Crosby Still & Nash - Deja Vu at the Beacon

Photos and article by Bill Kelly

About mid-way through their 3rd night set at NY's Beacon Theater, David Crosby mentioned to the crowd that they never "considered themselves a political band."  After an appropriate amount of derisive laughter from the mostly senior crowd, he went on to rail about the current state of media politics and the general rotten state of affairs.  Then, he said, things would get weird, breaking into "Deja Vu" from their 1970 release of the same name.

City Parks Foundation Annual Gala - Celebrating the Beatles

Rumsey Playfield, NY NY

Photos and article by Bill Kelly

The City Parks Foundation opened their summer program of free music, arts, dance and theater with the annual Gala held in Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield.  Featuring a wide-ranging group of musicians, the well-heeled crowd was treated to an interesting cross section of the Beatles catalog.

Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, The Space, Westbury NY

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and his band, Orleans Avenue, knocked down the house with a rollicking good show at Long Island's newest concert venue, The Space at Westbury.  Funk, jazz, blues and James Brown covers, Shorty and company brought their stew of New Orleans sound to a packed house of appreciative fans.

Allman Brothers Band at the Beacon Theater

The Road Doesn’t Go On Forever....

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Bittersweet can best describe the feeling evoked by Friday night’s sold out show at the Beacon, the fifth of fourteen sold out evenings of the bands final Beacon run.  An almost unbroken run (let’s not get into the whole Dolan/Circus thing) since 1989, over 200 shows that have become as much a harbinger of spring in New York as March Madness and crocuses blooming in Central Park a few blocks east of the theater.

The Eagles Teach History at Madison Square Garden

Article and images by Bill Kelly

In the beginning, there was Frey, and Henley, and it was good.  And then, there was Leadon, and Meisner, and Felder, and others, and it was good.  But then, there was Walsh, and the light of rock ‘n roll deprivation shown on the Eagles.  

Joe Walsh, Paramount Theater "How Ya Doin?"

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Before breaking into “Life’s Been Good” during last Monday night’s show at the Paramount, Joe Walsh told the story of how when trying to impress the Eagles before joining the band, he rented a tank to drive to the American Music Awards.  Upon arriving at the gate, an official with a clipboard told Walsh “you can’t come in here with that” to which Walsh replied, “you’ve got a clipboard, I got a tank, who you think’s gonna win....”.  Walsh got in, the rest is Rock history.

Walsh has been a major figure on the American music scene since the early 70’s, first as a member of the James Gang, then through several solo iterations and, beginning in 1975 as a member of the Eagles.   

Thick As Theives - Brooklyn Bowl 3.19.13

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Fuzz driven, greasy garage rock is a sound that sort of disappeared at some time between the depressing days of disco and its variant offspring.  Thankfully, strong musical styles survive time and turmoil, as demonstrated by Thick As Theives, an emerging band that played a strong set at Brooklyn Bowl last Wednesday night.  

Allman Brothers Band at The Beacon - 2013

Images and article by Bill Kelly
On Friday evening the Allman Brothers began a 11 night run at the Beacon Theater that has become an annual harbinger of Spring in the New York area.  Following last year’s residency, many in attendance felt that Gregg Allman’s tenure with the band was drawing to a close; he left the second to last night show late in the 2nd set because of pain from a bulging disc and could not appear at the last show at all, being replaced by Bruce Katz on organ with Warren Haynes picking up lead vocals.  On Friday night, in much better health, Allman sang strongly, in full voice as the entire Beacon joined him singing Midnight Rambler.

The Who at Nassau Coliseum - Out Of Our Brains On The Train

Images and article by Bill Kelly

During a very creative, prolific period Pete Townshend wrote another “rock opera”  for The Who reflecting the zeitgeist of the band’s formative years, when ‘mods’ and ‘rockers’ battled for social relevance in the working-class redoubts of mid-60’s England. Mods wore parkas, rode motor scooters festooned with mirrors and listened young bands like The Small Faces and imports from Motown. Townshend’s album reflecting this time, “Quadrophenia”, tells the story of Jimmy Cooper, a young mod coming of age during this transitional period.

Mumford and Sons Pre-Grammy Party at The Barclays

PHISH at Madison Square Garden - 12.28.12

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Kicking off their “almost” annual New Years run at Madison Square Garden, Phish appeared for their 24th show at the venerated arena on December 28th.  From the first notes of opener Stealing Time From The Faulty Plan through to the closing cover of Zepplin’s Good Times Bad Times, Anastiasio and band mates delighted fans with a strong, rousing night of music.  People familiar with MSG know that the structure is actually a suspended bowl, and at several points during the night the arena could be felt literally “jumping” to the music.

