Jonny Lang

First saw him as a teenager in NJ from Pit seats. Then found that he plays my local venue, so my wife and I became members so that we could get front row seats. Have seen Jonny Lang (http://www.jonnylang.com/) now for a total of 9 times and except for the first and last shows, he has always be accommodating to his fans in meeting them after the show and hanging out and talking and signing autographs. His entire band, be it the old one or new one, were always accessible to the fans and would stay outback with us for over an hour after the show was over to show their appreciation of the fans. This humility is to me what a musician should possess, for if not for the fan they would be nothing.

Peter Noone

Seeing Peter Noone (http://www.peternoone.com/index.html), is to see a professional at work. His act is worthy of a standing applause for the effort he puts into his show. He is a talented and funny performer. His joke about the GEICO Gecko is one for the record books. My wife still to this day cannot watch their commercials without thinking of Peter. His show is fantastic, and he still sounds exactly the same as he did 40 years ago. He sings all of his hits for even the smallest of an audience (where we saw him was only 350 seats). Then we saw him again in Reading, hung out backstage with him, and it was the same all over again. His music is as timeless as he is. He is just another Dick Clark (Oldest teenager). Heres hoping to see his show again this year.

Meeting the King

I have seen B B King (http://www.bbking.com/) 8 times in the last 5 years. As an usher at my local venue, I get to see him for free, but it took winning a ticket auction to guarantee meeting him and getting him to sign my guitar. It was an hour ride each way to a different venue, and we had front row seats. I know that he recognized me as after the first song, he threw his pick directly at me. Unlike my local venue no one moved, so I was able to retrieve it for my collection. Then after the show my wife and I spent a good 30 Min's on his tour bus chatting to him and enjoying his genuine generosity. It was one of the highlights of my life that I will never forget.

Alicia Keys dissapointment

First saw Alicia Keys (http://www.aliciakeys.com/) at the Tower Theater in Philly on her 21st birthday. My wife enjoyed her music and I was a fan simply due to her covering a Prince song. Then we went to Atlantic City for a charity meet and greet with sound check included. Well the sound check was great but she wasn't there. Then after the show those of us with the meet and greet were herded into the depths of the Casino basement. After what seemed to be a 20 min walk to her "dressing room", we got to meet her. She stood in between two curtains, and graciously shook our hands while signing a black and white photo with a black sharpie on a dark part of the photo. When I asked her to sign something I had brought, she replied, "I don't think I can sign that", to which her security muttered the same thing and asked me to move on. I was instantly turned off by her lack of concern for the amount of money that was spent on the chance to meet her and then brushed off like an irritating insect. On the good side, my wife still likes her and her music.

Hurdy Gurdy Man

Seeing Donovan (http://www.donovan.ie/) in concert was an instant flashback to a much more peaceful time. I instantly felt whisked back to the innocence of the 60's, and all the great times and things we did. To be in a band in high school, and play shows in front of my childhood friends was an memory that was instantly brought back. Hearing songs like Mellow Yellow, Atlantis, and Jennifer Juniper were reminders of times that were much easier not only for me personally, but for the country as a whole. If we could but for a moment go back to those times! Looking forward to being able to see him again in the near future.

She just wants to have fun

Seeing Cyndi Lauper (http://www.cyndilauper.com/uniquecirx/home.php) in concert is to see someone who really loves their job and has fun doing it. But to see her is concert in a small venue is to be infected with her fun. She performed in the local venue, and had everyone laughing and singing along with her songs. It was hard to believe that she had so many hits that I forgot about. But seeing her in person brought back all the memories of her great music. The added pleasure was getting to meet her after the show.

C R E A M

When my wife and I got ticket for Cream at MSG, we were psyched, to say the least. After arriving by train and dinning in the bowels of the Garden, we went up to the arena. Seeing the merchandise I elected to get $ of the commemorative posters that were limited edition (I still have three). Then we took our seats for what was to be one of the best shows we had seen in the last 6 years. Ginger Baker has not lost a bit of skill, in fact, he was in tip top shape and even still took a solo on "Toad" that was over 7 minutes and did not even break a sweat. Jack Bruce was the "MAN" on the bass, even though he had to sit on a stool on occasion. And lastly, What else needs to be said of "Slow Hand". Not being confined to his solo work, Eric Clapton was sheer fluidity on the guitar.

How I met Vanilla Fudge

Vanilla Fudge (http://www.vanillafudge.com/) played at my local venue and I got to meet them. This is how it happened. They came out to the lobby after their set to sign autographs. I of course had my guitar there to get signed, but since I was working the show as an usher, I had to wait my time. Well, as they were signing, the headliner decided they wanted to go on early, and the lights were turned out in the lobby, in the middle of the Fudge signing. Thinking quickly, I held my flashlight up over Tim Bogart's head to shine on what ever he was signing, and then their Road Manager saw was I was doing, and he grabbed another usher's flashlight and did the same thing over Carmine Appice's shoulder. They all got to finish their fans requests for autographs, and as a result of my actions, the road manager hooked me up with backstage rights to another show 3 weeks later, where my wife and I hung out all night backstage with Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly and others. But that is for another BLOG.

