The Grass Roots Performing Temptation Eyes/Midnight Confessions at NYCB Theater at Westbury

[@123Goldhunter11]

No Grass Roots left. Sad - they were my favorite band in the lat 60's and early 70's.

[@asr53]

Rob Grill was the orig lead singer and toured as The GrassRoots until he passed away. Over the years he bought out the other orig members to legally own the name of the band. When he died, his estate owns the name and leases the name to the band seen in this video (no orig members and no members who played on any hits). The guitarist did play with Rob for a long long time though. Never the less, although legally they can tour as The GrassRoots and do a good job, to me it should be called a tribute band.

[@uncljoerey]

Agreed. Maybe they should call themselves The Midnight Confessions. The bands that still tour without any original members are sort of odd ducks (The Kingston Trio comes to mind.) These guys do a good job with the songs. At least they are pretty much sticking to the original arrangements.

[@nillyramgnik7076]

I agree 100%! I just saw the band called “The Grass Roots” last night in Okaboji. While I can’t quote anything they actually said about being the original band from the late 60’s, they definitely gave the impression that they are. I was quite stunned when I found out this group of four guys have been together a short amount of time. Allan R., who posted 11 months ago, got it right when he suggested this group should be called a tribute band. I feel like I was duped.

[@nillyramgnik7076]

@@uncljoerey Yes, Midnight Confessions would be a great name for a Grass Roots tribute band.

[@broella6493]

Thanks.. good information…

[@bettyschneider5268]

I saw the Grass Roots band before they were ever famous! In 1970s they played at a college for only 15 mins. We waited a long time to see them! I was just a teenage then! 💃🏻🕺👯🚶🏃🏻👫😎🎸🥁😎😎🎸😎🎸

[@thomaskelly8571]

There is no grass roots without Rob Grill.

[@gordenscottfan3107]

or the studio musicians that recorded most of the original music.....there first hit did include Rob Grill either, but for greatest hits album they added Rob Grill's lead vocal....

[@michaelmaiullari3782]

What does it matter they are all fakers including Grill who wished he could play the baselines on the original hits the music was done by The Wrecking Crew the songs were sung by Rob Faker Grill and his friends but they wish they could play the music

[@anthonyangeli256]

​@@michaelmaiullari3782I saw them in concert many years ago Rob sounded great... So did you ever hear & see the real band or are you just talking out of your ass?

[@dgruber2126]

True but if a tribute band keeps the music & memories alive, we'll take it We all know our original faves aren't here to perform anymore but savour the memories if when they were

[@thomaskelly8571]

@@dgruber2126 absolutely

[@billhuff5352]

I still have all my 45s from that whole era!!!

[@edlondon3717]

How old are you if I may ask?

[@karyns4555]

Man, this takes me back to my childhood! ❤❤❤

[@felixmadison5736]

I got Rob Grill's autograph at a country fair about 20-25 years ago. A real nice guy. The Grass Roots were one of my favorite bands back in the day when I was a young man.

[@heddyfusco]

We were at this very show and these guys were amazing ! Not the originals but if I didn’t know Rob Grill was gone I would have thought these were the originals! Tribute or not I had a hell of a good time and loved them!!❤

[@bccoregon]

Dusty, the lead guitar, was backing Rob Grill as far back as 1988 as i seen them live Kissimmee Florida. Now that Rob has passed, its awesome that Dusty is carrying the GR torch forward. This lead singer knocks it out of the park ❤️

[@maureenmccall4381]

The lead singer is Mark Dawson

[@MadisonChoir]

Met Rob at several different shows over the years. I also had lunch with the keyboard player (Dennis) and drummer (Rick) at a sea life park in Arlington, Tx. They guys were totally cool and down to earth. Great time for sure.

[@dirgesinthedark5637]

Where is Dennis and Warren?? 😢

[@rosemarycarrasquillo7111]

Grassroots performed on American Bandstand more than any band. I love their music. They had fun while performing and they love bring music across the country. They put a lot of heart and soul to it. Thank you for the music .❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@joseenriqueagutaya131]

Grass Roots tribute band thanks for continuing to play these songs.

[@michaelZ1B]

Please, no tribute bands to the Rolling Stones either.

