Eleven days before being sworn in and beginning my career in law enforcement, I traveled to Giants Stadium to see Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band in concert. As I recall, we were last row in the upper deck in the 300’s section to the right of the stage. At that point, just being in the building was enough as Bruce was one of the biggest rock stars on the planet, especially in his home state of New Jersey, and we were just happy to have gotten tickets at all. In my opinion, Mr. Springsteen has lost touch with his fan base with overpriced Broadway shows and politically motivated alliances leaning in the wrong direction and contrary to his working class fans that made him the wealthy superstar he is today. Bruce Springsteen is undeniably one of the great rock and roll acts in popular music history, but would have been better off had he burnt out then fading away like he has.
In 2020, I went to the last concert performance by Little Steven & the Disciples of Soul, with opener the great Peter Wolf, at the Beacon Theatre just before the pandemic shut everything down. The show was being recorded for a live album and DVD release and it was rumored that Springsteen could show up and play with the band (but it never did happen despite the fact a Beacon bartender had told me that there were two potential end times, one if Bruce played and one if he did not, so it would appear that it was in the realm of possibility). We were in the third row center of the Beacon and a Bruce cameo would have been epic. Instead Peter Wolf put on one of his incredible performances as usual and a guy who used to be in the Sopranos and dressed as Maude fronted a soul revue. It was an interesting evening out on the town in Manhattan to say the least.

Love Stinks

Rock on!

GQ

At the time I enjoyed the Broadway show Cats.

In retrospect it is a pretty horrible Broadway musical resulting in a train wreck of a movie.

Stray Cat Strut

Rock on!

GQ

I have seen the legendary Elton John a number of times; it is always a fine concert with great songs and outstanding performances but the shows are rarely memorable beyond the following day.
In the 1970’s, and beyond, Elton John was releasing great songs and albums so frequently that you almost took him for granted.
His never ending, over priced, final tour has dates into 2022 partly due to a string of postponements for a variety of reasons. Elton John’s current world wide tour is yet another example of a rock and roll cash grab as he limps into retirement, but the man is undeniably one of the all time greats in a time when rock and roll seemingly has only the Foo Fighters rocking us into the sunset during these dark days for live music. Our musical heroes and hippie icons are furiously selling off their catalogs and trying to maintain a lifestyle into their golden years that they have become accustomed to. While I do not begrudge them monetizing their art, and the fans of rock and roll music have happily supported and made possible some of that country comfort, how about not squeezing every last dime from your fans on your way toward the exit door. Dynamic pricing, “platinum” seating, silly packages where you hand out a worthless laminate and a gift bag, are all pretty despicable and serve only to price gauge the uninformed casual fan. (Exorbitant ticket surcharges only add to the pain). Poor ticket sales and half sold venues for some tours, particularly indoors, should not be ignored.
Play nice…..and loud!

Goodbye Yellow Brick Road

Rock On!

GQ

Neil Young went full on country in 1984 with his backing band the International Harvesters and opening act the legendary Waylon Jennings with the Waylors. This Jones Beach concert that I believe was sponsored by Schaefer beer is memorable for a couple of reasons.
After the show ended and the audience had made its way toward the Jones Beach parking lots, I decided that I would explore. While crew were dismantling the stage, I walked down the center aisle of the orchestra, hopped on stage and made like I had something legitimate to do and belonged. I had no idea where I was going but continued backstage into the seemingly cavernous concrete structure and began wandering around. I could see that there were some people hanging out in one room and I quick stepped past. At some point during my journey, I ended up in the lot where the tour buses were parked. I still lived in Queens at the time and my ride home was long gone; it was time to make my way to Queens and I started walking. I really had no bearing as to where I was to where I needed to be but, in retrospect, I must have walked along the Wantagh Parjway for quite awhile. It had gotten late early and I found myself in an all night diner where I used a pay phone to try and call a cab for what would have been an expensive ride to Queens. Whoever answered the phone told me “why don’t you just take the train?” My response was something to the effect like “what are you talking about?”; I still had no idea what was the best way to get home. The voice on the phone said “look out the window” and it turned out the diner was directly across from the Long Island Railroad. I got on the westbound train to New York City and found myself sitting with commuters on their way into work Monday morning as the sun began to rise.

Little could I have known then that in about eight years I would purchase a house in Seaford that is a ten minute drive from the Jones Beach Theatre parking lots after a show to my driveway.

Field of Opportunity

Rock on!

GQ

New York City has it all and I am not opposed to attending the occasional Broadway show as I do like to be entertained. On a Saturday in August, 1984 we went to see the long running musical “A Chorus Line”.

Dance the Night Away

Rock on!

GQ

Elvis Costello & the Attractions played Radio City Music Hall, New York City in August of 1984 and my only vivid memory is that when Costello hit the stage I thought to myself “my god, elvis has become his father!”. I guess that I was expecting the Elvis of “This Year’s Model” but instead a somewhat mature looking rock star took center stage. I remember regularly listening to Elvis Costello records at John McGlyn’s place; John was a cook at Beefsteak Charlie’s in Whitestone and he had an apartment above a store in Douglaston, Queens with no neighbors. McGlyn was totally into the New Wave movement blasting same at high volume into the night and early morning. All of the Elvis Costello & the Attractions albums were phenomenal including “Armed Forces” and the Beatlesque “Imperial Bedroom”. Mr. Costello & the Imposters will be appearing at the Tilles Center on Long Island on Saturday, October 30th, 2021 and I am hoping to grab a last minute ticket and catch, what I am sure will be, another great rock and roll show from a true artist and one of the now elder statesman of punk influenced music.

Pump It Up

Rock on!

GQ

David Gilmour performed during the Miller Concerts at the Pier series in July of 1984; this is one concert where I wish I had some recollection of the show but, alas, I do not. (I think I may have some repressed memory of Mr. Gilmour onstage playing guitar but…..)

The great Pink Floyd guitarist played the outdoor venue located on the west side of Manhattan on a summer Monday night and I was there!

Wish You Were Here

Rock on!

GQ

Long before his New York City residency sputtered to a halt last year due to the pandemic, I went to see Billy Joel in concert at Madison Square Garden in July of 1984.

New York State of Mind

Rock on!

GQ

Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich starred in Death of a Salesman at the Broadhurst Theatre on Broadway. As I recall my wife, then girlfriend, and I had front row seats facing the right side of stage. You knew that you were witnessing something special during the performance of this iconic play.

Death Magnetic

Rock on!

GQ

I had purchased a pair of tickets for Joan Jett & the Blackhearts at the Paramount for this past Tuesday but since I went to Citifield to see the Mets for a four o’clock start and the thought of a general admission indoor concert in this covid era sort of clinched my decision to ultimately skip the show.

Justin Hayward, most famously of the legendary Moody Blues, plays the Paramount in Huntington tonight, with his guitarist Mike Dawes opening. I have seen the Moody Blues a number of times, and Justin Hayward “solo” at City Winery in New York s as me the performances are always top notch; a real treat to see a true legend in the flesh.
it is my first show at the Paramount since it’s reopening; days of future passed.

Nights in White Satin

Rock on!

GQ