Electric Hot Tuna - Beacon Theater, NYC 11.30.12

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Following last years huge 70th birthday bash for Jorma, Hot Tuna returned to the Beacon Theater supported by an impressive group of guest including stalwarts Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams, along with G.E. Smith, Cindy Cashdollar, Lincoln Schleifer, Steve Kimmock and Telecaster master Bill Kirchen.  

Trey Anastasio - TAB at the Beacon

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Trey Anastisio - TAB at the Beacon Theater, NYC October 26th

Phish frontsman Trey Anastasio played to an enthusiastic, sold out crowd at New York’s historic Beacon Theater on October 26th.  Touring his recently released album “Travler” Anastasio was backed by an eight piece band including Natalie Cressman on Trombone, Ray Paczkowski on Keyboards and Tony Markellis on drums as well as Cyro Baptista on percussions, joining the lineup for the first time since 2006.

BRUCE - MetLife Stadium 9/22-23 Happy Birthday Boss

Images and article by Bill Kelly
 
 63 years old.
 When most of us think of this milestone, images of quiet family dinners,  maybe a round of golf and, if lucky enough, pop a little blue pill and try your luck with the Mrs.  But not Bruce Springsteen - Playing before a sold out crowd that had waited through a 2+ hour rain delay, Bruce took the stage at home state New Jersey’s MetLife stadium and powered through a 33 song set, hitting the last note at 2:00am.

Counting Crows at Williamsburg Waterfront - Brooklyn NY

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Joined by openers Kasey Anderson and the Honkies, Field Report and We Are Augustines, the Counting Crows brought the second leg of their Outlaw Roadshow to Brooklyn’s Williamsburg Waterfront.  Another of those formerly forlorn, desolate and forgotten neighborhoods, Williamsburg is now a vibrant area featuring several great music venues (Brooklyn Bowl, Williamsburg Music Hall to name a few), restaurants and art galleries. 

The Jackson Unity Tour Plays the Apollo Theater

Images and article by Bill Kelly

The Jacksons - Jermaine, Marlon, Tito and Jackie, played the famous Apollo Theater in Harlem last Thursday night,  almost exactly three years after the death of their famous brother, Michael.   Stepping back into the limelight, the remaining brothers honored their past and demonstrated why they are the forerunners of all the boy bands that followed.

Alabama Shakes, Diamond Rugs and Robert Ellis - Super show at SummerStage

Article and images by Bill Kelly

The City Parks Foundation continued wowing New Yorkers with a super Sunday SummerStage show featuring  soul-rockers Alabama Shakes,  Diamond Rugs; a collaboration with  members of Deer Tick, Los Lobos, The Black Lips, Dead Confederate and Six Finger Satellite, along with alt-Country crooner Robert Ellis. 

Deer Tick and Jonny Corndawg - Red Hook Park, Brooklyn NY

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Providence based alt-folk-rock band Deer Tick played  a brief but exubernt set in the neo-hipster,  warehouse waterfront neighborhood of Red Hook Brooklyn  last Thursday night.  Red Hook,  former home of dockworkers and milieu for the movie “On The Waterfront” is another one of those New York neighborhoods transitioning from dangerous to home of kimchi tacos.  

SummerStage 2012 Gala - The Music of Jimi Hendrix

Articles and images by Bill Kelly

Kicking off a season of over 100 music and dance programs, the NY Parks Foundation SummerStage series opened with a Gala celebrating the music of Jimi Hendrix.  Featuring a diverse group of artist including Wyclef, The Roots, Bebel Gilberto, G.Love, Soulive, Keller Williams, Amel Larrieux, John Scofield, Karl Densen and Living Colour, the evening celebrated the 70th anniversary of Hendrix’s birth.  

Paul Simon Plays Jazz at Lincoln Center

Me and Julio, and Wynton and Aaron

Images and article by Bill Kelly

Never known for resting on laurels or a familiar musical path, Paul Simon brought a unique new perspective to his songbook, playing with Wynton Marsalis and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra for three sold out shows.  Exploring a wide range of musical genres since leaving Simon and Garfunkel, this was the first time Simon lent his music to jazz interpretation.  Never straying far from original arrangements, the songs were gently tweaked by Marsalis and the Orchestra; the underlying Afro-Caribbean sound and tempos remained, augmented by the horn section and Simon’s band.