[@robertforrest9021]

I grew up with this, 3 dog night CCR and so many other great bands. Always lov the music

[@micah3823]

Sadly all three of these bands are still touring using the original name. CCR is not really CCR without John and Tom Fogarty and Three Dog Night has only two original members out of 7 left and they sound horrendous

[@dgruber2126]

Huge GR fan original band Rob Rick Warren Dennis but enjoy the tribute to a great group RIP Rob & Rick you r missed

[@mariamercedes9377]

So many memories, love The Grass roots

[@kevinmcfarland2913]

I don't understand why so many here do not understand that Rob Grill is gone and these gentlemen are trying to keep a legacy alive. Mark Dawson does a fine job as lead singer and bass player and he is a lot of fun as an entertainer. The entire band are great musicians. From what I heard, Rob asked Mark Dawson, who had been playing with the band, to take over lead vocals and keep the legacy alive. Perhaps the other "original" members who may be still living did not want to go out with part of the band deceased. I am a friend to Dennis Provisor. He has stayed active in the music world in the years since he was in The Grass Roots. And more importantly, he enjoys his life doing what he loves. The notion that people think they have been conned is really silly. I enjoyed these guys when I saw them. They kicked ass and were quite entertaining.

[@donporter8432]

I thought Dennis Provisor was great.

[@donporter8432]

In an interview he talks about his missing a flight I believe from Vegas to Florida. He called Grill to tell him and Rob just said, JUST GET HERE! They chartered Elvis's plane but got there. Gotta believe Grill wasn't to messed with !

[@adriennerobinson1180]

RIP Rob Grill

[@johnnysalvny]

They sound very good. However, we've been getting some great tribute bands in Ocala (Fla.) as low as $15 (Balcony) and good seats at $25. Tickets for an upcoming Grassroots show start at $32 and go to $47.

[@peterklutinoty244]

...as a tribute band.

[@DPRyan-vd5pp]

This is my favorite BASS Line song! The Bass is so amazing in this song!

[@ROCKSTARCRANE]

Thank Carol Kaye for that bass line. She played it on the record.

[@kathleenvendetti4049]

I just saw these guys in Everett Washington ❤ they were so so good 😊❤ Lots of memories and good tears of joy.

[@nancypurland7518]

I’ve loved the Grass Roots for decades. They’ve still got it!! Groups like Grass Roots and their songs live on forever, God bless them. ❤️💞❤️💞❤️

[@QueenFan12]

none of them are original members.

[@hunggrapes5532]

@@QueenFan12 So, big deal, did you see the line up thru the years, like many singers and bands did !

[@johnmccormick1853]

@@QueenFan12 Niether are any of the New York Yankees ... so what??

[@anthonyangeli256]

This ain't the Grass Roots.

[@randymcturnan2520]

Sorry guys, I saw the band on their tour in 1969 and this is not them. Not their fault but when Rob Grill died that was the end of it.

[@abelincoln3287]

Not a single original member. There's no point calling themselves "The grass roots"

[@mthivier]

@@abelincoln3287 More like astroturf: an imitation of grass.

[@jeffkahl]

Basically a tribute band at this point

[@randymcturnan2520]

@@jeffkahl No original members left? Basically what it is.

[@DCR52]

It's a cover band

[@jm1551701]

These guy's are just a Tribute Band, there are no original member's left.

[@GreenLightMe]

Creed is still alive why is he not involved??

[@skippyjones4195]

Very cool 😎 grew up with this music so Awesome ❤️🙏🏻👍✌️

[@bccoregon]

Rob Grill was the 3rd lead singer (see wiki). Original was P.F. Sloan. Until his death in 2011, early member Rob Grill and a newer lineup of the Grass Roots continued to play many live performances each year. After his death, with a lineup personally chosen by Grill they carry on the legacy of the group with nationwide live performances. Im glad they do. Two of this group go back to '85 and 1 to '88. The music lives on thanks to this group. Rock on.

[@stretch753]

Dude on lead guitar has got some skill.

[@brandonlee2284]

I thought it was Randy Baughman

[@richqualls5157]

Absolutely a tribute band.

[@roncarson9355]

How can they use the name without any original members i thought there was some sort of law agains😂thatt

[@vintagekart2]

Almost never can you replace the original vocalists and replicate the group. Tribute best describes this group. To think you’ve seen the the Grass Roots in concert is a fantasy. Like The Beach Boys with 1 or 2 members. Sweet dreams…. You can never go back in time, too bad you missed the golden era of rock…

[@ronwhiteman8892]

I saw the original Rob Grill Roots fifty years ago.

