 please go to\u00a0bergenpac.org.<\/a><\/p>\n

Photos by Love Imagery<\/p>\n

Spotlight Central<\/a> NJ entertainment news,

\nconcert recaps, and interviews<\/p>\n

Love Imagery<\/a> Fine art stage photography
@allyouneedisloveimagery<\/a><\/p>\n

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