My friend Joe and I have always had a knack for getting toward the front of the stage and we found our way to the orchestra of Madison Square Garden during my first Bruce Springsteen show. This concert would be one that I will never forget because of what happened at the end of this epic performance.

Somehow Joe and I got separated near the end of the show and I was about ten rows back to the right side of the stage while Bruce was firing up the crowd during the encores.

The front of the stage stepped down ostensibly so Bruce could get up close and personal with his fans. During the encore girls were climbing onstage, running at Bruce until security would pull the rabid female fans off of the stage. Bruce Springsteen was a rock star channeling his inner Elvis Presley and the crowd was near delirium.

As I watched the concert play out from near the front of the stage, the band played on as Springsteen manically ran the stage while the girls continued to sporadically climb on stage to be near their hero- then I spotted Joe directly in front of the left side of the stage. Unbelievably I saw Joe lift his left leg onto the stage, push himself upright and begin walking toward Bruce with his right hand extended as if to shake Bruce’s hand. If I did not see it myself I would never believe what happened next.

Bruce grabbed Joe’s right wrist and ran off with him to the back of the right side of the stage. My first thought was that when security got a hold of Joe back stage he was going to get a beating for being so bold as to climb onstage with the E Street Band. The band never stopped playing; Bruce Springsteen came running back onstage still gripping my friend’s wrist with Joe running slightly behind Bruce.

Bruce then triumphantly raised his and Joe’s arms as they stood center stage at the world’s greatest arena and they both ran off stage a second time, this time for good.

The image of Joe in his white T-shirt with “Chicago” written in red standing onstage with Bruce Springsteen is emblazoned in my memory. Joe has told me that he was glad I witnessed it go down because when he tells others the story no one believes his incredible tale; this is the ultimate rock and roll “big fish story”.

There were no no cell phone cameras to memorialize the event but but I did read a newspaper review at the time that included the story of that night.

This past summer I was at a barbecue and I told my Bruce Springsteen story to Mark. who not only owns the phenomenal website “This Week in New York” but is the biggest Bruce Springsteen fan that I know. Mark knew of the story and could not believe that I was with the guy who was the subject of this legendary concert; as it turns out this particular show was the subject of one of Mark’s favorite Bruce Springsteen reviews and helped to make him a Bruce fan for life.

This event was an amazing set of circumstances that encapsulates Bruce Springsteen as a man of the people and a rock and roll icon for the working man. On this night we were all in together, performer and spectators, live in the moment.

Born to Run

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The Allman Brothers had been broken up for the most part and Dickey Betts was on tour with his band Great Southern. The Central Park Concerts at Wollman Rink were always fun but this one turned out to be historic.

The Central Park shows had an orchestra section and a separate balcony section that you could not move down from. Somehow during this show my friends and I strayed from our orchestra seats and were on the outside looking in. After much “persistence” one security guard granted us a reprieve and reluctantly allowed us back into the venue in the balcony section.

Shortly after we got back in, the unimaginable happened- Gregg Allman came onstage to play with his old band mate Dickey Betts for an apparently impromptu reunion.

The Allman Brothers Band would ultimately find their way back together and remain a recording and touring entity in various incarnations until their recent final stand at the Beacon Theater in 2014.

Enlightened Rogues

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There was an announcement before Jack White hit the Madison Square Garden stage- keep your cell phones in your pocket and watch the show with your own eyes.
For the most part the crowd complied with the request and it was a pleasure not to have to watch the concert through and around the three inch screen of the person in the row in front of you. I’ve never been one to take photos or video during a show; if I want to see something from a show I have attended I’ll go to You Tube or Google Images. The tour may go on but THIS show only happens once.

Jack White is a throwback- there were no video screens on stage, no close ups of guitar solos; a simple blue curtain was moved away and the rock and roll show was on the stage; the music was loud, rocking, and eclectic. While many of the arena acts touring these days are on their third or fourth farewell tour playing the greatest hits for the umpteenth time, Mr, White is at the height of his artistic powers.

Live rock and roll and the crowd living in the moment- the way the music was meant to be experienced.

Seven Nation Army

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I traveled to Farm Aid in Durham, North Carolina this past September primarily to see Neil Young.

Willie Nelson, John Mellencamp, Dave Matthews and Gary Clark Jr. also played at the yearly event that day but the man who stole the show was Jack White.

