Elvis Costello & the Attractions played Radio City Music Hall, New York City in August of 1984 and my only vivid memory is that when Costello hit the stage I thought to myself “my god, elvis has become his father!”. I guess that I was expecting the Elvis of “This Year’s Model” but instead a somewhat mature looking rock star took center stage. I remember regularly listening to Elvis Costello records at John McGlyn’s place; John was a cook at Beefsteak Charlie’s in Whitestone and he had an apartment above a store in Douglaston, Queens with no neighbors. McGlyn was totally into the New Wave movement blasting same at high volume into the night and early morning. All of the Elvis Costello & the Attractions albums were phenomenal including “Armed Forces” and the Beatlesque “Imperial Bedroom”. Mr. Costello & the Imposters will be appearing at the Tilles Center on Long Island on Saturday, October 30th, 2021 and I am hoping to grab a last minute ticket and catch, what I am sure will be, another great rock and roll show from a true artist and one of the now elder statesman of punk influenced music.

Pump It Up

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GQ

David Gilmour performed during the Miller Concerts at the Pier series in July of 1984; this is one concert where I wish I had some recollection of the show but, alas, I do not. (I think I may have some repressed memory of Mr. Gilmour onstage playing guitar but…..)

The great Pink Floyd guitarist played the outdoor venue located on the west side of Manhattan on a summer Monday night and I was there!

Wish You Were Here

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GQ

Long before his New York City residency sputtered to a halt last year due to the pandemic, I went to see Billy Joel in concert at Madison Square Garden in July of 1984.

New York State of Mind

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GQ

Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich starred in Death of a Salesman at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway. As I recall my wife, then girlfriend, and I had front row seats facing the right side of stage. You knew that you were witnessing something special during the performance of this iconic play.

Death Magnetic

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GQ

I had purchased a pair of tickets for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at the Paramount for this past Tuesday but since I went to Citifield to see the Mets for a four o’clock start and the thought of a general admission indoor concert in this covid era sort of clinched my decision to ultimately skip the show.

Justin Hayward, most famously of the legendary Moody Blues, plays the Paramount in Huntington tonight, with his guitarist Mike Dawes opening. I have seen the Moody Blues a number of times, and Justin Hayward “solo” at City Winery in New York s as me the performances are always top notch; a real treat to see a true legend in the flesh.
it is my first show at the Paramount since it’s reopening; days of future passed.

Nights in White Satin

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GQ

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