If I am remembering this Sting concert at Jones Beach Theatre correctly, I had orchestra seats to left of stage and for some reason I took a work buddy’s son with me to the show. I am not sure how history will ultimately judge The Police or solo Sting but “ The Soul Cages” album still works for me. Now that Elvis Costello is busy trying to “cancel” his own “Oliver’s Army”, I wonder if that seemingly earnest punk anger back in the day was nothing more than a Dice-like persona marketing an image to sell rock and roll records; I hope not, since I have always been an Elvis Costello fan going back to when we hung out at Beefsteak Charlie’s cook John’s apartment above a store in Douglaston, where he would blast the latest New Wave music to all hours of the night (and morning) since he had no neighbors to speak of. Perhaps the next Johnny Rotten is practicing in a garage somewhere and will be inspired by Costello’s apparent hypocrisy.

I have been scouring the internet looking for live music to attend and the concert landscape is bleak. Where we are headed, I do not know, but it is starting to feel like rock and roll is gasping for air. Let’s hope the spring and summer and warmer weather revives the concert industry as the clock is ticking on the usual road warriors, while many stars scramble to sell off their catalogs for the nest eggs that will provide a well deserved retirement for our 1960,s, 70,s and 80’s rock stars.

Englishman in New York

Rock on!

GQ