On a Saturday night in March, 1984, we went to see the Tom Stoppard play “The Real Thing” at the Plymouth Theatre on Broadway.

Ain’t Nothing Like the Real Thing, Baby

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GQ

In my personal “archive” I had written down the theatre and date but not what the show was that I attended. At first I thought it might have been the Lou Reed concert that I had seen at the Saint James Theatre but it was not. It turned out to be the musical “My One and Only” choreographed by Tommy Tune. Apparently in 1983 and 1984 there were great off season deals and “two-gets” for Broadway theatre because I cannot think of any other reasons that I might have attended some of these productions. I do like to be entertained, so that explains some of it. I have taken my kids to Muppets and Barney live shows and to an N’Sync concert with Pink opening that I am not ashamed to say was a really entertaining concert. My One and Only did not leave me with any lasting memory but we were there.

Satellite of Love

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GQ

The first time that I saw the musical “Cats” on Broadway I thought it was a pretty cool spectacle, even with the show’s star Betty Buckley out on this night and with her understudy performing the lead role in her place. Apparently I like the show enough that we went back to see it again at some point but, as with most Broadway musicals, we were not as enthralled the second time around.

Faster Pussycat

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GQ

Neil Young played a benefit concert with the Shocking Pinks at the Beacon Theatre on Saturday, October 1, 1983. I have no recollection of what the benefit was for, but I do recall seeing the Shocking Pinks on the Beacon Theatre stage. Neil Young also played a number of solo acoustic dates at the Beacon Theatre where he played the “Harvest Moon” album prior to its release. As I recall, the “Harvest Moon” concerts received mixed reviews while the album was universally acclaimed after it was released. Today I found out that Neil Young was pulling out of Farm Aid 2021 in Hartford, Connecticut due to Covid concerns. This is obviously very disappointing and makes you wonder when we might see Neil Young on tour again. Catch your favorite musicians in concert while you can; as we have learned, the future is not guaranteed.

Everybody’s Rockin’

GQ

I like to think of myself as a well rounded person so attending a Broadway show in Mew York City, which is arguably the cultural center of the world, would not be a stretch. I am more a fan of dramatic plays but I am not opposed to seeing the occasional Broadway musical (although it seem a bit touristy at times).

Crime in the City

Dirty Boulevard

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GQ

One of the first concerts that I have ever attended was Led Zeppelin at Madison Square Garden. To this day, Robert Plant is a true artist and someone I will go to see every opportunity. A couple of years ago, my wife and I saw him perform at the Arroyo Seco Weekend festival in Pasadena, California and, around the same time, I saw him again at Forest Hills Stadium. Mr. Plant was supposed to be at New York City’s Town Hall before the pandemic hit but the show was ultimately canceled. Robert Plant has a new album with Allison Krauss due to be released shortly with a tour to follow.

Raise the Roof

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GQ

My Saint John’s University law school experience ended at the beginning of 1983 after one semester; I passed all my first semester courses but I decided to take a “leave of absence” with no back up plan in place so so I ended up working in retail banking for a couple of years until civil service saved me and I became a police officer n Rockville Centre, New York. Attending any concert at the Brendan Byrne Arena at the Meadowlands in New Jersey was always a bit of an ordeal, and it was not one of my favorite venues on any level, but for a Neil Young concert we made the trip. Before the pandemic hit, I can safely say that I attended approximately ninety Neil Young shows in just about every conceivable configuration except for the aborted Buffalo Springfield reunion and the Stills-Young Band.
Mr. Young just posted on the incredible NYA website that he is have some trepidation regarding the upcoming sold out Farm Aid concert scheduled for the Xfinity Crntrr in Hartford, Connecticut on Saturday, September 25, 2021 due to Covid concerns. I have been to several Farm Aid events through the years, and it is always a great line up, but my enthusiasm to travel to Connecticut without a Neil Young performance this year would likely result in selling my tickets. Let us hope that the show goes on as planned and that Crazy Horse, who is in the studio recording mew music now, will be on the road soon.

Don’t Spook the Horse

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GQ

It may not be meant to be for me to attend the New Orleans Jazz Fest as it has been canceled once again due to Covid concerns. The festival plans on returning April, 2022 but at this point I am not feeling it: we will see what happens after a fall and winter with baseball and football stadiums inviting back large crowds. Hopefully everyone stays well and live music festivals will be safe for music lovers. Speaking of festivals, the Woodstock ‘99 documentary on HBO Music Box is a “must watch”; it is disturbing and downright frightening at times- check it out!

Charlie Watts not touring with The Rolling Stones this fall due to a medical issue is only surprise because it had not happened before. Our rock and roll heroes are getting up there in years and, except for a precious few, at some point they will go the way of the crooners of the 1950’s. In the meantime, enjoy them while you can despite the exorbitant ticket prices (the Eagles may have finally figured out that a $750 face value ticket is more than the market will bear and is downright greedy, even by Don Henley standards).

Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre is back in action with Jimmy Buffett tomorrow and Hall & Oates on Wednesday.

Hotel California

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GQ

I just recently finished up attending four out six of the Covid restricted half capacity Newport Folk Festival dates and the last of three full capacity Newport Jazz Festival shows. The Newport Festivals held at Fort Adams in Newport, Rhode Island every year are always one of my favorite live music events to attend and they sell out before any artists are even announced. There were many highlights but, for me, Allison Russell stole the festival with an extraordinary set of music.
Next up in September are The Black Crowes at Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theatre (the Robinson Brothers played an acoustic set at Newport Folk as “Birds of a Feather”) and Farm Aid at Xfinity in Hartford, Connecticut.

Live music is back so check out a show before the dreaded variants can change the musical landscape once again. There are plenty of great concerts on tap in the next couple of months but my gig at the US Tennis Open will keep me from seeing many of the great artists currently on tour (but saving me a lot of money on tickets not purchased).

Love the One You’re With

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GQ