[@tcanders123]

There was no original band. There was a varying list of people hired at different times to be The Grass Roots. The guys on the album covers never wrote any of the hits, didn't play on them. The Grass Roots were as much a real band as The Archies. Much better songs though, but that was all the writers & producers behind the scenes.

[@richardstump4582]

Hi!! Great Band, Wonderful Song!! Grew Up Listening To these Guys!! Alright!!😊

[@davevrox3023]

I'm going tonight. NYCB no joke. Glad I looked. No original members? Wow.

[@danadronen9361]

Please try to make it to Jamestown North Dakota maybe you could have a concert there it wasLike 50 years ago I seen them at the Civic Center and the Rob grill really stood out And keep rocking mark you’re doing great!❤

[@eliortegajr9710]

Thanks for those who really know who the band members here are not them.

[@tcanders123]

There was no original band. There was a varying list of people hired at different times to be The Grass Roots. The guys on the album covers never wrote any of the hits, didn't play on them. The Grass Roots were as much a real band as The Archies. Much better songs though, but that was all the writers & producers behind the scenes.

[@nillyramgnik7076]

I bought tickets for my husband and myself to see The Grassroots (or so I thought). The concert was last night. We didn’t think they sounded very good (something was just off) but some of the songs were ok. After the concert, I decided to Google the band and found out that these four guys who are touring as the Grass Roots currently are not even close to being the original members. I think it’s dishonest. There was some innuendo going on…we were definitely led to believe they are in fact the Grassroots (in spite of the change of name from a one word title to two words).

[@broella6493]

These guys are just a cover band..kinda sad..Loved the original band!

[@ItsMe-xy3zk]

Talked to one of the members from the 70s and he don't even know these guys.

[@bluebird925]

@@ItsMe-xy3zk Very sad.

[@MrChumpus]

You must be really fkn stupid if you thought you were gonna see original members of a band from 50 years ago. So dumb

[@wstraczek]

Yeah it’s very sad. It’s misrepresentation. None of these guys played on ANY of the hits . They sound like a mediocre cover band . They should not tour & represent themselves as “The Grassroots!”

[@sl8605]

Rob Grill was absolutely gorgeous!!

[@NewColonySix-RayGraffiaJr.]

Haven't read every comment here but felt compelled to chime in and share thoughts. I fully anticipate feedback and surely some shall slam me for what follows but here is one guy's side to this story. I, along with five other classmates from the 1964 grads at St. Patrick H.S. in Chicago (all boys BTW), finished out Senior Year as members of chorus & band. We ended every year doing a joint concert with a girls' school. Since '64 was essentially the beginning of the Beatles, we were allowed to do "I Want To Hold Your Hand" live for those performances. Both the concertgoers and the girls went nuts when we did our piece; two of us, Pat and myself, were approached by one of their head gals after the final concert and requested that we come to their first event the following school year and play the song. Looked at each other, agreed as pretty psyched to be approached by females... and got the others to form a band, which became the New Colony Six. So, now that it is 60 summers later (convenient coincidence, right?) and while one of us is living in New England, one in NM, one in GA, one in FL and one in the cemetery, with me still active and having been lead singer or co-lead now for (NC)6 decades, is the current New Colony Six, the majority of the team now together since 1988 (deaths have forced changes since '88 as well as voluntary retirements), a fake, a farce, a fiasco or a fine continuation of the history I and others began in 1964? Open to hearing from you; open to any interested folks with opportunities to play to reach out to me directly here or at my page on Farcepuke, err Facebook, and share your own thoughts. I get here less often than FB, but shall place this comment of mine there in hopes of reminding me to look back here now and then. Pardon the length but hearing thoughts pro and con are solicited - facebook.com/New.Colony.Six.Ray.Graffia.Jr.r/ and thanks to ROCKVIDEOPHOTOGRAPHER for the posting. I've known Mark Dawson a long time - NC6 worked with this iteration of GR not too long ago; respect those of you who care enough about our music and those of the bands who followed us (We hit the charts 9 weeks before the second Chicago band did - that was Shadows of Knight with their cover of Them's/Van Morrison's album cut with cleaned up lyrics unsuitable for airing in 1965 = Gloria) and I can verify that too but not allowed to do so here sans ability to include attachments but already do have them on FB...); closing this lengthy piece now and shall await your feedback here & on Facebook! Ray Graffia, Jr., founding member and STILL performing with New Colony Six! 🙏

[@billyjackogilsbie9238]

i have there albums they are great great hits from when i was 16 up to now iam 57 now

[@WilliamCantrell-qu3mp]

Had this on 8-track back in the 70's

[@blakegregory969]

I miss Rob Grill but respect this tribute.

