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Wilson Phillips Fans 'Hold On' For Performance at Loehmann's

By Serena Solomon | April 6, 2012 10:13am

CHELSEA — "Hold on" for one more comeback.

Hundreds of fans of 1990s group Wilson Phillips packed Loehmann's Thursday night to see the trio, which is enjoying a resurgance after appearances in "Bridesmaids" and on their own reality show,  belt out their two-decades-old hits including, of course, "Hold On."

"Performing these songs is super, super sentimental to us," Chynna Phillips said to a room full of the band's fans. "It was such a labor of love."

Her father and mother, John and Michelle Phillips, were part of 1960s vocal group The Mamas & and the Papas. Her bandmates, sisters Wendy and Carnie Wilson, are daughters of Brian Wilson from the Beach Boys.

The women chatted to the crowd like old friends, gushing about their children and husbands and laughing together when a minor harmony mishap occurred. 

The song list of "California Dreaming," "Dedicated," "In My Room," "Hold On" and "Release Me" took many fans back.

"I was coming out of depression and I was coming out of the closet,” said 40-year-old Kew Gardens resident Manny Zumba. His favorite Wilson Phillips tune was "Release Me."

"That song stuck with me. It was an anthem in a way," he said.

Wheelchair-bound Lisa Degenhardt was there to hear "Hold On," Wilson Phillips' first No. 1 hit.

"When I hear that song it helps me ‘Hold On’ each day because that is how I have to live my life," said Degenhardt, who has suffered from chronic pain syndrome for more than 20 years.

Like many fans there, Degenhardt was surprised to see Wilson Phillips perform at the end of "Bridesmaids," written by and starring funny girls Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo.

The vocal group also has a reality TV show "Still Holding On" debuts Sunday on the TV Guide Network.

Bronx resident Serena Spallone had a CD signed by the trio.

"I’m about to lose it... Oh my god," she said after shaking hands with all three women.  For Spallone it was "Release Me" that took her back to fifth grade on the school bus.

"We would take the CD out and sing it every day," she said.