Concert Review

One of the best shows I have seen in the last 6 years, (it is actually 2 shows), has to be Brian Wilson and his band. At a local venue in the Philadelphia area, he performed the album that took over 35 years to finish - SMILE.
Although there are more then 5 members in the current band like there was in the original Beach Boys, one can only marvel at the genius that is Brian Wilson.
The harmonies and intricate threading of melodies in the songs from this album are truly a wonder to hear. It is no wonder that the Beatles felt threatened by Brian. Had this album been finished in the 60's, even Sgt Pepper would not have beat it.
Then a year later he and the band returned to perform the complete Pet Sounds album at the same venue. Again it is plain to see how this album inspired the Beatles to do more, bigger and better recordings.These two shows are on my top 10 list of over 400 shows I have seen in the last 6 years and I will remember them always

Meeting Iron Butterfly

As seen in a previous BLOG, I met Vanilla Fudge and was invited to another show they were doing a few weeks later. At that show it was Vanilla Fudge, Iron Butterfly, and Nazz. Well, my wife and I could not have been happier. We entered the venue, and asked for Tommy (the road manager). We were sent back stage, and there we met all the members of Iron Butterfly (http://www.ironbutterfly.com/), Mitch Ryder, Lou Christie, and Nazz, along with revisiting all the guys from Vanilla Fudge. I have to say that the only real way to see Iron Butterfly is from the side of the stage, backstage, and only then can you really appreciate the talent of the DRUMMER, who at over 60 yrs of age, did not miss a beat on the extended version of IN-A-GADDA-DE-VIDA. If anything he sounds better today and live then on the original record. What a show. And of course, we got everyone's autograph.

Who thought It could Happen

Well, I always thought that George Michael would replace Freddie in Queen, but having seen Paul Rogers in MSG with the band, I have to admit that Paul pulled it off. First, as being one of the chosen ones to actually have been able to get tickets to the sold out show, I must say I was apprehensive at best. To me George M has the perfectly matched voice of Freddie. However after seeing the over 2 hr show at the Garden, I must admit that Paul did not try to copy Freddie in anyway, shape or form, and he still pulled off every Queen song and made it his own. The tribute to Freddie in "Bohemian Rhapsody", was to me as moving a tribute to him as one could get. To see him on the giant monitor playing the piano was sheer genius. Then to have Paul pick up after the guitar solo and close the song just proved that he did not try to substitute for Freddie, but pay homage to him instead.

Little Feat

Saw the Little Feat (http://www.littlefeat.net/) show and have to say that although I enjoy their catalog of songs, since I have seen them for the last 3 years, a part of their act is getting old. Yes, I still enjoy Fat man in a Bathtub, and Sailin Shoes, but when it comes to their signature song of Dixie Chicken they need to make a change. Don't get me wrong, it is still such a great song to listen to, but to stretch it out longer each year they play it to a point that it has turned into a 30 minutes jam is disheartening. I have nothing against jam bands even though I don't care for the Dead or Phil Lesh, but come on Feat - don't fail me now. Lets just go back to playing D.C. for the 19.5 minutes and maybe 12 bar solos for each and try to keep it under 22 min. But to play for over 30 min is taking it a bit far don't you think. And to think I will probably have to go through this again next year as they come every year to the venue I work at.

Peter Frampton

He still can "Make you feel like he does" (http://www.frampton.com/flash.html). After seeing Peter Frampton recently, the man still has it in him to take you back to the late mid 70's and gives you all the bang for your buck. His playing has not slowed up in the least, and he has become quite the showman. While his taste is a tad more eclectic, his classics today sound every bit the same as when captured on the multi-platinum Live album. He has a bit more jazz in him these days, but overall, still can raise the roof and get a grown man to cry with his speed and accuracy in picking the strings.

Rolling Stones

When my wife and I saw the Stones, we had the intimacy of a small club, (1700 seats), and the power of an arena in sound. Imagine if you can the Stones, playing in an old movie theater, complete with balcony. They outdid themselves yet once again in their performance. My only regret was they did not play Sympathy for the Devil. But all the other classic hits were there, live and in living color and in your face. Mick truly did look like a chicken strutting around the stage, and Keith and Ron played off each others licks all night long. Charlie back on the drums, looked just as refined as could be, and yet together they were, they are, and they always will be the Rolling Stones.

Brian Wilson show

http://www.brianwilson.com/
Saw Brian Wilson show where he performed the entire SMILE album. Needless to say it is a work of pure GENIUS. It was totally worth the 30plus years it took to complete. To me Brian is unequaled in the field of writing and producing harmonies and melodies that stick with you all of your life. Songs like "Heros and Villians" and "Good Vibrations" only go to prove what a master of his craft Brian is. Such intricate harmonies and overlays are his signature in both songs. The ability to take a song and include 4 Freshman harmonies, to a rock beat, are the cornerstone to Brian's success. One can only hope that he will continue to grace his fans with more shows for years to come.