Herman's Hermits Come Out of Hiding at Burns Park

History nearly repeated itself this week as the Town of Oyster Bay's Music Under the Stars program's final performance of the season, Herman's Hermits starring Peter Noone, was almost rained out for the second time.

However, the skies cleared enough after heavy afternoon showers to allow the British-born Noone to take to the stage at John J. Burns park after his previous July 25 show was cancelled just a mere 20 minutes shy of show time.

Noone and the Hermits exploded onto the American music scene back in the 1960's with classic hits such as "I'm Into Something Good," "I'm Henry VIII," and "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat." Herman's Hermits has sold over 80 million records with over 14 hit singles.

Alas, attendance of the evening's show at Burns park was obviously hampered by the lingering threat of rain, as this was possibly the smallest audience of any Music Under the Stars show yet. The inclement weather even affected the visual punch of the Hermits' concert, as the usual elaborate colored lighting rigs couldn't be set up. Even the speakers were wrapped in blue plastic tarps.

However, none of this seemed to matter, as the Herman's Hermits concert was still arguably the most fun Music Under the Stars any audience appears to have had this year. Noone, now 63, has a natural, youthful charisma that easily allowed him to capture the crowd and before you knew it, they were singing and waving their arms along with every number.

Often taking breaks to chat up the audience, Noone at one point poked fun at the low turnout as he congratulated those who braved the weather that evening.

"When they told us that we were going to come here to Massapequa, at long last, and play to 12,000 people sitting on damp grass, we didn't believe them," he said. "But it's turned into a beautiful evening...congratulations to everyone who wasn't a wimp!"

In addition to the Hermits' impressive catalog, Noone also belted out numerous cover songs, including tunes by Johnny Cash, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, and Tom Jones. Noone also led the audience through a fun little song he claimed to have written about Massapequa.

"It's a very short song because I've only been here for an hour," he joked.

Lee Clemmons of Farmingdale felt a flash of panic earlier in the day when the rain started.

"I was so upset when they cancelled the last show," she said. "Was like, oh no, not again! I love Peter, and I knew if he got rained out again, that this was it. I was so relieved when it cleared up, because this concert has been fantastic."

Harold Milbank of Massapequa has been a fan of Noone's since he was a wee lad of 10.

"My favorite band growing up," he said. "But I never saw him live until tonight. It's pretty awesome to finally get to do it!"