My first concert in the 2000’s was a Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young show at Madison Square Garden on a Monday night in April. These four legends have been feuding for a variety of reasons for years now and it is unlikely that they will perform together in any configuration ever again. Currently, only Graham Nash has any scheduled dates this year, including three nights at the NYC City Winery. Davis Crosby is still putting out music, Stephen Stills may be retired at this point, and Neil Young is still working on the Archives while trying to avoid long Covid. With Nils Lofgren about to embark on a lengthy tour with Bruce Springsteen this year making a Crazy Horse reunion unlikely, if I ventured a guess, perhaps Neil may hit the stage again at Farm Aid in October, but obviously a lot can change in the next ten months.

Everybody I Love You

Rock on!

GQ

If memory serves me correctly, I went solo to this Yes concert at the iconic Beacon Theatre and the band was featuring the Russian keyboardist during this 1999 tour. What is truly memorable about this December Tuesday evening, though, was that after the concert was finished, I managed to slide in front of the first row as the band took their bows and made their farewells. I looked up and staring down at me was one of my musical heroes, Mr. Jon Anderson, himself. I reached up, shook his hand and was immediately surprised that the lead singer of Yes had a massive mitt of a hand. As we shook hands, I realized that I had a pretty good grip going on and the look in Jon’s eyes told me that the handshake had lasted a bit too long. It now reminds me that before the most recent Bob Dylan show I attended at the Beacon, I saw Steve Earle and his band in the audience; I went over to say hello and tell Steve that I was a fan. I might have squeezed that handshake a little too hard as I saw Steve looking at his hand and shaking it as I returned to my seat. We briefly discussed my having seen him at City Winery where he was a regular and his getting Bruce Springsteen to perform at Earle’s benefit concert at Town Hall, a big “get” indeed.

It Will Be a Good Day (The River)

Rock on!

GQ

Wilco is still one of my favorite bands and this November, 1999 concert at New York City’s Town Hall was a much anticipated first time, for me, seeing the band. I had been listening to, and loving, Wilco’s music for awhile before Mr. Nut and I traveled into midtown Manhattan to see them perform at this beautiful intimate venue. As I recall, we had pretty good orchestra seats to the left of the stage. I believe that the original guitarist was still in the band at the time and I remember the show being excellent. I have seen Wilco play many times since and it is always a treat seeing the band; Jeff Tweedy is one of those artists that has managed to maintain his artistic integrity for what has now been a long and successful career. The album “Summerteeth” is an awesome dive into the bands music and was in constant rotation in my life when it came out in 1999.

Via Chicago

Rock on!

GQ