You probably have to be "of a certain age" to know who John Davidson is. Back in the 1970s and 1980s, he seemed to be on our television screens all the time. He appeared or hosted game shows, variety shows and talk shows. His extensive performance credits include stints in Broadway musicals, in movies and on Las Vegas stages. He has recorded and has sung on at least a dozen albums. Now at 78(!), he bills himself as a troubadour. He plays small venues to enthusiastic audiences, showing up with just his acoustic guitar, his resonant and powerful voice, his fun-loving personality and his signature dimpled smile. (Oh, that smile!) Yes, although John Davidson is older now and sports a thick mane of white, he is still recognizable as that all-American boy from the past that we used to see on TV. And he is also still one hell of a performer.

The Bull Run is an off-the-beaten-track restaurant and concert venue located in north-central Massachusetts. The building is based around a brick tavern that dates to colonial time. And it has established itself as a wonderful, intimate setting to eat good food and to hear great music. Several rooms of varying sizes are used for performances. This one seated fewer than 100. And of course, as far as age went, the crowd was definitely 50-plus. Mostly 60-plus, actually.

At the appointed hour, John strolled in, wearing and playing his guitar and singing about how happy he was to be here. What followed were 90 minutes of music, reminiscences, comedy and just plain fun. Most of the songs and ditties were his own originals, with stories about family, relationships, situations and, well, life. One was a tribute to his love and admiration for political commentator Rachel Maddow. He makes no excuses for becoming ever more liberal as he grows older.

And naturally, growing older was a recurring theme. "I'm older now than I've ever been in my entire life!" he cried. And who couldn't relate to this observation: "The bathroom is the only place I can walk into and still remember why I went there."

The high point of the night was a musical rant-boast called "I'm in My Seventies!" Who knew John Davidson could be such a comedian? He's obviously one of those people who can find the funny in just about any situation. I can't remember when I laughed this hard, this often. And I sure wasn't the only one laughing.

John first picked up a guitar in high school, so he has decades of playing experience. He can still maneuver his fingers into some rather complex chords. And at times, he sang harmonies with himself through the magic of electronics. If he occasionally forgot a chord or a verse, he at least knew that he was in front of an understanding audience. We cheered him on, no matter what. And he always recovered successfully.

Over the course of the evening, our host slipped in a few unexpected covers from other artists and ones that dated from way-back-when. These included "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" by England Dan and John Ford Coley (1976), "Quiet Room" by Chad Mitchell (1965) and "Until It's Time for Me to Go" by Buffy Sainte-Marie (1965). He also sang a tribute to New Hampshire, with a powerful "Live Free or Die!" refrain, written by fellow New Hampshire resident Ernest Thompson, better known as the playwright who penned On Golden Pond. Then, as a way of ending and encoring, John led us all in a spirited chorus of "This Land is Your Land." He was given a standing ovation.

The bottom line is that John Davidson is a downright terrific entertainer. Still. Period. He obviously loves to perform and he aims to personally engage his audience. So why shouldn't he be doing this? Since he now lives in New Hampshire, he currently makes appearances in small venues in New England and the Northeast. Catching his act is well worth more than every penny of his low-cost ticket. I guarantee that you will laugh and will enjoy spending the evening with someone you used to know ... and someone you probably haven't thought about in a long, long time. It was good to catch up.

[ visit John Davidson's website ]