But it is the conclusion of the concert (which the group wisely left unchanged) that is the culmination of the hard core rock-and-roll fan's love for Sha Na Na. Starting slowly with "Duke of Earl," the band increases the tempo and intensity of its performance with each succeeding song gently arousing the audience. With a passionate frenzy the group rocks through "Tossin' and Turnin," "Rama Lama Ding Dong," and the show-ending "At the Hop" to bring the audience to a breathless peak of excitement.

Again masterfully increasing tempo with first-encore "Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay," Sha swings into "Hound Dog" to boost both the audience and the band to a trembling plateau of anticipation for the show's climax. And then, with a final burst of energy, a sweating and breathless Sha erupts into "Great Balls of Fire" for an intense and frenzied culmination of the crescendo.

And as the audience and the band, both drained from the heated final set, sink back in the sweet afterglow, Sha Na Na tenderly closes out the concert with "Lovers Never Say Goodbye."

For someone like myself, the end of Sha Na Na's revitalized show is a beautiful finale to an evening's love for rock-and-roll. And sated from a superb ending to an impressive performance, and content in the knowledge that I've been given something that would endure, I can happily settle back, nodding in agreement, as Bowzer croons the final measures of the evening: Though we must part

There's no reason to cry

Just say "So long,"

Because lovers never say goodbye.