The Rochester Fringe Festival painted the town with vibrant performances, yet amidst the artistic whirlwind, a unique event offered a different kind of enchantment. On Friday the 13th, under the glow of a ¾ moon, Abilene Bar and Lounge’s outdoor deck became the stage for Singing Serling, a musical homage to the legendary Rod Serling. Watkins and the Rapiers, a seven-piece band, led the audience through a tuneful twilight zone, celebrating the man who masterminded some of television’s most iconic and thought-provoking narratives.
Rod Serling, the visionary behind The Twilight Zone, is honored in a musical tribute event.
Rod Serling, a Syracuse native who spent his formative years in Binghamton, would have turned 100 years old soon. His life, however, was cut short when he passed away at the age of 50 in 1974 at Rochester’s Strong Memorial Hospital following open-heart surgery. He rests in Lake View Cemetery in Interlaken, Seneca County. His gravestone, a simple marker, poignantly notes his service in World War II in the Pacific, a conflict that deeply influenced his perspectives and storytelling. Interestingly, it makes no mention of The Twilight Zone, the work that cemented his place in popular culture. Serling’s wartime experiences fueled his anti-war sentiments, a recurring theme woven into the fabric of his extensive writing.
Watkins and the Rapiers, in a gesture of respect for Serling’s centennial, took the stage dressed in black jackets, ties, and white shirts – a somber yet stylish nod to the occasion. Despite the initial formality, the band’s energy was infectious, and at least one jacket was quickly shed as the music took hold.
While Watkins and the Rapiers primarily focus on their original, quirky compositions, The Twilight Zone tribute has become a beloved side project. The Twilight Show, as it’s also known, has graced stages, including the Rochester Fringe Festival in previous years, and is now immortalized as a CD.
The evening’s performance was structured with sets of Watkins’ original music bookending the Twilight Zone segment. Their signature songs like “I’m Taking a Vacation From God” and “Cheap Motel,” along with a lively cover of “Wooly Bully,” showcased their versatility. However, the heart of the night belonged to The Twilight Zone set. The opening notes, instantly recognizable – a twangy guitar riff coupled with the urgent blare of brass – transported the audience directly into Serling’s eerie universe. It was the sound of a train, fast approaching, promising a journey into the unknown.
For those wanting deeper context, a QR code offered introductions to each song. Yet, for many in attendance, these prompts were unnecessary. The episodes referenced are deeply ingrained in the collective memory of Twilight Zone enthusiasts. This reviewer included. Watkins’ approach varied; sometimes they directly retold the narrative of an episode, and other times they offered more subtle, musical interpretations. A whimsical kazoo occasionally joined the instrumental mix, adding to the band’s unique sound.
The performance included a musical rendition of “To Serve Man,” a quintessential Twilight Zone episode. The song captured the chilling narrative of towering alien beings, the Kanamits (famously played by Richard Kiel), who arrive on Earth with an offer of interstellar travel for humans. As a gesture of goodwill, they leave behind a book, presumed to be filled with universal wisdom. But in classic Serling fashion, the twist is revealed: “It’s a cook book!” a character cries out, exposing the Kanamits’ sinister, culinary intentions. The phrase “to serve man” takes on a horrifyingly literal meaning in the twilight zone of human-alien relations.
Another episode brought to life through music was “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet.” This song highlighted the early career appearances of actors who would later become stars, such as William Shatner. The lyrics echoed the episode’s paranoia: “Is he real?” Watkins sang, “Is he there?” capturing Shatner’s character’s desperate question as he alone witnesses a gremlin dismantling the airplane wing mid-flight. This role came well before Shatner’s iconic command of the starship Enterprise, yet even then, he was already facing otherworldly terrors at high altitudes.
The setlist resonated with Twilight Zone aficionados, with nods to other memorable episodes. The chilling reminder of “Perchance to Dream” – and its stark warning: “Don’t fall asleep, or you might not wake up” – lingered in the night air, a fittingly unsettling conclusion to a celebration of the master of suspense, Rod Serling, and his enduring creation, The Twilight Zone.
