The first night of Eric Clapton’s two night 70th birthday celebration shows was a solid night of Slowhand Blues and Rock and Roll classic rock hits. 

Clapton opened with a nice blues number “Somebody Knockin’ on My Door” but the show shifted into another gear when John Mayer came out on the third song and played on “Pretending”. John Mayer seemed inspired to shred on the song and it made me wonder how his solo career, for me, is so lackluster.  Mayer can obviously play a mean guitar but he seems to be known more for his love of weed and his love life.

Eric Clapton mixed in his beloved blues with some of the more popular hits like “I Shot the Sheriff” and “Wonderful Tonight”. Jimmy Vaughn came out for a tune but the real highlight of the night was “Let It Rain” with Derick Trucks of the Allman Brothers Band and Clapton’s long time left handed foil Doyle Bramhall Ii. 

Paul Carrack sang Joe Cocker’s “You Are So Beautiful” and bass player Nathan East sang lead on the classic Blind Faith song “Can’t Find My Way Home” which was nice but no Winwood. Clapton nodded to his Cream days with a nice take on “Crossroads”. “Cocaine”, while sounding a bit dated now, still packed a punch.

Clapton did a mostly solo unplugged acoustic set in the middle of the proceedings that included “Layla” and “Tears in Heaven” that was nice but an electric “Layla” with the assembled guitarists would have blown the roof off the building.

It would be near impossible to make everyone in the Madison Square Garden crowd completely satisfied with the setlist because of all the great hits and musical style diversions through the decades but for one night Clapton reminded everyone why he is so beloved.

The second show at MSG that was supposed to happen on this Saturday night was pushed back to tomorrow Sunday due to a NY Rangers hockey playoff game this afternoon. The rest of the “world tour” will take place at London’s Royal Albert Hall.

Happy Birthday Eric!

Beware Mr. Baker

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GQ

Concert ticket prices continue to go through the roof where $200 to $300 ticket prices have become common place (at least in New York). 

There is a reason why the big arena acts work the Northeast repeatedly while ignoring large parts of the country. The Eagles latest farewell tour keeps returning like a boomerang you just cannot seem to lose.  Eric Clapton’s 70th birthday bash at Madison Square Garden, with a top ticket price of $300 with Ticketmaster charges, has been slow to sell out even though it may be the only two nights played in the US with special guests likely to make an appearance. Neil Young’s twelve date summer tour with Willie Nelson’s sons have a top ticket price over $200 with plenty of seats available at Jones Beach (and even the general admission pit is still available). Van Halen, who should have hung it up years ago, have plenty of tickets still readily available for those who are entertained by David Lee Roth’s Spinal Tap shenanigans. 

Perhaps ticket prices have finally plateaued. Perhaps the Groupon nation just sits back and waits for the deep discounted concert ticket. In any event, the concert industry should be on high alert for potentially pricing themselves out even for as lucrative a market as the New York City area.

Money

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GQ

I am going to the Charlie Musselwhite show tonight at City Winery based solely on my good friend The Gull’s recommendation. The Gull is not your ordinary bird as he has an eclectic taste in music so when he recommends a musical act I do not take it lightly. Dangerbird and I will head into New York City tonight (with one eye on the NFL draft) to check out what is, for me, a new musical experience. I am the type of person who would rather not know the plot of a movie before I watch it so I look forward to seeing Mr. Musselwhite with a completely blank slate. I love the classic rock music (Eruc Clapton is at Madison Square Garden this weekend)  but there are so many talented musicians out there that you sometimes have to take a leap of faith and go for it.

Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag

Tonight Dangerbird does not fly alone

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GQ

The most memorable time I saw the Beach Boys in concert was at The Jones Beach Theatre and Carl Wilson was still with us. With one of the more brilliant pure rock star moves of all time, the band toured with the USC cheerleading squad the entire summer who would perform on stage with the band for one song while wearing their Trojan chearleading uniforms. Those then mature gentlemen at the time still knew how to be Beach Boys.

The Beach Boys “reunion” with founding  member Brian Wilson has ended and they have gone their separate ways with Wilson having his own tour this summer.

I saw Brian Wilson and Jeff Beck perform together at Westbury about a year and a half ago around the time a now abandoned Wilson project was being worked on. Jeff Beck still brings the goods, as he did recently at The Paramount in Huntington, but Brian Wilson reminded me of Leon Russell in that his best days are long behind him and he is basically shot. Brian Wikson playing the sheds this summer is kind of inexplicable and I predict a lot of half filled venues and Groupon purchase opportunities in his immediate future.

Ventura Highway

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Who’s Gonna Stand Up?

Mother Earth (Natural Anthem)

Neil Young will release a new album, “The Monsanto Years”, and tour this summer with Promise of the Real featuring Willie Nelson’s sons.

The tickets are on sale this Friday.

Sponsored by Nobody

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GQ

Blitzen Trapper plays Neil Young’s “Harvest” album in its entirety tonight at City Winery. The band will release a “Live Harvest”  limited edition LP on Record Store Day which happens tomorrow. 

Are You Ready for the Country?

Oh Yeah

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“Roads and Roads &”

Jorma!

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GQ

Jeff Beck opens a three night stand at The Paramount in Huntington tonight.

The Paramount is one of my favorite venues and Jeff Beck is still one of the great guitarists on the planet.

The last time I saw Jeff Beck play in concert  he was with Brian Wilson at the former Westbury Music Fair in October, 2013 in the midst of their eventually aborted collaboration. 

Jeff Beck was supposed to play with ZZ Top last September but the show was canceled due to a ZZ bassist Dusty Hill injury. 

The three shows at The Paramount are a must see for any Jeff Beck aficionado as you can never tell these days how or when he might tour in the  area again.

Jeff Beck’s Guitar Shop is in town.

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GQ

Brooklyn’s own Larry David of Seinfeld and Curb Your Enthusiasm fame wrote and stars in the Broadway comedy Fish in the Dark which is about a family with a character in it that, unsurprisingly, is happily similar to one Larry David.

If you like Larry David you will LOVE this play. The famously curmudgeonly  Mr. David is hysterical and the play has a great cast to include the ageless Rosie Perez. Unfortunately Rita Wilson left the play recently because of a medical issue (breast cancer requiring a double mastectomy) but amazingly she is expected to return to the play sometime in May.

Larry David is appearing in the play until June 8 when Jason Alexander will take over the role.

Tickets for Larry David are sold out (and quite expensive on the secondary market) but the Fish in the Dark website says that there are a limited number of standing room tickets made available at the box office on the day of show for $37.

Fish in the Dark is Spectacular!

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GQ

Janeane Garofolo, The Milk Carton Kids, Robert Pinsky, Josh Rouse, Southside Johnny, Andrew VanWyngarden, Daniel Wolff & Bill Irwin- the line up is intriguing to say the least.

Advertised as a one of a kind variety show, the Cabinet of Wonders sounds to me like a wonderful Friday night out on the town.

Asheville Skies

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GQ