Chairman Ralph's Ministry Of Truth

The original master plan called for three days of rehearsals, but this year's reunited Five Emprees lineup settled for just one -- a fact not apparent to longtime fans turning out to see Benton Harbor's original '60s heroes at Lake Michigan College...and undoubtedly felt the heartstrings tug during the Beatles medley, as Don Cook sang: "Once there was a way...to get back home..." (And, unlike last year, my camera batteries didn't crap out after 13 shots...giving me about 150 to choose from, which I narrowed to just shy of 100!)

"Oh, I tell you, it was so tight when we did it the first time," bassist Ron Pelkey reflected, after the night end. "If we'd have taken more (time), we'd have done more (songs). The important thing is, Bill and Don and I have done this thousands of times. (Guitarist) Mike Depoian and (drummer) Billy Winans are such professionals -- they do it by memory, and they're way ahead of me." Pelkey noticed one other change on the bandstand. "I used to have count the songs out for everybody. Since Winans is our drummer -- he knows how fast to count it out (for each tempo). He takes the pressure off of me."

Keyboardist Bill Schueneman concurred, saying, "That (single rehearsal) was enough. We do real familiar stuff, and we shouldn't have had to do more than that. That's my ideal. It helps playing with Billy and Mike, in that regard, because they're prepared. They make it easy for us, for sure."

From Depoian's standpoint, having to learn roughly three dozen songs isn't radically different from the experiences in his current band, where he might shift from playing songs by Blondie, to Steely Dan and the Pretenders, all in the same night. "I like it, for that reason," Depoian said. "Dave Zane, the singer, plays with the Buckinghams. It's kind of his side project." As far as this year's reunion went, Depoian observed: "It took a little bit of work, but I had to chart it out, so it was no problem."

As expected, this year's show adhered to songs from the Emprees' era, including their own singles ("Little Miss Sad," "Hey Lover") and songs that remain radio cornerstones today ("Dancin' In The Street," "I'm A Believer," "Spooky," "Summer In The City"). The crowd got some nifty surprises along the way, too -- including a two-song Paul Revere & The Raiders medley ("Just Like Me"/"Kicks"), plus dips into the blues (with "Sweet Home Chicago"), and the '70s ("Lady Marmalade"). The show closed with Santana's epochal Woodstock instrumental, "Soul Sacrifice," complete with an extended percussive breakdown to keep the dance floor humming.

So what's ahead? As always, the answer depends on those classic variables of time, place and opportunity, according to Schueneman, who -- like Pelkey -- now lives in Atlanta, GA. "We would like to do it, as long as people would like to come and listen to us. We'll see where it takes us. We've had some really nice events. It's a chance for the family to get together, and sometimes, my kids can see what I (used to) do, when I was a kid – it's kind of fun."

Looking back, Pelkey has little trouble putting his finger on the Five Emprees' biggest achievement: "Probably that we did it our own way. We didn't get into drugs, like the other people -- at the time, we had a lot shorter hair than we've got today." In many respects, the latest reunions are an ongoing reminder of the Emprees' dance band roots, when 3,000 teenagers packed venues like the original Shadowland Ballroom -- where they could see all the day's biggest names for a single-digit price.

"We were in a unique position," Pelkey said. "We had dances on Sunday nights, and we were between Detroit, and Chicago –- a lot of these big name groups were looking for something like that. We could get 'em for a good price. We never charged more than $2 at the door, and it's just something that you can't duplicate today."

The crowd was filing out, the management itching to start cleaning up, and the band getting ready to pack, when Five Emprees lead singer Don Cook pointed to my tape recorder: "You look like you've got something up your sleeve."

Technically true, though that had happened earlier, when I'd been snap-snap-snappin' my time away, documenting the Five Emprees' one-night/one-off gig at the rebuilt Shadowland Ballroom, just a stone's throw from Silver Beach County Bark..and the site of many triumphs back in the mid-1960s, when teen culture reigned supreme (present company included, as well).

Indeed, once attractions like the Curious Kids' Museum Discovery Zone and the Carousel Ballroom are factored into the equation, the restored Shadowland Ballroom is an impressive attraction, as bassist Ron Pelkey enthused afterwards: "They had this so well-planned -- I mean, they've got stuff going on, over and over again. They allowed us to set up last night -- they got it going like clockwork."

