The Tams

 The Tams was a popular Beach Band that played the dance halls and shag clubs in the south back in the 1960’s. They did have a few records that charted, two of the more successful hits were “Be young, be foolish and be happy” and “What kind of fool do you think I am” 

They took their name from the wide flat beret style hats they wore onstage. The name dates back to a poem written in 1700’s about a happy go lucky Scottish lad named Tam O’Shanter.

The original Tams are long gone but their memory is supposed to be living on in a tribute group. There are actually two tribute groups that tour under the Tams moniker. Both claim some heritage to the originals. The version we saw in the Newberry SC Opera House is fronted by a guy who goes by “Little Red” He is the son of longtime member Charles Pope and the nephew of group co-founder Joe Pope.

Picture I took at the show

We were looking forward to an evening of rock and roll songs performed in harmony, sharp outfits and coordinated dance moves. We really expected a snazzy, classic and talented song and dance troop, an act reminiscent of the temptations. We planned the first stop of the trip around the tickets we had to see the Tams at the Newberry Opera House.

Waiting for the show to start.

The event we witnessed, I refrain from calling it an act, was at best very strange. Little Red, the lead singer spent very little time onstage. He wandered around the theater and cavorted with people in the audience. Those of us in the front, we were in the fourth row, saw very little of the group leader. 

The result of Red’s wandering ways was, we spent an hour and a half watching the back up singers who thankfully stayed on stage. We could hear Red and after about the sixth time we heard about Red’s daddy and how he wanted Little Red to carry on with the show, our attention started to wander.  We had plenty of time to study the song and dance moves happening on stage. 

Take note of this because it may be the only positive thing I have to say. We did like their outfits. Shimmering black and silver jackets, black pants and shirts, patented leather shoes and of course the Tam O’Shanter headgear.

There were three back up performers, I’ll call them Mr. Left, Mr. Right and Red’s son in the middle. If any of them could sing we wouldn’t know, the audio tech had their volume so low a note could not be heard. 

Mr. Right; he is clearly the most professional of the group and aged enough to fit the part. He knew all the dance routines and performed them with a polished precision. 

Red’s son; a young lad, only about eighteen I would say. He knew all the dance moves and danced with all the skill and precision as Mr. Right. The only problem was he had too much youthful exuberance. He could be very good if he studied under Mr. Right and matched his tempo during the show. 

Mr. Left; this poor guy was struggling, Millie and I were afraid he would have a heart attack right on stage. I don’t know if he was just out of shape or was encumbered by something. His moves were Zombie like and he was sweating profusely. 

I may as well skewer Little Red too. He is very enthusiastic, I’ll give him that, but he needs a production manager and needs to listen to him or her. He should have been up on the stage with his band and the other members of the group. He should not have told us every few minutes how his father told him to carry on with his music. He should not have had his dancers going none stop for 90 minutes while he himself was canoodling with his fans. He should have shown his band and back up singers a little respect and introduced them to the audience. 

I think it is fair to say that Little Red is a bit conceited and thinks the show is all about him. You could see it in his face at the end of the show when he did stand before us. This was his moment and he entranced in the applause and admiration.