Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead and the Jefferson Starship played the Nassau Coliseum in a classic double bill uniting two San Francisco legends.

Jefferson Starship evolved from the Jefferson Airplane, without Jorma and Jack, but with Marty Balin and Grace Slick handling lead vocals. The band had a couple of huge albums with “Red Octopus” and “Spitfire” and “Miracles” was a mega hit single.

I recently saw a revamped Jefferson Starship at The Paramount in Huntington without Grace Slick or Marty Balin but starring a 70 year old Paul Kantner on guitar wearing his best tie dye tights.
Even thought the band was a shadow of its former self, they were still entertaining and and the new girl lead singer had some chops.

The Grateful Dead recently announced a three show stint at Soldier Field in Chicago over the 4th of July weekend to celebrate the band’s 50th anniversary.

Wave that flag

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GQ

Which one is Ting?

The Bowery Ballroom is one of the greatest and more intimate settings in NYC to see a concert and was just recently mentioned in Rolling Stone magazine as the best small venue in the United States.

That’s Not My Name

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GQ

The main memory that I have from The Kinks at the Paladium has nothing to do with the music but all to do with what went on outside the venue before the show.

My friend Joe was partying with some new friends outside the Paladium and I had stepped away but was nearby. He seemed to be getting along just fine with the three or four guys when something must have been said by someone and the next thing I know they had him up against the wall.

Joe was getting the worst of it and we were clearly out numbered so I charged at one if them and they all went running. As they were going full tilt toward the entrance one of them slipped, fell hard, popped back up and ran limping away. A security guard told me that he thought the guy who fell may have broken his leg; I did not feel especially bad for him as they had apparently jumped my friend unprovoked. His earring was askew and he was slightly bloodied up but none the worst for wear and we continued on to the show.

The Kinks have decades of hits and I believe Sleepwalker was big at the time. Years later I would catch Ray Davies solo at the former Westbury Music Fair with a storyteller type format. This was such an interesting and entertaining way to see Ray Davies; it was one of those unexpected great concerts that happen every so often if you attend enough shows.

There is still talk of a possible Kinks reunion for their 50th anniversary. Ray and Dave Davies with a full band for one last go around could be a lot of fun.

I’m Not Like Everybody Else

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The Good Rats were one of the top acts in a thriving Long Island rock club scene that included Zebra and my personal favorite Twisted Sister. Opening for the red hot Meat Loaf at the St. John’s University basketball facility was a big deal.

Meat Loaf was riding high with the mega hit album “Bat Out of Hell” and the heavy set front man was known for his acrobatic moves on stage.
Unfortunately Meat Loaf had broken a leg some time before the concert took place and performed that night in a wheelchair. It was still a fun show, particularly at the end when the dramatic Mr. Loaf pulled himself out of the wheelchair and staggered on stage unleashed from his physical limitations.

Paradise by the Dashboard Light

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As I recall, this was originally supposed to be a Hot Tuna gig and their double live album had recently been released.

I remember thinking at the time that Hot Tuna was about to break big into arenas as a great live album usually preceded the bump to bigger venues back in the day. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, it was reported that the band had broken up and Jorma was to play the Paladium as a solo act.

When Jorma Kaukonen hit the stage that night, his signature long hair had been replaced with short slicked back orange hair; this was certainly a new look that the Hot Tuna fans could not have anticipated. Jorma had apparently changed the course of his career and we were happy to be along for the ride.

Kaukonen did a solo acoustic set that night and years later I read that Jorma said that he had taken a swig from a champagne bottle back stage that was apparently laced with an unknown hallucinogen which resulted in him playing the same note for a half hour.

However , if it did happen that way, we never noticed

America’s Choice

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When the legendary David Bowie played at Madison Square Garden he was at his Thin White Duke best. The tour ultimately was documented with the great live album “Stage”.

Our seats at The world’s greatest arena were in the second part of the orchestra toward the left side and when Bowie took the stage he was everything that you could have expected from a rock star of his magnitude. The tubular fluorescent lighting was a perfect complement to the spectacle particularly to the Berlin era songs and the highly anticipated rock and roll event did not disappoint.

Bowie is the ultimate rock and roll Renaissance man. Bradley Cooper recently received accolades while starring in “The Elephant Man” on Broadway, but my future bride and I caught Mr. Jones AKA Bowie in the same role years ago and he was magnificent.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all the many phases of David Bowie’s career through the years and I am still a huge fan. Bowie is a unique talent who constantly challenges his audience in all facets of music and entertainment. The recent documentary “Five Years” is a great glimpse into the artistic transmutations of a true chameleonic genius.

Station to Station

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After an impressive opening set by Kate Davis ( vocals, guitar, stand up bass) with a drummer and guitar on board that climaxed with a fun cover of the Violent Femmes’ “Blister in the Sun”, Jackson Browne and Shawn Colvin took the stage opening with a raggedy version of the Rolling Stones’s “Let’s Spend the Night Together”. The stage was set for a musical roller coaster ride with the two alternating songs, providing backing vocals for each other, and singing together. The packed City Winery was treated to a storyteller type evening with the two performers mixing their own songs with covers and included Browne introducing one of his songs as having been written for Albert Brooks to sing in a movie. There was obvious affection and admiration exchanged between the two and the crowd appeared to realize that they were witnessing a special performance.

The beautiful Shawn Colvin, who shared that she just celebrated her 59th birthday and said she would spend the next year planning her 60th, sang a wonderful version of Bruce Springsteen’s “Tougher Than the Rest”. The two primarily played their acoustic guitars this evening but Jackson Browne played piano on Warren Zevon’s “Mohammed’s Radio” and Shawn Colvin covered Tom Waits “Freeway Cars and Trucks” also on the piano.

Another Springsteen song proved to be the emotional high point of the evening. With Browne on lead vocals and Colvin accompanying, American Skin (41 Shots) proved to be a politically charged focal point to the sometimes seemingly meandering set. The stark acoustic performance highlighted Springsteen’s powerful lyrics demanding admiration and attention whether you agreed with the message or not.

The iconic Judy Collins, who could be seen enjoying the show from a seat in the audience during the intimate performance, was brought on stage during the encores where she played on piano what was said to be the first song she ever wrote (with Colvin on backing vocals). Judy also joined the two for Jackson Browne’s classic “Take It Easy”.

The over two hour concert was an extraordinary glimpse into the artistry of two great performers and the fact that Browne and Colvin added an impromptu couple of encores made it quite obvious that they did not want the night to end either. A very special New York City evening was had by all.

They did stay
Just a little bit longer

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GQ