This time around, Cook, Pelkey (plus sister Debbie Pelkey Cook) and keyboardist Bill Schueneman held down the frontline, while guitarist Mike DePoian deputized for Tony Catania (who was off traveling, and essentially indisposed). With original drummer Mike DeRose embedded in the West Coast architectural life, Billy Winans kept the beat...thus prepared, we were off and runnin' for two 90-minute sets!

For the 2010 model, we heard many of the highlights that have lit up previous reunions, including "Black Magic Woman" (Santana), "I'm A Believer" (The Monkees), "Spooky" (Classics IV), and "Summer In The City" (The Lovin' Spoonful)...along with the Beatles medley from ABBEY ROAD. (I'm going from memory at the moment, since my yellow notepad has seemingly absconded from view.)

There were a few surprises along the way, such as "All She Wants To Do Is Dance," which caused Cook to joke, after the slam-bang ending: "You thought it was from the '60s? Well...we lied." From the band's side of things, we got "Over The Mountain," and "Hey Lover" (the flipside of their classic single, "Little Miss Sad"), which serve to remind us that the Five Emprees' sound owed as much to classic R&B and soul as it did to the British Invasion.

The biggest, and most audacious choice, was an extended set-closing jam on yet another Santana raver, "Soul Sacrifice," which became one of the highlights of their '69 Woodstock Festival performance. Watching the crowd go crazt after those famed opening Latin bars (Dun-DUH-DUH-Dun/Dun-DUH-DUH-DUN-Dun) isn't something that I'll forget easily, if ever, while DePoian, Pelkey and Scheuenman made the most of their golden opportunity to stretch out.

What makes these shows so special is the Emprees' ability to make these well-worn songs sound as though they're playing 'em for the first time, while injecting their own instrumental character along the way...which is no mean feast, and not easy to do (as I can attest, having witnessed many reunited bands from all different eras).

Right around 11 o'clock, it was over, just like that, leaving the true believer and newcomer alike to add this particular show to their stack of memories...for which DJ "Rockin' Randy" Poole's choice of song (The Beatles' "In My Life") seemed so apropos. (Special thanks to Randy, by the way, for allowing me to use three of his Facebook pics -- which I've labeled, "THE VIEW FROM STAGE LEFT," "DRUMMER BILLY WINANS," and "WORKIN' THE CROWD" -- after my trusty punk rock digital camera's batteries crapped out after about 15 shots.)

Since these reunions currently happen one at a time, I naturally had to ask, "What happens now?" It's hard to believe that another year, at least, might pass before we see these guys again.

However, nobody's breaking out the crystal ball yet, as Ron made clear afterwards: "I don't know -- it's not up to us. We play whenever we can. Somebody has to ask."

Well, let's put this way...if anyone finds a better ideal cue, let me know.

Yes, indeed, you read it here, and you read it right...the Five Emprees rise again, so to speak, via the magic of Youtube, where bassist Ron Pelkey has been posting clips from that rockin' September 2008 benefit show at Lake Michigan College. Just type in "Five Emprees," and it'll come right up...or, in the "give me convenience or give me death" spirit, hit: http://www.youtube.com/user/TheFiveEmprees.

For those who couldn't make the gig, check out what you missed, and post the odd comment or two, if the spirit moves you! I'm sure you'll be moved to do that after eyeballin' those cracking versions of songs like "Drive My Car," and "Summer In The City," along with the Beatles medley and acoustic mini-interlude that made last fall's show so memorable.

And I'm not just saying that out of fannish devotion. I've heard many of these same songs done by countless other bands, but somehow, when these guys get together, their collective energy and talent lifts them above the seen-it-all-done-it-all-merchant category, pure and simple. Check out the clips, and you'll see what I mean.

The best news is that this 20-song gig also exists on DVD, and -- for a short time -- Ron will make copies available to those who want them. Simply write with your name and address, and Ron will take care of the rest. "By law, I can't charge for this or I will have to get involved with individual royalties," Ron advises in his email announcement, "and I am not interested in doing this for profit, so there will be no charge for it."

So there you have it. The Five Emprees are also still available a few times per year for weddings, parties or other select occasions...to book 'em, just contact Ron via: thefiveemprees@hotmail.com. But don't try to sell him a life insurance policy, or recruit him for a "confidential business proposal" from the other side of the world...as those cricket sounds will be rather deafening.