Apollo Run, Bell House, Brooklyn, NY, July 1, 2009, supported by The Hard Lessons.
Fun set by a local band from Brooklyn that a friend of mine manages...I find them very entertaining but what really stands out is how fully-formed they are...songs, arrangements, stage presence...the whole deal. I could see them right now as a very strong support act in a theatre or arena...any booking agents listening?
The Dead, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, April 25, 2009.
I kept my expectation low and was rewarded for it...not that this wasn't a thoroughly enjoyable show but its best to let these types of things stand on their own two (or twelve) feet as opposed to trying any comparing or contrasting with what came before...The setlist:
"(Set 1) Cosmic Charlie China Cat Sunflower> Shakedown Street Ship Of Fools He's Gone Cassidy Sugaree
(Set 2) Drums> Cryptical Envelopment> Other One> Born Cross Eyed> St Stephen> The Eleven> Uncle John's Band> Unbroken Chain> Gimme Shelter> One More Saturday Night Donor Rap
(Encore) Brokedown Palace"
I purchased the official recording from the Dead's site but it is not ready for download yet. Check back, I will post it when they release it. In the meantime you can stream a nice audience recording, courtesy of archive.org:
McCoy Tyner Trio with special guest Gary Bartz at the Blue Note, New York, NY, February 25, 2009.
Caught both sets. The early show was a little less focused and fiery. The drummer, Eric Gravatt, in particular, was a little out of sync. McCoy and Bartz were still terrific, it just wasn't spot on. They covered some ground, though..."Mellow Minor", "Walk Spirit, Talk Spirit", Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone", "Fly With the Wind" (joined by McCoy's big band tuba player Howard Johnson...), "Blues on the Corner", etc.
The late show got deep, though...As I sit here I am drawing a complete and total blank as to what they opened with...Was it a Coltrane number...? Damn...There goes that last brain cell...Anyway, when they launched into "Sama Layuca", everyone stepped it up. McCoy played a couple of out solos, the drums and bass took at least one or two solos each but Bartz...holy cow...all I can tell you is that he had something to say and he said it!
I will update this post if and as I come across reviews, photos or recordings...
Tony Bennett, with the Count Basie Orchestra at the Apollo Theatre, New York, NY on December 16, 2008.
A night of firsts: never saw Mr. Bennett, never been to the Apollo, never ate at Sylvia's....All cool things to check off the list...
The show started a few minutes past eight with a 30 - 40 minute set by the Count Basie Orchestra. The Orchestra is now led by long-time band member Bill Hughes, who noted that he joined the band in 1956...they warmed up the room with a strong set of swing and with no real break to speak of (save for a couple of musicians entering and exiting their positions) Tony Bennett was introduced. I did not keep notes but he covered quite a bit of ground. For Once in My Life, The Best is Yet to Come, My Favorite Things, and of course....I Left My Heart in San Francisco. All told, about 60 - 70 minutes of Tony. The only tune missing for me was his take on Winter Wonderland, which appears on both of his Christmas records - this year's release with the Basie Orchestra and his last one, from 1968!
Cool side note: on the way in we were all handed laminates with a code on back to download a track from the show after Dec 23...
There was a fun post-show reception at Sylvia's, the classic soul food spot on Lenox Ave. You know its a party when Charlie Rangel's in the house...
Neil Young and His Electric Band, with Wilco and Everest, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, December 15, 2008
Everest...moderately interesting rootsy kinda band. Probably great in a bar...but Wilco...Fucking Wilco, man, how do they keep getting better? It is ridiculous. I have not seen them in a couple of years and I tell you, they were loud, crystal clear, and adventurous. I remember after seeing them for the first time 8 or 9 years ago I sent an email to my friends calling Wilco a cross between The Band and the Bay City Rollers. You might be able to add Pink Floyd to that list. Damn...I nominate them for Best Band in the World right now...Tweedy is unreal. I hope we're still seeing them 20 years from now. Impossible Germany and Spiders (Kidsmoke) were the highlights for me...
Neil's band for this tour is "His Electric Band": Ben Keith, Rick Rosas, Ralph Molina, Anthony Crawford and Pegi Young. Managed to scrounge a video from the show on offa YouTube:
Neil's set was heavy up on new songs...a lot of singing about green energy and recycling...idealistic lyrics, earnestly delivered, that's Neil, right? Cortez and Cinnamon Girl were worth the price of admission alone, though...Oh yeah, and Cowgirl in the Sand and Neil introducing Pegi as the "Unknown Legend" (which was beautifully played in its own right...). Neil's set list:
Love And Only Love
Hey Hey, My My
Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere
Powderfinger
Spirit Road
Cortez The Killer
Cinnamon Girl
Oh, Lonesome Me
Mother Earth
The Needle And The Damage Done
Light A Candle
"Cough Up The Bucks"
Fuel Line
"Hit The Road And Go To Town"
Unknown Legend
Heart Of Gold
Old Man
Get Back To The Country
"Off The Road"
Just Singing A Song
When Worlds Collide
Cowgirl In The Sand
Rockin' In The Free World
"Get Behind The Wheel"
A Day In The Life
12/19/08 update: Wilco set list courtesy of Wilcobase:
Via Chicago
Impossible Germany
You Are My Face
Spiders (Kidsmoke)
Hummingbird
Jesus, Etc.
Forget The Flowers
Walken
I'm The Man Who Loves You
Please let me know if you have recordings of any parts of this show. I would love to post them here.
Music links posted here expire after a very short period of time, typically fourteen days max...Get 'em while you can...And always remember to enjoy and support live music.
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Big Star, with support from Tara Angell and Kurt Vile and the Violators, Brooklyn Masonic Temple, Brooklyn, NY, November 18, 2009.
Apollo Run, Bell House, Brooklyn, NY, July 1, 2009, supported by The Hard Lessons.
The Dead, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, April 25, 2009.
McCoy Tyner Trio with special guest Gary Bartz at the Blue Note, New York, NY, February 25, 2009.
Tony Bennett, with the Count Basie Orchestra at the Apollo Theatre, New York, NY on December 16, 2008.
and his last one, from 1968
!
