Sonny and the Sunsets are lovable in spite of themselves. Let me explain.
The group took the stage at DC9 on Saturday right at 11 (points for punctuality!) to a small but respectable crowd who was obviously well-versed in the band’s repertoire. The band began playing with little to-do, limited their banter, and played a respectable 45 minutes of hits that included some of the more popular tracks such as “Too Young.” After 45 minutes of solid music and a bit of wit, the group called it a night. They were done. It was 11:45, time for a late dinner, a kiss good night to the drowsy family, and a solid 8 hours of sleep before the duties of Sunday morning (grocery shopping, Sunday School, etc) called.
But the crowd, well, they wanted a little more. “Planet of Women!” they called. “She Plays Yo Yo With My Mind” others pleaded. Almost begrudgingly, the group retook the stage and proceeded to play… nothing anyone requested. A pleasant encore to be sure, and everyone left smiling and happy, but a head-shaker nonetheless.
Overall, I’d definitely recommend seeing this band. The audience they draw is extremely good-natured, their sound is soothing, and their attitude is, well, reasonable. It’s a band that achieves its superlative in anchoring itself in moderation and compromise. Who doesn’t need more of that?