In the same week that had me enjoying a stellar Neil fest at the Bowery Ballroom, my daughter and I attended Phil Lesh and Friends at the Central Park Summerstage. We had such a good time last year when “friend” Warren Haynes of Allman Brothers Band fame joined Grateful Dead founding member and bassist Phil Lesh on stage, that we were looking forward to Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes, and the Grateful Dead influenced Chris Robinson Brotherhood, playing with the band on a beautiful late summer evening.

Due to worse than usual mid town traffic,we arrived at the park just minutes before the band hit the stage for a sold out general admission show. As the front of the stage was jam packed, my daughter and I decided to watch from the much less crowded side of the stage where mostly middle aged fans danced throughout a set of familiar Grateful Dead tunes led by Chris Robinson, whose vocal style and laid back pot smoking vibe fit in well during the night’s festivities.

About a third of the way into the band’s set we were invited to a catered party taking place on a deck in front of us on the side of the stage where friends of the band enjoyed gin cocktails and some food while grooving to the band’s take on Dead classics like “Sugaree”.

Phil Lesh, who played with the Dead for their fiftieth anniversary shows in Chicago this summer, will not participate in the Dead & Company fall tour. Phil was in good spirits throughout and played great right up until the 10:00 PM curfew brought the show to an end.

The smiling crowd walked off into the Manhattan night satisfied that they had seen a legend continuing an unstoppable rock and roll communal rite.

U.S. Blues

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GQ

Does Anybody Remember Laughter?

Update-

Mr. Plant was also seen this year at Forest Hills Stadium and the Arroyo Seco Weekend festival in Pasadena, California.

The Road Goes On Forever

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GQ

Warren Haynes and Gov’t Mule are about to hit the Westbury stage in the half round. Warren was last seen here on the Last Waltz anniversary tour with Michael McDonald and others. It’s an odd venue for the Mule but should make for a loud and raucous Wednesday night.

Update-

The Mule return to the Beacon Theatre this New Year’s Eve weekend for their annual shows that will end 2018 and bring in the new year. It seems that Warren Haynes may have taken the mantle as the hardest working man in show biz. He is an extraordinary guitarist and blues vocalist who can play with absolutely anyone on any stage.

Soul Shine on the Dark Side of the Mule

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GQ

The greatest rock and roll documentary ever made is “Beware Mr. Baker” about the great Cream and Blind Faith drummer Ginger Baker but I have recently watched two extraordinary docs that every fan must see. The Jeff Beck documentary on Showtime and the Joe Cocker documentary on Netflix are phenomenal and must see television for anyone that is a fan of rock and roll music and performance. Two great rock and roll icons and two great stories provide great insight regarding their determination, unique talents and musical genius. Joe Cocker is no longer with us however Jeff Beck is still in the studio and out on the road so if you have not seen him check him out and, if you have, check him out again real soon. Coincidentally both Mr. Beck And Mr. Cocker recorded and performed some of the great Beatles cover versions you will ever hear. How is Joe Cocker not in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame? For his Woodstock performance alone he should be in, especially now when the Def Lepperds, Chesp Tricks and Bon Jovis of the world are getting inducted (don’t even get me started about Janet Jackson and some others).

A Day in the Life (with a little help from my friends)

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GQ

An eclectic group of musicians will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2019 and I have mixed feelings about this television event/marketing tool. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland is a cool place to visit but do we really need to induct a half a dozen acts every year regardless of their historical significance to “rock and roll”. Well if you are Jann Webber and HBO the answer is an unequivocal YES. Janet Jackson? Rock and Roll? Really? Yes she had some catchy tunes and a wardrobe malfunction some years back but do we need to see her next to The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin at the HOF? Def Leppard? Yes they have some pop metal hits and a one armed drummer but Hall of Fame worthy? I think not. Where is Peter Wolf and the J. Geils Band? Now those guys are rock and roll!

In my opinion the HOF pool has become so diluted as to make the inductions a joke at this point. The Cure? Maybe, I’m not sure. Radiohead? Perhaps? Stevie Nicks? Certainly.

I suppose if the inductions are being discussed at all the HOF is somewhat relevant but I’m starting to believe that when the great rock acts disappear from the face of the earth like the dinosaurs, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will resemble a jazz or blues museum and the visitors will be left scratching their heads at the Madonna pointy bra exhibit. Frank Sinatra rocks more than Janet Jackson so let’s put Ol’ Blue Eyes in. He would certainly make for a heck of an exhibit. Hell, let’s put William Shatner and Tan Mom in too! No? Maybe someday when attendance is down. In the meantime, let’s enjoy the HBO special and praise them for cutting down the acceptance speeches for television (did the E Street Band finish yet?)

Pour Some Sugar on Me

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GQ

Maggie Rogers just finished her set on the rectangular stage center orchestra with Mumford & Sons hitting the stage at 8:45.

