All posts by eskimo5@optonline.net

Yes featuring Anderson, Rabin and Wakeman Tilles Center Sunday, September 24, 2017

Anderson, Rabin and Waksman played the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Long Island and as the show was performed on a college campus it started as advertised shortly after 7 PM and ending around 9:30.

I haven’t been a big fan of what’s left of the Steve Howe Yes group (Howe’s son recently died resulting in two shows at the Paramount being canceled); for me, ARW is the truest version of the band and legacy.

The ARW band, who are now also touring as “Yes” after an apparent truce emanating from their Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction, was tremendous. Jon Anderson’s voice was strong, Trevor Rabin was shredding the guitar and Rick Waksman, who was sporting a black cape which hid a comfortable looking black T shirt and sweatpants combo, was clearly enjoying himself playing the many Yes classics. The lengthy song “Awaken” from the then return of Rick Wakeman to the band album “Going for the One” was a concert highlight.

Jon Anderson was seen working hard during some of the lengthy instrumental passages doing almost choreographed calisthenics with the bass player giving Mr. Anderson a nice cardio workout while they rocked an appreciative audience.

Rick Waksman is famously known to have an acerbic wit, in contrast to Jon Anderson’s ethereal persona, and I would love to know what Rick whispered into the other members of the band’s ears during the post show hugs that made them all crack up with laughter.

Heart of the Sunrise

Rock on!

GQ

Paul McCartney Nassau Coliseum Tuesday, September 26, 2016

The first and last time my wife and I went to a Paul Mcartney concert at the Nassau Coliseum was almost twenty years ago and I remember at as being a lot of fun. This past Tuesday, the now seventy five year old former Beatle played for an amazing three hours to an adoring mostly mature crowd, although some brought their young ones along to see a legend in the flesh. 

Playing an energetic set with no intermission, McCartney was quite amazing playing mostly a mix of a wide range of tunes from the Beatles and Wings catalogue while mixing in a couple of new songs as any true artist should. Sir Paul looked and sounded great and while his voice was understandably slightly raspy at times with his recent busy concert schedule, this was not a man just cashing in on his reputation. Acoustic, electric, bass, and ukulele, this concert had something for everyone including Long Island’s favorite son Billy Joel joining the encores for “Get Back” and “Birthday”.

The Long and Winding Road 

Rock on!

GQ

Tom Petty Reportedly Dead

On an already horrific day with the Jason Aldean  Las Vegas concert massacre, there are reports that Tom Petty has died as a result of a fatal heart attack. Mr. Petty was one of the iconic rock and roll stars that came out of the 1970’s and just completed a fortieth anniversary tour with his long time band the Heartbreakers that my wife and I caught at Forest Hills Stadium this past summer. Petty and the band were on top of their game and it was a joyous celebration of a long and storied career that legendarily began in Florida. One of the Traveling Wilbury’s, Bob Dylan and ELO’s Jeff Lynne are the last two standing after Petty’s passing.

Tom Petty told a story that when Roy Orbison passed, George Harrison called him and said “Aren’t you glad it’s not you?” Harrison said of Orbison  “He’s still around”. 

Tom Perry will still be around in his lifetime of rock and roll music that will continue to be enjoyed for generations.

Rest In Peace 

Pack Up the Plantation

Rock on!

GQ

Collective Soul Northwell at Jones Beach Theater Tonight!

I think I own one Collective Soul CD and as I remember the collection was chock full of radio hits and memorable tunes.  One of their big hits wafted through the Jones Beach parking lot and I told my wife they must be pretty confident to be leading with that song early on. They were confident and those guys can rock on an arena scale. Collective Soul is a very good rock and roll band and I would not mind seeing them in a smaller venue like The Paramount in Huntington in front of a rabid fan base. There was a gal a couple of rows down from us clearly loving Collective Soul and singing along to every song.

Sammy Hagar up next. 

Rock on!

GQ

Sammy Hagar and the Circle/Collective Soul Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater Tonight!

The Jones Beach Theater concert schedule ends on a high note this weekend with a return to summer-like weather, the late Gregg Allman’s Laid Back Festival Sunday and Sammy Hagar tonight.

Sammy Hagar is a rocker. I first saw him at the Brendan Byrne Arena at the Meadowlands when he fronted Van Halen (with opening act Bachman Turner Overdrive), Now I was always in the David Lee Roth camp during the Van Halen wars and while this version of Van Hagar had some good tunes, I did not fully appreciate Sammy’s talents. 

