Eric Burdon and the Animals 7/15/16 Hamden Town Center

The summer outdoor concert series at Hamden Town Center often has a gem of a show at their bandshell near the middle school. Blues/soul/psychedelic legend Burdon brought a decidedly young crew of Animals to the stage on this hot evening. You don't realize the hits until you find yourself singing along with each tune. Set list included: Spill the Wine, Monterrey, Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood, and of course The House of the Rising Sun. Excellent covers of Leadbelly's In The Pines, Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick by Ian Dury and the Blockheads, and a nice Bowie tribute of Space Oddity into Sky Pilot. Did not recognize a hilarious tune about the death of Bo Diddley. Closed the show with a triple encore of It's My Life, We Gotta Get Out of this Place, and the Sam and Dave classic Hold On , I'm Comin. Burdon has always had a woozy vocal delivery that slurs him into legendary status, it has aged like fine, albeit spilled wine.