6 March 2014 – Hollywood, California –
In the past week, it was announced that Steve Perry, former lead singer of Journey, is back with his first new music in the last twenty years. Perry, 69, dropped a single,”No Erasin'” from his album TRACES which will be released on Oct. 5. How is that possible, you ask?
This was originally posted on October 26,206, I was moved by the music of these two performers and what their shows meant to their careers.
#Summerreading
Recently, I had the good fortune to see performances by legends and unknowns that
showed me that the future is behind us. Several weeks ago, I saw a solo piano player named Holly Bowling perform 90 minutes of amazing solo piano
View original post 629 more words
On the second anniversary of this blog, it seems appropriate to re-introduce what started it all
#Summerreading #Howdidwegethere
For me it all started at Madison Square Garden in NYC, 1971. My first concert was “Alvin Lee and Ten Years after” in one of America’s great arenas. I took the bait hook,line and sinker and have been going to concerts for the last 45 years. More than 300 shows later, I am hopelessly addicted to live music. Not a bad addiction to have.
Many times I have caught the magic during performances from those I expect but even more often from many I never knew existed.This magic makes us remember songs and moments that would otherwise have been lost in gray matter and gray hair. I remember the performances of David Bowie,the Who and the Rolling Stones at MSG in the mid-seventies. My favorite Jerry Garcia band show was at Bailey Hall,Cornell University(NY) in 1975. Nicky Hopkins’ piano was amazing and lent a perfect foil to Jerry Garcia’s guitar…
View original post 295 more words
April brings the fulfillment of all that spring promises: green grass, the budding of flowers, bushes and trees and an eclectic offering of live music. I was able to see four shows this month, including Dark Star Orchestra and 40 Mile Detour. . But I was most impressed by the performances of Dweezil Zappa, son of Frank, and Rhiannon Giddens, lead singer of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. Ms. Giddens is a 42 year old African-American from N. Carolina who has the voice of an angel and mastery of the banjo and fiddle. Their music was from different worlds but the passion that they bring to their craft draws them together.
Everyone has a favorite band or artist! We know their songs by heart and they play an important role in the story of our lives. Just hearing the first few notes of a favorite song can send us off to a time where this music was our soundtrack. If and when we get an opportunity to hear them live, it’s time to ‘take the bull by the horns’ and relive those memories.
If you know anything about the life and legend that is Eric Clapton(R&R HofF 2000), you have heard that someone wrote “Clapton is god” on a London subway station back in the 60’s. Even in his early twenties, his admirers were legion and their fervor was contagious. From his early beginnings with John Mayall’s ‘Blues Breakers’ to the Yard birds(RnR HofF 1992)Cream(RnR HofF 1993), Blind Faith, Derek and the Dominos and his solo career, Eric Clapton has been reluctant to step in to the spotlight. He has always wanted his songs and guitar playing to be the focus, not him personally. It’s safe to say that Clapton has his ego in check when it came to his personal faith in a higher being.
This past March I was able to see five shows: local up and coming Americana band ‘Forty Mile Detour’, Travis Tritt making up a snow date cancellation, David Bromberg quintet in their first Charleston appearance in 45 years, Graham Nash and the Dixie Dregs. I have chosen the back to back performances of Graham Nash(March 4) and the Dixie Dregs(March 5) in performances at the Music Hall. The decision was easy to make.
Face it, birthdays are celebrated in so many ways. Some ignore them and some have over the top celebrations that may spill over several days! The older people get, the more likely it is that they downplay or even ignore their birthdays. You can have your cake, stripper-grams and well wishes. For me, it’s going to a concert on or near my birthday that puts the cherry on top of the sundae! But it’s not as easy as it may seem.
It all started when I was in college. I celebrated my 19th birthday with the first of 5 birthday shows over the last 40+ years. On February 24, 1974 I saw Yes (Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame 2017) at Barton Hall on the campus of Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. It was a memorable show for a myriad of reasons that have nothing to do with the theme of this blog. This began a short run of birthday shows that fell on my birthday.
Next up the following year, on February 24, 1975, I was able to see Jethro Tull at the Syracuse War Memorial, NY. Ian Anderson and company were at the height of their popularity back in the ‘70’s. The following year, on February 24, 1976 I took in Joni Mitchell (RnR HoF 1997) with Tom Scott and the LA Express at the same venue. Tom Scott not only was the opening act, his was the back-up band for Joni Mitchell! This was the last of three birthday shows, in a row.
Fast forward 15 years and the stars aligned for another birthday show. This time it was acoustic guitar virtuoso Tommy Emanuel in my first show at the Charleston Music Hall on February 24,2012! If you have never seen Tommy live, his performance would be enjoyed by anyone who likes popular music. He is a virtuoso on the guitar and admired by musicians and fans the world over! Chet Atkins referred to Tommy as a complete guitar player…quite a compliment coming from a master of the guitar.
Five years hence, on Feb. 24, 2017, I brought 20 of my friends to the Music Hall for a local production, “Women and the Rolling Stones”. Local ladies have been producing this series for the last four years as they interpret the music of various artists. Women and the Stones did not disappoint!
There has to be a time limit to when to call one a birthday show. For me, it was always up to three days either side of my birthday. Using this as my guide, my first near birthday show was the Boss, Bruce Springsteen (RnR HoF 1997), at the Omni in Atlanta, February 23, 1981. A great show (when has Bruce ever done a bad show?)! It was then six years later when a show that I wanted to see was scheduled near my birthday. It was February 26, 1987 back at the Omni during my second stint living in Atlanta. Genesis (RnR HoF 2010), with Phil Collins singing lead and playing the drums, put on one hell of a show that night.
On February 25, 2015 I got to celebrate my birthday with the Tedeschi –Trucks Band at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center. Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks front an 11-piece band that never fails to deliver a great performance. The following year, on February 25, 2016 I enjoyed ‘Experience Hendrix’ at the Gaillard Center in Charleston. Experience Hendrix is a variety show bringing together a wide and varied assembly of great rock musicians and guitar wizards. This year, on February 27, 2018, I added Eric Johnson as his original band celebrated the 40th anniversary of Au via Musicom with a performance at the Charleston Music Hall.
If you have similar interests, I would love to hear about memorable birthday shows! Getting a show that you want to see fall on or near your birthday is not an easy feat if you don’t live in or near a major city. As my tally demonstrates, it’s only happened to me five times on my birthday and five more near my birthday in forty-seven years! How about you? #Do you believe in Magic? #YES #TommyEmanuel #CharlestonMusicHall #JethroTull
When I first concocted the idea of a monthly concert for the blog, I saw it as a way to highlight an artist whose performance moved me. It should be easy to recognize a concert as being a cut above the rest. Looking back at January, I have concluded that spotlighting one show was not going to do justice to the two other gems I saw this past month. Let me elaborate. Continue reading
Do You Believe in Magic 