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Eddie Money Makes It An '80s Party

Marc Valero/Highlands Today

Eddie Money entertains Friday at the South Florida Community College Auditorium with his string of hits from the late 70s and 80s.

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By MARC VALERO | Highlands Today

Published: June 28, 2008

AVON PARK — It didn't take a lot to turn the South Florida Community College Auditorium into a 1980s music party.

We didn't need a group of posers in jackets and skinny ties with programmed synthesizers nor did we need a group spandex-clad hair band dudes — we only needed Eddie Money and his bag of hits and rockin' band.

With a small group chanting "Eddie, Eddie, Eddie," Money hit the stage wearing jeans and a loose untucked shirt and sunglasses that he soon ditched.

After singing just a few words of "Two Tickets to Paradise," Money encouraged the nearly packed house to sing along and with repeated prompts to get the crowd involved it seemed like those in attendance were going to have to entertain themselves.

But, he took command of the singing on the succeeding tunes with his signature voice that's packed with character.

He won the audience over not only with his music, but also with his appreciation for the fans and his self-deprecating humor.

"Eddie Money doesn't have fans," he said. "Eddie Money has friends."

"I'm not doing this for the money — I'm doing it for you."

Referring to one of his earlier hits, Money said that was "three rehabs ago."

"Do you have room in the car for me?" he asked as his four-piece band kicked off "Take Me Home Tonight."

About two dozen girls and young women rushed to the edge of the stage during the song for a close up look of Money, and he shook a few hands.

Money's daughter, Jesse, who sings backup vocals moved to the front of the stage with her dad as she sang the "Be My Little Baby" part that Ronnie Spector sang on the original recording.

The teenager sang lead on two songs with Money joking that his daughter wanted an expensive car that was once owned by Janis Joplin.

"I'm not Billy Joel," he quipped.

Money said the food is so good in Avon Park he put on 15 pounds.

When his wife commented about his appearance, Money said he told her the camera adds 10 pounds.

"My wife said 'how many cameras did they use — four or five?'"

Musical highlights included a powerful rendition of "Trinidad" and Money on the saxophone. The crowed cheered when he grabbed his sax proving he is a talented musician. He also played harmonica on a couple of tunes.

Also, Money still does his quirky, but lovable, head grab move.

As he holds the microphone with one had he grabs the side of his head with the other hand as if he is going out of his mind (over the girl he's singing about?) or a splitting headache just hit him.

"The hits just keep coming," Money said. "I sold 37 million records. I should have saved the money. Who knew?

"I love the 80s … say 'I wanna go back.'"

That served to intro 1987's "I Wanna Go Back."

Applause during the show and comments after the show indicate the audience got their Money's worth and enjoyed their trip back to the '80s.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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