Mr. White plays Madison Square Garden tonight.

Third Man Records

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The Thompson Family featuring Richard Thompson, Teddy Thompson, Kami Thompson, Jack Thompson, Zak Hobbs, James Walbourne, and Rob Walbourne.

No Linda

Shoot Out The Lights

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Laser Rock at the Hayden Planetarium in New York City would be considered low tech in this day in age but the show was considered a laser light spectacular in 1978. Highlighting albums like Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” played at an optimal volume, you would sit in your seat and stare at the ceiling where the laser light images were projected.

For those of us in search of the rock and roll experience in all it’s formats and glory, it was a teenager’s prerequisite to the many musical travels to come.

“We are the World” was recorded thirty years ago today.

Wish You Were Here

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The Patti Smith Group is an American rock band evoking the best in poetry, passion, punk fire and attitude.

The band, still led by Patti Smith on vocals and Lenny Kaye on guitar, released their first four dynamic and powerful albums on Arista records.

Horses, Radio Ethiopa, Easter, and my personal favorite, Wave were different than anything else on the musical landscape in the mid to late 1970’s and they had a uniquely New York City sound and artistic perspective.

As great a songwriter as Patti Smith is, it is ironic that the band’s biggest “hit song” was penned by Bruce Springsteen. “Because the Night” is clearly their most recognizable tune to the casual rock and roll fan; ; it was a popular hit for a group that was following a musical path firmly away the mainstream.

The Patti Smith Group opened for the most recent Neil Young and Crazy Horse tour.

Dancing Barefoot

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Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Nassau Coliseum stands out for me for one particular reason. My friends and I managed to sneak up toward the front of the orchestra section to the left of the stage and we were pumped.
During CSN’s acoustic set we were hooting and hollering with sheer joy a few rows from the band when a quiet moment would probably have been more in order. As I recall it, a rather stoned looking David Crosby looked down our way smiling and said “Man, what are you guys on?” He was laughing and he seemingly enjoyed the moment. Knowing David’s reputation as a legendary party animal, I took his remark to be an actual inquiry as opposed to a disparaging remark. It seemed to be obvious to David that we were having a great time and from the look on his face he apparently enjoyed and got our exuberance.

Deja vu (Snowblind)

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I never got the opportunity to see Genesis in concert with Peter Gabriel but the band continued on and evolved with Gabriel’s departure to remain a progressive rock force to be reckoned with.
The album “Wind and Wuthering” has always been a favorite of mine and it propelled the band to a second act that led them ultimately to be a pop rock super group led by drummer/ vocalist Phil Collins.
And then there were three.
The band’s popularity was expanded even further with their MTV era videos which coincided with many Top 40 radio hits. Genesis had several incarnations; progressive rock pioneers to mass appeal super group.
They were a great band whose live performances never disappointed.

There is a fairly recent documentary about the band wherein the members look back on their careers and seem to try and reclaim their rock credibility. Genesis has seemingly dropped off the radar screen since disbanding but the songs are most definitely worth revisiting as the catalog of music contains many extraordinary performances that stand up to the test of time.

Eleventh Earle of Mar

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The past two years have been a banner time for me with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. In 2014 I had the good fortune to see David Crosby at City Winery supporting his album “Croz”.
In September, 2013 Stephen Stills was on tour with The Rides (with the phenomenal Beth Hart opening) at the former Westbury Music Fair and Graham Nash was on a solo tour that also stopped in Westbury. Then this past 4th of July weekend my wife and I had the pleasure to see Crosby, Stills, Nash at Bethel Woods near Woodstock.

CSN have an extraordinary catalog of songs and a passion for the music that is unsurpassed.
These legendary musicians are obviously not kids any more; Stephen’s voice, in particular, is a bit raggedy and rough at times but he fights through the vocal limitations like a prideful prizefighter and to be able to see the band deliver the music and persevere live in concert is still a thrill.

Neil Young has said that he will never play with CSN again (apparently from some disparaging quotes Crosby made in the press regarding Darryl Hannah). I actually witnessed Neil say CSNY would not reunite during a solo acoustic show at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia and he said it again on the Howard Stern show.

Crosby, Stills, and Nash are back on tour again this spring and summer.
The road goes on forever for these rock and roll icons.

CSNY drummer Dallas Taylor passed away on 1/18/2015.
RIP

Carry On

GQ