Lou Reed is one of my all time favorite artists; one of the benefits of living in New York was having the opportunity to attend a Lou Reed concert at a Broadway Theatre. My buddy Eric and I made our way from our nosebleed seats, down the right side orchestra aisle to about ten rows from the stage, for “Satellite of Love”.
Dirty Boulevard
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GQ
I had never seen Van Morrison perform in concert so when I discovered that he was playing a benefit concert at the Beacon Theatre it was a no brainer. I did not know what to expect and, as I recall, Mr. Morrison performed with an orchestra that evening and I remember thinking the set was on the short side. Years later, I would have orchestra seats for Van Morrison at Jones Beach Theatre that were given to me somehow. From where my wife and I were sitting toward the left of the stage we could see a large clock with red numbers counting down from one hour and thirty minutes. As the clock struck zero, Van was off the stage, and a short time later we could see the top of Morrison’s hat bouncing through the crowd as security escorted him out through the far left orchestra aisle as his band played on without him. The running clock and Van’s rushed exit was unfortunately more memorable then the actual performance which escapes any particular recollection at this point, but I do love his music.
Real Real Gone
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GQ
Following the Bluenotes club tour which had a stop at New York City’s. The World, Neil Young took the blues lineup on the road to play the usual summer outdoor venues to include the Jones Beach Theatre and Pier in Manhattan. At Jones Beach, as I recall, the bulk of the Long Island crowd was bewildered by the show and the beach breezes took the wind machine effects sideways. The Pier gig, for me, turned into a wild night with a misplaced concert ticket, cab rides in search of local club dates, and my buddy Eric telling me that during my disappearing act I missed a killer version of “Tonight’s the Night” performed as if Neil wanted to get the bad taste of the under-appreciated Jones Beach gig out of his mouth and purge it from his memory for good with an inspired quick turnaround rock and roll performance.
This Note’s For You
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GQ
As I recall, the Steve Winwood concert at the Jones Beach Theatre in August of 1988 was the 1980’s MTV version of Winwood before he reverted back to his jam band Traffic roots ways a few years later. I have always been a big fan of all versions of Steve but the best that I ever saw him perform was at the Westbury Music Fair, in the round, where I had a third of fifth row seat, up close and personal. It was just a phenomenal concert. At the Jones Beach show I vaguely remember Winwood showing off some choreographed moves onstage; the 80’s was an odd transitional period for 1960’s and 70’s acts like Winwood, the Moody Blues, CSN, Yes and Neil Young. The combination of new emerging technologies and music video explosion made for an interesting musical journey for artists and fans alike.
Valerie
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GQ
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Induct Crazy Horse
This recognition is long over due (and just imagine the jam with Neil Young at the induction ceremony that would come out of this).
Crazy Moon
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GQ
I have seen the Moody Blues, and Justin Hayward solo, a number of times through the years but I have no particular recollection of this August, 1988 concert at the Jones Beach Theatre. The Moody Blues managed to reinvent themselves from the height of early successes to continue as a relevant 1980’s band with radio friendly hit songs. They are likely done as a touring act at this point but at least the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame finally saw fit to induct this iconic band.
Jethro Tull anyone?
Crazy Horse?
Just sayin’.
Your Wildest Dreams
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GQ
Rumors of a club blues tour by Neil Young & The Bluenotes had me scouring the local music magazines and the Village Voice hoping to get an inside track to one of the shows. I found myself at a Young Neil & the Vipers club show thinking it could be Real Neil but found myself seated at a table in the rear of a New York City basement club watching a relative of a Fabulous Thunderbird wailing on guitar, then coaxing Ace Frehley of Kiss onstage to play guitar on a tune. This was an unintended interesting evening, to say the least, but the quest for a Neil Young blues concert went on. The Bluenotes played a club called The World in New York City’s Alphabet City for a few night stand, two shows a night, and I managed to attend the last set which turned out to be one show only due to Neil reportedly feeling ill but not wanting to cancel. It was general admission standing room with a bar in the rear where I leaned toward the bartender and sang “This Note, This Note This Note, This Notes for YOU” along with the band. I was having a blast. I remember thinking Neil Young’s pallor was a little grey that night which made me believe rumors of an illness were likely true. Years later I find it hard to believe that I only went to one night but I am certainly glad now that I made my way in to attend. Neil & The Bluenotes would follow up with a shed tour but the Bluenotes were best appreciated by the diehard fan; as with many Neil Young tours, the casual fan is sometimes disappointed when the greatest hits are not performed (the Psychedelic Pill arena tour’s sonic assault lengthy distortions left some in the crowd looking bewildered when the lights came up) but for those of us on the journey, the Bluenotes were, and are, simply outstanding.
Ain’t It the Truth
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GQ
Yes performed at the Nassau Coliseum on Friday, February 5, 1988 but I have no particular recollection. I have seen Yes so many times, and in so many configurations, solo and otherwise, that pulling out any specific memory from these shows is difficult at best. I was supposed to attend a Steve Howe version of Yes concert a few years ago with an old buddy Mike from the Flushing neighborhood we grew up in, but the show was canceled due to the untimely passing of Howe’s son and the show was never rescheduled. If you want to watch “uncomfortable”, check out Yes performing at their Rock and Roll Induction Ceremony when the two touring versions of Yes, at the time, joined forces for one night.
To Be Over
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GQ
I’m listening to Neil Young being interviewed by David Fricke on the SiriusXM Neil Young channel on Deep Tracks channel 26 while thinking about Neil Young & the Bluenotes performing a several night stand at The World, a club located in Alphabet City in New York. There had been rumors circulating that Neil Young was going to do some pop up dates with his blues band and I scoured the music magazines and newspapers hoping to discover a Neil blues show. A band called Young Neil & the Vipers was playing a club in New York; Young Neil? Vipers? I thought this had to be it. I can’t remember who I went with but we went to a pretty nice club in a basement n New York City and Young Neil & the Vipers hit the stage but, alas, it was not Neil Young. Young Neil turned out to be somehow related to the Fabulous Thunderbirds and this kid could play guitar.
In the audience sitting at a table was Ace Frehley from Kiss and near the end of the show he was cajoled into joining the band on stage; bad move on Ace’s part as Young Neil wailed while Ace looked uncomfortable with a likely borrowed guitar.
Neil Young & the Bluenotes played several nights at The World, a club I had never been to before or since. The band played two sets a night with a single admission and unbelievably I only planned on going one night. I believe the evening we went was the last night of the stand and Young was reportedly sick. Rather than cancel, the band played one elongated set that night in the packed general admission venue. I remember thinking that Neil appeared to be a little under the weather but I was pumped and I remember leaning over toward the bartender in the rear of the space energetically and loudly singing along while Neil sang “This note, this note, this note, this note’s for you”.
Ten Men Workin’
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GQ
Yes performed at the Nassau Coliseum on Friday, February 5th, 1988; one of many Yes concerts, configurations and offshoots I have attended through the years. One of these days I will add them up and see if they come anywhere close to the over ninety Neil Young appearances that I have been at.
Roundabout
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GQ