A few years ago I picked up a ten dollar ticket to see Hagar’s band Chickenfoot at Webster Hall (formerly The Ritz) with Joe Satruani on guitar and VH banished for Wolfgang bass player Michael Anthony (who will perform tonight with The Circle).

The band Chickenfoot kicked ass; a completely unexpected great old time rock and roll show. I would expect the same tonight. Jason Bonham, who was at the Beach this summer with his Led Zeppelin tribute band, will be on drums.

Collective Soul had hit or two back in the day and should be a fine opening act on what should be a beautiful evening.

Tomorrow the Laid Back Festival takes over the Northeell Health at Jones Beach Theater. I was supposed to see Gregg Allman at City Winery before he passed so it turned out the last time I attended a Gregg Allman performance was st his festival a few years back. A great classic rock line up with Jackson Browne, Steve Winwood (supporting n excellent live greatest hits collection just released) and the incredible, (hopefully) soon to be inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, J. Geils Band singer, Mr. Peter Wolf taking the main stage.

Yes featuring Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakemam will play the Tilles Center tomorrow night on a football Sunday.

5150

Rock on!

GQ

Scorpions Sirius Town Hall Tuesday, 9/12/2017

As the great poet David Lee Roth once said, “I live my life like there’s no tomorrow” and this week feels like it.

On Sunday night after watching the New York Jets sputter and lose to the Buffalo Bills on television, I attended Pete Townshend’s Classic Quadrophenia at the Metropolitan Opera. A British opera singer, Billy Idol, Pete Townshend, and a full orchestra performed the legendary double album in its entirety and it was pretty amazing. Those songs in that venue had the audience enthralled. The opera star, Alvie Boe, had a powerful voice as would be expected and the only time I personally missed Roger Daltrey was during “Love Reigb O’er Me” when you could see. hear, realize, and appreciate just how important Mr. Daltrey has been to Pete Townshend’s genius being realized in this, one of several Townshend masterworks.This was a different experience than any rock and roll show that you could attend and it was a fantastic concert experience.

Speaking of fantastic, Roger Waters at the Barclay Center in Brooklyn was a sonic and audio visual extravaganza with the obligatory floating pig in attendance during the second half of the show. Mr. Waters played songs from “Meddle”, “Dark Side of the Moon”, “Animals”, “Wish You Were Here”, “The Wall” with a nod to his solo work. Roger and the band sounded great giving spot on performances of the iconic Pink Flod catalogue and even after navigating through some pro-Israel protesters and enduring videos of Donald Trump’s head attached to pig bodies I was blown away by the show. Roger Waters “Us and Them” tour continues in the New York City area this week with Nassau Coliseum slated for Friday and Saturday.

Yesterday brought my son and I to the Sirius studios in Manhattan for a Town Hall event with Scorpions hosted by metal maven Eddie Trunk. The interview was short on audience questions but interesting nonetheless as Trunk managed to have the amiable, and clearly loving what they do, Scorpions give us a glimpse of into their fifty plus year history, struggles during the 1990’s and non stop worldwide touring schedule. Even more interesting than the interview though was the celebrity sights as Gene Simmons was spotted in the building lobby before the Town Hall, we walked into former Howard Stern radio foil Artie Lange waiting for the elevator as we exited, and Tom Morello was wandering the halls promoting his latest project, Prophets of Rage.

After the Town Hall my son and I headed to Shake Shack and while waiting to cross the street a naked man was seen sprinting down the middle of Broadway with a police van and NYPD’s finest in a variety of foot pursuits.

I left my son at Penn Station and was waiting outside Madison Square Garden to meet my daughter after work when Win Butler was seen hanging out and taking photos with a few surprised fans as he was heading in for the Arcade Fire concert last night. After the couple of photos were done he non chalently strolled in between the Long Island Railroad entrances by himself. He looked up at the  MSG arena building for a minute then turned around and took a selfie with the Madison Square Garden sign above him. After he had his “Mary Tyler Moore Show” moment, he disappeared toward the tractor trailers and into the Garden.

My daughter and I never ended up going to the Arcade Fire concert as intended but since we saw the band in a warehouse in Brooklyn during the Reflector tour we figured that show could never be topped anyway. so we will catch them next time around.

