Often my first show of the season involves a Gotham connection. Last year, it was a show at My Father’s Place that Shelly and I attended with Vincent and Susan Russo. Often, The Gotham Battle of the Bands® (“BOTB”) works out as my first show of the year. This year, definitely not to be. Marisa and I take in the Eagles later this month at MSG. A few weeks back I already outlined here the state of my concert plans. Besides the band above influenced by my favorite band Poco and ...

No secret to frequent followers of this blog, and to many (most? All?) who know me how much I enjoy music, especially of a certain genre. Yesterday, I saw a tweet between to City Council Members I know that I think was trying to equate the quality and state of music today to politics today and a comparison to an earlier era. I replied my view that most of the best music with limited exceptions occurred from 1967 though 1974. Earlier last week, I found myself discussing with m...

At the end of every year, I compose a review of the top ten shows that I attended. This year. I posted my commentary to my website on New Year’s Day. While I prefer to post on the eve, this year and last I posted on the first day of the year. As with 2018, many of the shows received coverage in this Gotham space (View the links to review those past blogs also linked in the commentary.).   Interestingly one-half of the 2018 top list list finds representation in the list that f...

Let’s Welcome the New Year with Some Musical Cheer   In a comment on a blog my friend Paul suggested making today’s blog short.   Traditionally, the blog runs long because it includes a list; it did last year.   This commentary, in a nod to Paul's comment on my comment to last Tuesday's blog and Friday’s blogger who also encourages me to offer shorter blogs, I simply share my verified playlist to herald the new year. Interestingly, unlike the happy holidays playlist now at an...

This month continued a run of some really nice concerts.  Last weekend I closed up shop; that means no more outside office.  If I were not away and returning (See Rock and more rock) the weekend before, I probably would have achieved closure that weekend. After completing that “work,” I treated Shelly and me to a show at My Father’s Place. Originally we had plans to meet friends “upstate” but when those plans changed I looked over the shows and selected Robert Gordon with Chr...

The Jewish New Year starts this eve. Looking forward to gathering with close family at “Grand Junction” for dinner. It follows another eventful week. Marisa and I saw the deGrominator lock in a second straight Cy Young Award with his performance last Wednesday at Citifield where the polar bar hit #51 (on the way to tying Aaron Judge Friday and surpassing his rookie record HR record last night). We took in The Zombies reprising their classic Odessey and Oracle LP at The Beacon...

With my daughter back in town, she took up offers to join me at Citifield and Madison Square Garden on successive days. The Mets, in an afternoon game without any input from their “Polar Bear” parked a record six shots over the fence; not bad to attend a record breaking game and of course a victory, 11-1 over the D-Backs. The next eve we took in a concert billed as “Peter Frampton Finale - The Farewell Tour” at the Garden. Marisa told me it was the best ever concert. It pleas...

I started my day with Black Coffee. If you read last week’s blog (or viewed my last post to Gotham’s RockRap Music listserve), you already know why.   One word (or title or name).  Squeeze.   We took in one of my fave bands last night at The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport. I viewed some set lists for shows the band led by Glenn Tilbrook (lead guitar and vocals) and Chris Difford (guitar and vocals). Each one varied so one could only guess what song(s) might ge...

We saw some really great shows so far this year. And it’s not impossible that by the time this month passes nothing can top 2019’s August. Already this month we saw Poco co-founder Jim Messina (perhaps better known for his work with Kenny Loggins) August 5 at current fave venue, My Father’s Place. This past Thursday at Radio City Music Hall, we enjoyed John Fogerty who led Creedence Clearwater Revival to a string of double-sided hit singles and earns kudos for his solo work. ...

Last week, I lamented the lack of free (and low cost) shows this summer. This, by no means, indicate a lack of quality shows to attend; it just means parting with many, many pennies to access them. My intended lineup of summer shows remains in flux. But, a schedule of sorts appears to show some promise.   Vacation plans may impact the ability to catch some great shows.   In one case, I continue to mull which of three shows I want to attend. Friends made a case for one, and th...