A gem of a song by Sweet, the fondly-remembered glitter-rock band that had a string of hits in the 1970s, insists that "everybody wants a piece of the action," and on Friday, June 13th, everybody in the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills got lucky with a good, sweet lick of action from that band. In fact, following an introduction by Brian Phelps from the KLOS "Mark and Brian" morning radio show, "Action" was the song that led off the savory set presented by the current incarnation of Sweet, and a tasty tray of treats was then served up for the all-ages audience.
Younger rock fans might not know it, but before "glam" and "hair-metal" came along in the Eighties, "glitter" was a hugely popular sub-set of rock music in the 1970s, and Sweet was a prime purveyor of the genre. Along with "bitchen" bands such as T-Rex, Slade, and Mott the Hoople, not to mention the ever-innovative and always "far-out" David Bowie, Sweet laid down crunchy music and feel-good anthems that were accompanied by flashy fashion imagery, characterized in part by the liberal use of glitter for decorating clothing, faces, instruments, and stage sets. Bass player Steve Priest was a founding member of the band, which was first known as "Sweetshop" and later as "The Sweet," and Priest was instrumental
in writing and singing on the band's many hits, along with the band's original vocalist, the late Brian Connolly. In the past couple of years, Priest has gathered together a fresh team of band mates, including veteran guitarist Stuart Smith (known lately for his work with Heaven and Earth), multi-instrumentalist Richie Onori on drums, keyboardist Stevie Stewart, and a standout singer named Joe Retta, who has fronted a successful tribute band known as Queen Nation. Although he's a Yankee originally from New York, Retta nailed the wailing vocals and tongue-in-cheek British inflections first laid down by Connolly, with Priest lending ample back-up vocal support.
Keeping the action going after the lead-off song, the band hammered out the hits without letting up, rocking from "Hell Raiser" to "Block Buster" to the familiar orchestral intro and hearty harmonies of "Love Is Like Oxygen." Then, wham-bam, it was time to jam on "Wig-Wam Bam," which provided lots of sing-along fun for the many audience members who remembered the words. Looking toned and charismatic in his black tank-top and amber jewelry, Joe picked up a guitar for a couple of way-back numbers, including a song he said was like a part of the Sixties, the Priest-penned "California Nights." A tune called "Teenage Rampage" reminded lots of folks in the crowd of their wayward youthful days, and 
the energy stayed strong on the full floor, when band and fans affirmed that "Little Willy" wouldn't go home! Then, from frisky kitties to sleek, sexy cougars, the foxy ladies in the house happily hopped and bopped along to another Sweet smash, "Fox On the Run," during which Stuart displayed his expert flair on the frets. And finally came the words so many had waited for, when Joe asked, "Are you ready, Steve?" -- Oh yes, Steve was ready, and the rest of the boys in the band, and the whole Canyon Club as well, for the furious, familiar fun of "Ballroom Blitz." Over the roar that followed that nimble number, Joe had to demand, "Is that all you've got?" -- and of course, there was a little more in store for everyone, as Sweet encored with "Set Me Free" and the gender-bending classic, "AC-DC," which was a big glitter hit long before the Aussie band of the same name achieved their own fame. While Sweet then sauntered triumphantly offstage, the house speakers resounded with Monty Python's "Sunny Side of Life," the twistedly-charming ditty that had also been played before the band took the stage -- a fitting theme for a band that still sounds Sweet after all these years.
Acclaimed blues guitarist Anthony Gomes and his New Soul Cowboys preceded Sweet, warming up the crowd with a well-received set of electric boogie.