I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead

Rock on!

GQ

Lady Gaga Citifield Tuesday, 8/29/2017

The weather for Lady Gaga,s Tuesday concert at Citifield could not have been much worse as it rained steadily throughout the event. Word had it that Lady Gaga did not hit the stage the night before until 10 PM but thankfully emails were sent out reporting the show would start at 9 (which turned into 9:30 due to “technical difficulties”). I had purchased the cheapest seats up top which turned out to be unintended genius as we were underneath the overhang keeping us dry for the most part. Right off the bat something did not seem quite right as the bare black stage seemed unusually spacious and empty as Lady Gaga and her dance crew went through their routines. Lady Gaga gave a little speech that the stage was broken and it was raining but that her voice was fine. There was a small stage with a piano into the audience in the elements and the show went on with Lady Gaga performing in the pouring rain which was pretty cool. While I can appreciate the “show must go on” attitude, unfortunately she really did not do her fans any favors as it was cold, rainy, and I’m sure the special effects were not what they could have been in a perfect world. I had seen Lady Gaga perform at Roselamd with my daughter and the show was entertaining; she is extraordinarily talented and can really sing but everyone would have been better served had the Citifield date been rescheduled. Now the word is that Lady Gaga has had to reschedule dates due to illness apparently brought on from singing in the rain. 

Obviously you cannot control the weather but the money was already in the bank so a soaked crowd was given a memorable but flawed experience.

Poker Face

Rock on!

GQ

Luke Bryan Northwell at Jones Beach Theatre Sunday, 8/27/2017

I did not attend the sold out solid Luke Bryan concert at the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater last night but it must have been some show!

I was a out and about early this morning and saw two crunched Luke Bryan tractor trailers being towed that apparently had not exited the Wantagh  Parkway at Merrick Road. Bryan’s equipment did not quite make it under the overpass st Sunrise Highway resulting in it to getting wedged underneath. The trucks and tour buses usually get off the Wantagh Parkway at Merrick Road and head east to the Seaford-Oyster Bay Expressway (135) on their way to parts unknown. Perhaps Luke can make lemonade out of these lemons and write a sad country hit tune about how GPS done him wrong.

Take the Higheay

Rock on!

GQ

Stephen Stills and Judy Collins/Kenny White NYCB Theatre at Westbury Saturday, August 26, 2017

I passed on the Deep Purple, Alice Cooper, Edgar Winter concert at the Jones Beach Theater last night to attend a different sort of show on the north end of the Wantagh Parkway in Westbury. 

Singer- songwriter Kenny White opened the sold out NYCB Theatre at Westbury in the ” “half round”. Mr. White seems like a really nice guy and a working musician who I remembered seeing with Peter Wolf at City Winery. You find yourself rooting for the talented Kenny White whose somewhat meandering songs solo on keyboards had the mature crowd primed for what was to come.

Stephen Stills and Judy Collins have known each other since the early 1960’s and Stills said he met Ms. Collins at the Whisky A Go Go while Eric Clapton was on stage. You had the immediate feeling that the night was going to be something special when the two performers unexpectedly opened with the Traveling Wilbury’s “Hanfle With Care”. Collins and Stills played mostly together, and solo, backed by bass, drums and keyboards with both playing guitar throughout. Collins’ harmonies and angelic voice were perfect counterparts to the seemingly invigorated Still’s time worn vocals. The two chatted (and flirted) between songs trading off on stories about Leonard Cohen, Crosby,  Stills, Nash and Collins’ Joni Mitchell like inspiring of her male admires to artistic heights. “Suite Judy Blue Eyes” was famously about Judy and Stills intimated that two other songs played last night, including the Buffalo Springfield’s “Bluebird”, were written about her also.

The 78 year old Collins sounded and looked incredible in a white outfit and her long grey hair pulled up. Her voice sounded extraordinary and she recovered well after tripping over a monitor and falling on her back after the last song of the evening (she’ll undoubtedly be sore this morning).

It is for night’s like this one that I find myself going to so many shows. Sometimes musical legends let you down and continue touring well past their time but Judy Collins and Stephen Stills provided a special night making all who took their musical journey this night feel glad that they came.

The two icons are releasing a new collection of musict soon that should be well with purchasing in any format (including the promised vinyl) and this tour continues into October.

Treetop Flyer

Both Sides Now

Rock on! 

GQ