[@spitfirekid1]

Wonderful performance!

[@phillipzx3754]

Nice job.... as a cover band.

[@rogerjones8162]

I still have the eight track cassette and CD of their greatest hits. I love them dearly. I still listen to it from time to time.

[@thaismatsumoto]

Not these guys though. None of them are on that eight track tape.

[@Wayne-e1x]

Rob Grill a Great Singer with Heaven Knows And Midnight Confessions Wayne

[@Zippertheslipper]

Love this music

[@kenthassell6394]

My favorite song by them.

[@teresacucinotta1855]

Awesome 1of the best ever and still got it

[@seanhoward5562]

Although these guys are really a tribute band, they do sound pretty good.

[@michaelZ1B]

Rob Grill had already passed 8 years before this event.

[@jh-fl6ph]

Except this isn't the Grass Roots, at all. It is a tribute band.

[@tcanders123]

There was no original band. There was a varying list of people hired at different times to be The Grass Roots. The guys on the album covers never wrote any of the hits, didn't play on them. The Grass Roots were as much a real band as The Archies. Much better songs though, but that was all the writers & producers behind the scenes.

[@benwalstrom4342]

Pretty certain the lead guitarist was in the Grassroots with Rob in the 70's.

[@richardstump4582]

Super Fantastic!!😊

[@iansuntjenssli9739]

So many memories lyrics so true

[@JamesWitt-u6c]

Amen brother!!!!

[@JamesWitt-u6c]

The original lineup was the best!!!

[@Menyhard]

Still sounds great

[@dancing954]

Amazing music I love ❤️

[@tod3msn]

It boils down to expectations. If you like the hits and these guys can play them, then this ok for you. If you are a diehard music fan, then these guys are a tribute band. Even Rob Grill (RIP) was fronting a tribute band the last many years. The real Grass Roots were the late 60’s and early to mid 70’s guys like Warren and Rick and Creed. Hey, these guys got to work so I don’t begrudge them a living.

[@dr123hall]

You made a clear and lasting statement, great rendition regardless! Thanks for the comment tod3msn!

[@randycurtislive]

Awesome! Dusty Is Jammin

[@kelvincamniz148]

PS..I'm Going To Enjoy Watching This Version Of The Grass Roots Band With No Original Members Open Up For Peter Noone(Herman's Hermits) With All 4 Of Their Original Members..That Will Be So Awesome...Something To Contemplate All You Naysayers..Concert At Rock The Downs At Batavia NY Racetrack/Gaming In Summer 2022

[@eddiejk1]

I agree, Allan R. No matter what a band calls itself, if there are no original members, it's just a tribute band, & there are lots of them out there today touring with the original name. I personally, choose not to pay extra $$$ to see these bands....I'd rather see an actual tribute band....they are (usually) better than the "imposters".

[@anthonyangeli256]

Well said. These guys ain't that great at all. They're just following chord charts

[@jakeblues3676]

I saw these guys in 1973!! One of my favorite bands

[@abelincoln3287]

Unfortunately none of these guys were in the group

[@mimis105dobbins3]

That is the year I got married.Peace out A town down.God bless

[@TonysMusic1974]

You definitely did not see THESE GUYS in 1973

[@thaismatsumoto]

Really? Our of curiosity, Do you remember what the bands name was?

[@chipgaasche4933]

Is this a "tribute band"??

[@lurker_to_poster257]

So yes, this is clearly a tribute band, with no original or classic members remaining - Rob Grill, Warren Entner, Dennis Provisor, Creed Bratton, Rick Coonce, Joel Larson - but ironically, the guitarist in THIS lineup, Dusty Hanvey, has been in the band longer than any of the original/classic members were, except maybe Rob Grill. But it's still a tribute band.

