Wed. Aug. 8

It's the 40th anniversary of the Summer of Love and, wouldn't you know it, bands of that era (roughly) are out on the road packaged together under the banner "Hippiefest." If that doesn't bring a groan ... Then again, maybe you have fond memories of the era and want them rekindled or, perhaps, you were too young for it first time around and are curious. Curious as to what 22-year-olds look and sound like now, perhaps? Look, we're not in the least age-ist here, but there's something a little hokey about promoters cranking up the word "groovy" and putting the Zombies, Mountain (without Felix Pappalardi, who was shot and killed by his wife, but with Leslie West, in photo) Mitch Ryder, Badfinger (long without singer Pete Hamm, who hanged himself) and Country Joe MacDonald on one bill playing the South Shore Music Circus Aug. 8. (There are other bands on this nationally touring package: We wish we were getting The Turtles/Flo & Eddie, especially, but what're you gonna do? as Tony Soprano kept on saying.) The thing that sticks in the craw, at least for one who did experience some of this first time around, is the idea that it's shtick and nostalgia now. There's a part of me that would rather live with a memory or a vinyl record than see an old band that no longer makes new music, churning out long ago hits. And yet, sometimes, those hits ding the pleasure gong just right. So, for just $38.25-$52.25  you can experience whatever this fractured experience of hippiedom turns out to be. Starts at 8.

 135 Cohier St., Cohasset, 617-931-2787 www.ticketmaster.com