The highlight of The Big Gig thus far has been Felix Cavaliere’s show at the Briggs & Stratton Big Backyard.

Felix was a founding member of the Young Rascals, one of the coolest American bands of the 60’s. I’ve loved the Rascals since I was a young rascal, so this was a huge treat for me.

Felix wasted no time delivering a string of Rascals hits, opening with “Lonely Too Long,” Wilson Pickett’s “Midnight Hour” and “It’s a Beautiful Morning.”

At 67, Felix’s voice still sounds phenomenal! Listening to the Rascals’ Time Peace album on the drive home, we were amazed at how his voice sounds practically the same as when these incredible songs were recorded more than forty years ago.

It was 75 minutes of classic Rascals, along with a dose of medleys that included “Do You Wanna Dance,” “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” “Paint it Black” and “Black Magic Woman.”

I was absolutely bursting with joy as Felix delivered wonderful versions of “Love is a Beautiful Thing,” “Groovin’” (with some Temptations thrown in), “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore” and “Mustang Sally.”

The set drew to a close with a gorgeous “How Can I Be Sure,” my daughter Alex’s favorite Rascals tune, and “People Got to Be Free.” The finale was a romp through “Good Lovin’,” with a wild mid-song medley of “La Bamba,” Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” Jimi’s “Purple Haze” and Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” leading back into a “Good Lovin’” sing-a-long.

I’ve seen the Grateful Dead do “Good Lovin’” a whole bunch of times, and to see Felix do it on this beautiful afternoon was truly special.

I gotta say this was one of the grooviest sets I’ve witnessed in all my years at Summerfest.