Cheap Trick: Seaside Summer Concerts 12 July 2013

Once again, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz hosts concerts at Coney Island. The line-up this year is incredible and it started with Cheap Trick last Friday. The last time they played Coney Island it was raining so hard that the band could only play five songs. Last Friday it was raining and windy and I […]

Old 97’s (Wreck Your Life): Brooklyn Bowl 28 June 2013

Hard to believe but the second night was even better than the first. The band had more energy (I don’t know how after everything they gave us the night before) and the crowd was more energetic and singing and dancing to every song. Even harder to believe was that Rhett looked more beautiful and sexier […]

Old 97’s (Hitchhike to Rhome): Brooklyn Bowl 27 June 2013

Ken smiles and speaks! There’s your headline. Not that the Old 97’s playing three nights at the Brooklyn Bowl isn’t great. Or that each night they are performing one of their first three albums isn’t even better. But Ken Bethea (lead guitar) actually breaking out in a wide smile and telling the audience that it […]

Fleetwood Mac: Jones Beach Theater 22 June 2013

Like most everyone else in the mid-1970s, Fleetwood Mac and Rumours were in heavy rotation on my stereo. I hadn’t followed Fleetwood Mac since their beginning in 1967 but was familiar with the incarnation that had Bob Welch on board (and I followed him when he went solo). But there was no avoiding the band […]

Dylan Moran: Skirball Center 19 June 2013

rtb and I had been waiting for this evening since we bought the tickets for Dylan Moran’s first North American tour and his new show, Yeah, Yeah. Last year he performed several nights in a small downtown space. This time he was in the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, which is just off […]

David Ford: Rockwood Music Hall: Night Two 12 June 2013

This night violaleeblue joined rtb and me. She got to Rockwood Music Hall early and got a table for us. We had a great view of the stage (there really aren’t any bad sightlines). My first question was where had they put the grand piano? rtb pointed out an alcove above the stage and there […]

David Ford: Rockwood Music Hall: Night One 11 June 2013

Philly has David’s heart but NYC has David for two nights. Unfortunately the shows were not sold out, which is a huge shame. And the sets are too short. But then I could listen to David all night. I’d forgotten how small Rockwood Music Hall’s second stage is. The room is very intimate. And this […]

Old Crow Medicine Show: Capitol Theater 7 June 2013

Cory! There’s your lede. rtb and I were excited about seeing the Old Crow Medicine Show but had heard that Cory Younts was no longer playing with them, which was a disappointment. So when Ketch Secor looked at one of the musicians and said, “Cory,” rtb and I looked at each other and said, “Wha?” […]

Chick Corea: Jazz at Lincoln Center 16 May 2013

My penpal Sue was back in town and that means several things – good conversation, laughs, good food, and jazz or Broadway. This time Sue, her husband, and their daughters invited me to join them at the Jazz at Lincoln Center to see Chick Corea with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. […]