[@lurker_to_poster257]

Keyboardist Larry Nelson, and drummer Joe Dougherty too. Latest addition, Mark Dawson (bass and vocals) was the last to join, after Rob Grill died, but even HE'S been in the band longer than Rob Grill ever was. So yes, they're a tribute band, but they've been together longer than the "real" Grass Roots ever were.

[@MrGoldenthroat]

These guys are absolutely pitiful - Wish we still had the only true Grassroots lineup Rob, Warren, Rick, and Creed!! All of the others are sorry imitations!!!

[@grapefruitjuice9473]

Creed is still making great music

[@MrGoldenthroat]

@@ventues9751 Nobody playing them is better!

[@remygarrison1451]

And Dennis

[@nillyramgnik7076]

These guys should be billed as a cover band.

[@billschindler1381]

Unfortunately Drummer Rick Coonce is not with us. Joel Larsen is the original drummer for the first hit and came back toward for the last hit " Glory Bound". It's sad seeing imposters..

[@eldoradony]

The music is good but the performers aren't the same. I saw the original Grass Roots several times also at Westbury. What happened to the horns? Sometimes I think its better to play my music library than be disappointed by attending a show like this.

[@apophispnw5717]

Where’s Creed?

[@bobbydale1938]

What great songs !!

[@Atwater20]

Definitely not the Grass Roots, just a shadow of the originals. The sound isn't even close to the originals, so you can't really call them a tribute band either, at least not a good one.

[@whiteandright1958]

Seeing the "Grass Roots" without Rob Grill is like seeing The Beach Boys without Brian Wilson.... like seeing Elton without John.

[@bettyschneider5268]

Lol 😂 😎🎸😎🎸😎🥁😎🎙🎻

[@adriennerobinson1180]

I hear You

[@robincarlysle-vo7pi]

it's like seeing Yes without Jon Anderson. Kind of hollow in the end..

[@OFLHLGZ28]

What great, great songs. Not the same people, but sounds almost as good as 1970

[@CristyDeLeon-gr3ro]

Maybe they are not the grassroots but there good God bless us all 💕🙏

[@paloma1238]

Awesome

[@karyluhernandez5966]

Excelente q sigan tocando

[@benicamenica1557]

Very rarely will another or group sound as good as the original...

[@jennyq4979]

None of them are really The Grass Roots tho :(

[@trickgirl]

Well, they may not be original members, but they played with Rob Grill and were in The Grass Roots with Rob :)

[@knightrdrx]

but they all have grey hair..so that counts

[@hunggrapes5532]

Many bands over the years has had change in lineups, go check your favorite band and see, still good to hear the grassroots sound, even tho Rob is gone !

[@abelincoln3287]

No Rob Grill, no Warren Entner, No Creed Bratton, no Dennis Provisor, no Rick Coonce.... No point

[@rockvideophotographer6054]

Peter O I’m not sure about that. Case in point the duo from the 90’s C + C Music Factory. David Cole died and Robert Clivilles is very vocal about the guy going around saying he’s C + C isn’t. He just won the right to use the name in court.

[@josephmckinney7061]

I literally love it!

[@spinnato]

Without Rob, this is simply a cover band.

[@michaelpatrick7888]

Great ur song was an aerobics dance remix 80s 90s I used to teach to and dance slot ..one of my favorite remakes but no one can outdo ur song..🎉😢😮😅

[@TheTerrypcurtin]

Sadly no one from the original band plays live. Hasnt been in a long time.

[@GreenLightMe]

Creed Bratton is on tour now

[@js-ek3mc]

Just curious to know how many people in the audience really believed that these are the original Grass Roots and not just 4 guys calling themselves the Grass Roots-legally or not-they went home so happy they saw the "Grass Roots" and told all their friends about it-sad but kids you were duped...

[@adriennerobinson1180]

EXACTLY 💯

[@MrChumpus]

Nobody was duped. Nobody is that stupid and believes that 80 year original members are still alive and performing

[@barroncrist5779]

This is not The Grass Roots I remember from 1967-73. This is like a Grass Roots tribute band. Is there even one original member left. Rob Grill may be the only one left.

[@lurker_to_poster257]

Rob Grill died in 2011.

[@thaismatsumoto]

Nope..Not any of them.Rob died as the result of a fall in 2011.

