Genesis guitarist Steve Hackett plays Westbury tonight.

I believe that the last time I saw Mr. Hackett in concert he was in a little band called GTR with Yes and Asia guitarist Steve Howe.

Tickets for tonight’s show are still on sale.

When the Heart Rules the Mind

Rock on

GQ

The Red Hot Chili Peppers new album “The Getaway” is outstanding and they play the first of three sold out shows at Madidon Square Garden tonight.

The last time I saw the band was at the Nassau Coliseum during a snowstorm.

It was a good thing they brought their socks that night as it was a pretty cold.

One Hot Minute

Rock on

GQ

During freshman year at Holy Cross High School in Bayside, Queens I discovered Jrthro Tull and they quickly became my favorite band. While my Aunt Pat gave me my first album as a gift, “Meet the Beatles” when it was first released, and my father bought me the Moody Blues “Every Good Boy Deserves Favour” after that, the first rock album that I purchased on my own was Jethro Tull’s “Warchlld”. I was pretty miserable at the all boy school and the wild haired rock and roll flautist with his eclectic band became an instant diversion from teenage angst.

I had been anticipating seeing Jethro Tull in concert for seemingly forever but on the day of the first Madison Square Garden show the word was out that Ian Anderson was ill and would be playing a shortened set. 

As I recall, this was supposed to be a “greatest hits” tour supporting one of Jethto Tull’s compilation albums.

James Taylor’s younger brother Luvingston was added on as an opening act which turned out to be a big mistake.

Livingston Taylor took the stage alone with his acoustic guitar and the Madison Square Garden Tull fans were none to pleased.

As Mr. Taylor began to strum his guitar and play, an angry crowd began to pelt him with anything they could find. I told this story to an acquaintance years later and it turned out that he had been a pretzel vendor at the Garden; Mike told me that this was the best night he ever worked at MSG as people were buying pretzels just to throw at Livingston Taylor. 

Livingston Taylor tried to continue playing while dodging and ducking the increasing bombardment but it was too much to ask and he quickly gave up and fled the stage.

We watched from midway up to the left of the stage and when Taylor ran off of the stage we were excited that this might mean Jethro Tull would come on earlier and play a longer set.

Unfortunately all the commotion was for naught as Livingston Taylor’s quick exit just meant a longer intermission and Tull apparently played as planned.

Nothing is Easy

Rock on

GQ

Ian Hunter and the Rant Band played the second of two rather impromptu shows this past Tuesday at City Winery New York City as a prelude to a tour that will begin on Mr. Hunter’s 78th birthday.

Ian Hunter’s voice is raspier, and he reaches into his pocket for throat lozenges more frequently these days, but the songs still pass the test of time and the band rocks with old school swagger and bravado.

With no opening act, the show began with a spoken word and video montage tribute to former Mott the Hoople bassist Peter Overend Watts who passed away from throat cancer this January. 

Ian and the band ran through an extended set with old classics like “Cleveland Rocks” and newer material from “Fingers Crossed” in preparation for the upcoming June dates. 

Andy York, Tommy Mandel, Andy Burton, and Tony Shanahan joined the band for the  David Bowie penned all-time Mott the Hoople classic “All the Young Dudes” and the traditional show ender “Goodnight Irene”.

My son asked me why it is I like Ian Hunter so much and my wife will ask why I see the band at every opportunity and my answer is that time is fleeting and the band still rocks. 

The Original Mixed Up Kid

Rock on

GQ

An all-star group of musicians assembled by Don Was recreated The Band’s iconic Last Waltz concert this past Friday at what used to be the Westbury Music Fair.

The great Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers Band, Gov’t Mule, and numerous side projects, along with Michael McDonald, formerly of the Doobie Brothers, Jamey Johnson, best known by me for his Farm Aid appearances, two Neville Brothers and the phenomenal keyboardist John Medeski played for three hours. plus celebrating the music of The Band and their special guests that evening forty years ago which was documented by Martin Scorsece.

The rotating circular NYCB at Westbury Theater stage was jam packed with equipment and musicians that included drums and a horn section playing Allen Toussaint’s original arrangements for The Band.

Highlights this evening included Jamey Johnson bringing down the house with “Georgia on my Mind”, Warren Haynes soulful take on Van Morrison’s “Caravan” and Michael McDonsld’s unique vocals on several Band numbers and Neil Young’s “Helpless”.

Bob Margolin, who played with Muddy Waters at the original Last Waltz concert, stormed the Westbury stage with blues bravado and played “Mannish Boy” with the 40 band and remained for a few numbers raising the already high energy level of the sold out crowd to greater heights.

Original Band keyboardist Garth Hudson, who had played with this band the night before at the beautiful Palace Theater in Albany, skipped the Westbury date and was to catch up with the group the next night in Maryland which was the last show of the tour.

It was a great night of music and one of the best shows I have ever seen at the Westbury venue.

Read the Robbie Robertson autobiography.

Up on Cripple Creek

Rock on

GQ