The legendary Van Morrison plays Forest Hills Stadium tonight for what is reportedly his only scheduled North American appearance. 

I’ve seen Van Morrison in concert a few times, and I am a huge fan, but a few years ago at Jones Beach Theater the man showed me something I had never seen before. During the concert on the right side of the stage there was a large digital clock with bright red numbers that counted up from zero to an hour and a half exactly when the night’s last song had ended and at which time the eccentric Van walked off stage withnot as much as a goodnight. This still ranks as one of the oddest things I’ve ever seen at a concert. 

Mr. Morrison could not have left the venue faster if the building was on fire. 

Whether the hour and a half performance was what the contract called for or just his own quirky twist on the evening, it left a strange vibe hanging over an audience who were clearly enjoying one of the great artists of our time.

If you do attend tonight’s performance, you can likely set your watch, or I-phone, from the time Van Morrison and his band hit the stage.

In any event, from the looks of it, it will be a marvelous night for a moon dance in Forest Hills tonight.

Real Real Gone

Rock on

GQ

I do not consider myself to be a movie reviewer but the film Love and Mercy about Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys is brilliant. The story of Brian Wilson as the tortured musical genius would be hard to believe if it were not true and it makes for a riveting cinematic rock and roll journey worthy of numerous Academy Award considerations. 

Good Vibrations

Rock on

GQ

Peter Cetera is one of the founding members of the band Chicago. At some point the bad blood between him and the band got so bad that when Peter Cetera came out with a solo greatest hits collection, Cetera had to re-record his great Chicago hits because the band would not authorize his using the originals for the compilation. Perhaps if the band Chicago gets inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame where they rightfully belong, Petra Cetera and Chicago can reunite for one last go round.

In the meantime, Chicago tours at an extraordinary pace year after year, this summer with Earth, Wind and Fire, and Mr. Cetera plays tonight in the half round at Westbury Music Fair.

Saturday in the Park

Rock on!

GQ

The Dave Matthews Band plays two sets at the sold out Nikon at Jones Beach Theater and the unofficial start of the rock and roll summer concert season on Long Island begins tonight.

The Best of What’s Around

Rock on 

GQ

Part if the reason that I attend so many rock concerts is the quest for nights like this one. Every once in awhile something special or unexpected happens; sometimes the audience and the performer connect for an extraordinary confirmation of the power and glory of rock and roll.

Forest Hills Stadium is a unique venue- a medium size amphitheater in the middle of a residential neighborhood that mandates a 10 PM curfew. Opening act Joan Jett & the Blackhearts hit the stage at 7 PM.

This was the last night of the first leg of The Who’s 50th anniversary tour. There was a communal feel to the mostly mature crowd and after Joan  Jett & the Blackhearts finished their 45 minute set in predominate sunshine on a perfect evening, The Who hit the stage and played a greatest hits set that had the crowd on its feet for the entire night. 

The Who last played Forest Hills Stadium in 1971 and there was a buzz in the air that this would not be a run of the mill Saturday evening. While beer vendors wearing Heinekin back packs poured enumerable $9 beers into tiny plastic cups, The Who played hit after hit in front of state of the art video images. Roger Daltry defies age and is in great voice at the moment and Pete Townshend appears to be really enjoying what is advertised to be the band’s last full scale tour.

Due to time restrictions, The Who cut out “A Quick One While He’s Away” from the concert and it seemingly tightened the set up to where there were no lulls in the action. At 10 PM the band looked as if they were enjoying themselves so much that you believed they may have played one more song for the ecstatic audience if not for a curfew; Daltry looked at his wrist watch and said goodnight for the triumphant players.

For me, this was the best Who performance since John Entwhistle passed away 13 years ago. A rollicking good time was had by all and if this was the last go round, what a way to go!

You Better, You Bet

Rock on

GQ

The great Ian Hunter & The Rant Band will return to City Winery in New York City tonight. 

Sweet Jane

Rock on

GQ

After the last Billy Joel at Madison Square Garden misadventure, my son and I headed back to Manhattan yet again to meet my daughter and see The Franchise continue his soon to be record setting run at The World’s Most Famous Arena.

Mr. Joel opened with “Miami 2017” and ran through many of the hits with a well paced set that included a guest appearance by Felix Cavaliere of The Rascals to play “Good Lovin'” and an odd turn with one of the roadies doing his best Brian Johnson impersonation on AC/DC’s “Highway to Hell” that the packed house seemed to enjoy somehow as comic relief mostly I suppose.

Billy Joel made several passing mentions of his age (66), and an impending child on the way, as he hobbled around the stage when leaving the safety of his revolving piano. 

A Billy Joel show is nothing groundbreaking; it has become like a Long Island high school reunion- an enjoyable night out, a chance to reminisce, then back to work in the morning.

The Billy Joel residency also has a built in audience of new tourists coming through New York City which will likely keep his monthly appearances at Madison Square Garden going for as long as he’s up for it.

The most amazing thing about these shows is that Mr. Joel’s music has seemed to strike a chord with many younger fans who know all of the words and sing along with Billy the Kid; there is a lot of smiling, hugging, and crowd participation throught the performance making for a happy audience by the end of the night.

Billy Joel has concerts scheduled at Madison Square Garden through December, 2015.

 It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me

GQ

The Who, with recent Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Joan Jett & the Blackhearts, play Forest Hills Stadium in Queens tonight with a 7 PM start and 10 PM curfew as the venue sits right in the midst of a residential neighborhood. If the Nassau Coliseum show is any indication Ms. Jett will hit the stage promptly at 7 PM and play a 45 minute set chock full of the hits so arrive early.

The cantankerous Roger Daltry and the now affable Peter Townshend will play a career spanning retrospective over two hours. 

The Who legendarily last played Forest Hills Stadium in July, 1971.

At the Nassau Coliseum show Roger Daltry went on a bit of a tirade, more than once, about someone smoking marijuana near the front of the stage which he said was causing his throat to close up; there are preshow “warnings” that Roger is allergic to smoke and that if you care to oartake you should eat baked goods. Pete good naturedly added that you can also stick them in your a** for a quicker fix. After Daltry threatened to cut the show short if the audience’s bad behavior did not stop, the band continued without further interruption. 

The 50th anniversary tour returns to Madison Square Garden in October.

A Quick One, While He’s Away

Long Live Rock

GQ

The weather is perfect and Billy Idol is playing an outdoor concert on the west side of Manhattan tonight.

It’s a nice day for a white wedding.

Rock on

GQ

When I saw that David Bowie and Trent Reznor were past contributors to the band I could not resist.

“Seeds” is the latest release.

Return to Cookie  Mountain

Rock on

GQ