[@magneto7930]

I guess they're allowed to call themselves The Grass Roots even though nobody from the Grass Roots is in this band.

[@SteveBobinskiSJB]

Where's CREED ???!!!!

[@andrews527]

Good guitar.

[@johnfarrell2231]

A very good cover band

[@js-ek3mc]

People should do some research before going to a concert like this to learn about these oldie groups-sad if some people think they were seeing "the"Grass Roots-they are in name only-they should demand a refund but if they liked the music and are happy, bless them but they will go to their graves thinking they saw one of the best bands of the 70's...sad

[@michaelmaiullari3782]

Lucky for them they had the horn section there or would have been a total bust

[@Lawiah0]

"By 2012, the group featured no original band members..."

[@TuMalditaMadre]

I don't see William Charles Schneider there.

[@lawrencefeldman7744]

No Rob Grill Rip No Creed

[@abelincoln3287]

No Warren Entner

[@DC-rb5yu]

Rockin

[@KellyBrown-lv8ep]

This is a cover band. There are no original members. Why are they calling themselves the grass roots? Shameful.

[@bobboberson2024]

Who are these guys??

[@heidiscott4363]

Time won t change U🌏

[@duffbaker9554]

No offense of course, but The Grass Roots Tribute Band would be a more accurate especially as Warren, Dennis, Creed and Joel Larson, for example, are still alive as well. But that's just me for you.

[@TonysMusic1974]

No Rob Grill = No Grass Roots. I don't care if Rob Gave this dude "his blessing"

[@workingmanGW]

I would like to see the people playing the horns. That made this group big to me because I played trumpet as a kid. Just saying, why hide these guys. Chicago has them right out in the open. Slide trombones, and trumpets. The sound is strongly emanating from the horn section. Shows the size of the band, more people. A great band.

[@rockvideophotographer6054]

There were no horns. They were simulated from the keyboard.

[@workingmanGW]

Omg I feel dumb. Well, no wonder now they were perfect in all notes they hit.

[@417DrumBob]

They're The Fake Roots. Dusty, the lead guitar player, did play with Rob Grill for years. That's true. The Iron Butterfly is the same way; no original members at all. They lease the name from Doug Ingle. You really have to question the ethics.

[@datdude5572]

You “it’s a cover band” folks need to understand that the current lineup keeps the music going. They weren’t there in the 60s, but they each replaced an original member over time. It’s still The Grass Roots.

[@Lovegun-w4s]

No it's not 💯💯💯🫤🫤

[@DPRyan-vd5pp]

Where’s Creed Bratton? The guy from the show THE OFFICE was in the Grass Roots

[@Druss726]

Hasn’t toured with them since 1970

[@nillyramgnik7076]

None of these guys played with the actual Grassroots

[@JohnS-um3lm]

Who are these guys< did they just buy the name?

[@rubenfernandez516]

Many people don’t know or don’t care that so many of these bands are now just “tribute” bands that one way or another ended up with the name. Many have no original members or, or maybe one or two…and usually those “original” members were not the ones who were the original vocalists or creative contributors. (They we’re the supporting musicians.) For me it’s a sham. I would much rather go and see good local bands.

[@DeanUSAMale]

The Grass Roots were always an ensemble band... lots of 1960's bands were... (The Association, etc...) Rob Grill has been passed away since 2011... the music business is that... a business... I have zero issue with the band going on... anyone who thinks that 80 year old men would still all be in the band - (many past members are dead or just too old to tour...) and they caught "Conned" by buying a ticket... give me a break... stay home... and listen to the records... I'll go and have a great time!

[@GreenLightMe]

Creed Bratton the founding member still tours but why isn’t he associated with Grass Roots ??

[@cathymoore8775]

Read @alan grille no original members. They even admitted it themselves !

[@sandlot40]

Not one original member? Almost seems criminal

[@edmiller7713]

It should be criminal.

[@heywilbur]

This is a bar band using the name.... Rob "was" the Grass Roots IMHO...

[@tcanders123]

No 'real' members here, but keep in mind, there were several different incarnations of the Grass Roots, with Grill et al only coming in later after the first hits. The 'band' never wrote any of their hits, didn't play on them (they were done by The Wrecking Crew), and just sang on the latter hits. Great songs, but total product, more so even than The Monkees.