There is not a bad seat in the house; the excitement is growing and the beer is flowing.

They return tomorrow for night two of the New York City stop on the Delta tour.

Wilder Mind

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GQ

For my sister’s birthday I purchased two front row seats for Tony Orlando and Dawn tonight at the formerly known as Westbury Music Fair. A Christmas show with all the big hits is in store and the original Dawn is in the house!

Knock Three Times and

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

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GQ

For my sister’s birthday I purchased two front row seats for Tony Orlando and Dawn tonight at the formerly known as Westbury Music Fair. A Christmas show with all the big hits is in store and the original Dawn is in the house!

Mr. Orlando was older and larger than his 1970″s prime but he is a likable guy and he works hard. The group mixed in their half a dozen or so huge radio hits with holiday songs and it made for a festive night out.

Tony told a great story about how the Westbury venue meant a lot to them as on a night when Cher and the Fifth Dimension were to perform, Cher had the flu and was unable to make the gig; Tony Orlando and Dawn were asked to open for the Fifth Dimension in her place. Fred Silverman was in the audience to see Cher who was not there of course, but after watching Tony Orlando and Dawn he asked the group if they would be interested in doing a summer television variety program which turned out to be a launching pad to their great success in the 1970’s.

Tony Orlando with the original Dawn is a rare sighting together as a Thelma Hopkins has been perpetually employed as primarily a sit-com actress. The ladies grew up in Detroit and sang background on some of the great Motown classic hits.

Seeing the group perform brought back fond memories of my youth and hearing those radio friendly pop hits again made me smile. Time passes but the songs that make up the soundtrack of your life are not forgotten.

Knock Three Times and

Tie a Yellow Ribbon

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GQ

The first concert that I ever attended was Queen with opener Thin Litzy at Madison Square Garden. Queen hit the stage with “Tie Your Mother Down” and Freddie Mercury instantly stole the night with his incredible voice and theatricality. 

The movie is quite incredible and the actors playing the band members are so good you sometimes forget that it is not the original band. We saw it at an IMAX theatre and the sound was great. The concert sequences got to be a little drawn out at times, and there is a lot of artistic license taken with the storytelling, but overall it is great entertainment and definitely worth seeing. 

Expect to hear even more Queen music on the radio in the coming months as the band will be having yet another renaissance.

Tonight it is John Sebastian at City Winery as the road goes on forever.

Now I’m Here

Welcome Back

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GQ

After helping move my daughter and son-in-law from Battery Park to Brooklyn in the middle of a trick or treat frenzy, my wife and I scrambled to make the last John Hiatt performance at New York City’s City Winery In downtown Manhattan. We were running late for the scheduled 7 PM start so when traffic came to a halt on Varick Street just before the entrance to the Holland Tunnel and suddenly realizing that we were at the beginning of the huge Halloween Parade spectacular,  I did not hold out much hope of seeing the Hiatt show at all.  Fortunately, and unbelievably, we quickly found a parking spot on the street just two blocks from the venue and walked in just as Hiatt hit the stage to do his third solo acoustic concert st City Winery. John Hiatt is an extraordinary singer-song writer who has written huge hits for Bonnie Raitt among  many others. John played an hour before breaking for 25 minutes and finishing with a strong second hour of songs highlighting his new Eclipse Sessions collection. The new songs were recorded during the most recent solar eclipse and were quite frankly outstanding. The 66 year old  Hiatt intermittently changed guitars, played a couple of tunes on piano, and bantered with the half filled Winery audience. It was a tough night to get downtown so I am sure some reserved tables were left unused by patrons stuck in the traffic snarl. It was a laid back evening of great music in an intimate setting performed by a legend. 

It was an interesting week of rock and roll that began Sunday with Billy Gibbons touring behind his new blues album at the Paramount in Huntington. Billy Gibbons is a great blues guitarist, and with Matt Sorum of Guns ‘N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver on drums, Gibbons rocked a Paramount house of blues and ZZ Top fans who got their money’s worth (I know I got my $19.99 Groupon money’s worth). Matt Sorum is a great drummer and it was very cool to watch him in action up close and personal at the not quite full Paramount.

On Monday I trekked into the Kings Theatre on Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn for the Beastie Boys Book Tour. I had my doubts, and did not know what to expect, but the two remaining Beastie Boys told stories with video accompaniment, and Mixmaster Mike spun some complimentary sonic blasts that provided an entertaining evening to the attentative and appreciative Beastie Boys fans they came out to the sold out Brooklyn venue. Quite frankly it was a better than expected event but for me it was not quite worth the $80 face value ticket price. Fortunately I purchased a ticket on StubHub gor $6 the day before; a grab that cane with a copy of the Beastie Boys book upon arrival to the theatre. Needless to say, I was a completely satisfied customer on this particular night.

No Sleep Till Brooklyn

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GQ