NORTH TONAWANDA — Organizers of the Gateway Harbor Concert Series in North Tonawanda welcomed perhaps the biggest name on their schedule Saturday night. But, as has become all too common a refrain this summer, Mother Nature didn’t cooperate.

Hitmakers from the 1960s the Lovin’ Spoonful made another of its frequent stops in Western New York and delivered the goods to a smallish but appreciative audience assembled at a picturesque park along the Erie Canal. This band is one of few on the so-called “oldies circuit” who can make a credible claim to having some authenticity.

Original members Steve Boone and Joe Butler were joined by Jerry Yester and Phil Smith on guitar, Mike Arturi on drums. Noticeably lacking, of course, were founders Zal Yanovsky and principal songwriter John Sebastian, who created so much of the group’s pure pop bliss, which for a brief time (1965-67) competed with the Beatles for dominance of American airwaves.

It is easy to lament the absence of the group’s most noticeable figure. But if you don’t let it become the 800-pound gorilla in the room, suddenly it’s a lot more fun to listen to the Doors without Jim Morrison, CCR without John Fogerty or any number of other bands who’ve seen drastic lineup changes.

And there’s no denying the sweet frolic “You Didn’t Have To Be So Nice” — which the band opened its set with — the many pop-rock tributes to jug band music (such as the plainly named “Jug Band Music”) and other instantly recognizable classics. As my co-worker danced in the rain, he fondly recalled listening to the Lovin’ Spoonful on AM radio during the late 1960s. I remember riding in my mom’s 1982 Chevy Impala with the Lovin’ Spoonful on the now-defunct Oldies 104 — a period that spans 20 years but proves how timeless the music is.

On National Record Store Day a few months ago this reviewer found a Lovin’ Spoonful greatest hits album on vinyl for the low, low price of $3 and felt obliged to buy it. Many of that album’s hits played Saturday night, including “Nashville Cats,” “Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind?” and “Daydream,” which had a nice whistle-along, and conjured up images of the easygoing Greenwich Village folk scene that birthed its sound.

Adding the Lovin’ Spoonful name to its schedule this summer should lend respect to the series, which is under its first year of leadership by Gateway Harbor Inc.

Organizers had six weeks to hire a promoter, find money, sponsors, avenue and book the bands, according to Linda Foels, president of Gateway Harbor Inc., who also doubles as the city’s director of parks and recreation. They expect to break even this year. Foels admits this year has been a learning experience every week and is encouraging feedback and comments from concertgoers.

Still, Foels remains optimistic about next year’s prospects.

“Whatever success we’ve had this year, we’ll double it next year,” she said.

The series continues Aug. 22 with Pat Travers and wraps up Aug. 29 with Poco.

Concert Review

The Lovin’ Spoonful

Saturday night at Gateway Harbor Park.