Usually this space would share an experience that included attending a Broadway show; not this year. Absent Broadway, about which my friend Vincent Russo’s son, Robert, writes a nice newsletter, yesterday’s celebration found a different way to inject culture and visual experience; and instead of the theatre musical, dinner included a live musical performance. Interestingly, as I shared a year ago in this space, Shelly and I discussed doing something different this year. Who k...

Two blogs ago I shared taking in a show via the Internet. For the first time in six long months, last night I got to see a band play....LIVE. Yes we wore masks. The band played on a street corner literally. Outside a restaurant where we grabbed dinner.. I later remarked to the drummer -- Curt Arnel, a long-time friend from Hofstra law school that I never recalled a set or even a segue on the radio where Peaceful Easy Feelin’ (Eagles) got sandwiched between What’s Goin’ On (Ma...

The other day one of my young (yes young) basketball (Our school gym has been closed since schools closed in March and we remain without any word on a possible re-start.) players texted he is part of an outdoor summer “free, socially distant” concert in downtown Jamaica. I responded there were plans that eve to see one of my all-time faves in the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey that eve but I am sure it will be rescheduled (it was already rescheduled from la...

President Obama, during the DNC, tweeted his “summer” playlist see pic at left). Since this blog falls on the weekend between the DNC and the RNC, it seems a good time to re-share my “State of Our Union playlist; I created it before the 2019 annual presidential speech. Some people create playlists all the time. It predates streaming. People would make their own tapes. My daughter would make CDs for the car. For me, just as with drafting these blog, something needs to muse me....

Summer’s almost gone   Yeah it’s almost gone.   Above are lyrics from song of the first phrase by the Doors. The LP is Waiting for the Sun.   It goes back 52 years.   It concludes with a question,“where will we be?   In this summer of Covid what do you wish for the fall and winter. In part I post the question as we continue to face limits on some activities we covet/miss and the sooner time passes, and we endure, perhaps solutions to what we face this summer and faced last Sp...

Two weeks ago on this "page" this blogger shared how he enjoyed sitting outide, even during a heavy rain (when otherwise protected from the elemented).  I mused since about a rain song playlist and compiled a list of songs I enjoy listening to (and have on vinyl -- if the music "aged" well.).  It almost appeared last week but another topic mused me more.  Today I share that list.  23 tunes on Apple Music and 25 on YouTube (because two selections only appear on John Fogerty's ...

This time of year, I usually look to gather lists of summer concerts, many free, to recommend. Not this year. Often, the discussions about music involve what great show got canceled, postponed or rescheduled. Not sure how many texts and emails I’ve exchanged with my friend Jason about changes involving shows planned at Jones Beach this year. We’ve talked about things such as drive-in concerts – not something either one of us consider an acceptable option; a drive-in movie inv...

A week ago on a drive to dine out with friends, but not driving (Folks who know us both: Paul was driving!), I was scribbling a list of road songs and a few songs that fit that motif even if drive, road or highway was not in the title or lyrics.  I already compiled a train song list for my blog that ran last Sunday (check it out if you missed the blog gathered more comments for the week ended yesterday than Friday's blogger!).  So check out Songs for the Road.   Before forma...

Friday's blogger's muse recently posted a playlist concerning trains.  It engendered several emails suggested other songs, including from this commentator.  It also inspired me to create a list of "train tunes" that I enjoy listerning to (So you might find omissions and can argue for them in comments.).  Unlike some of my playlists, for now it'll remain a closed list (but you never now).  Got a train song you like that I missed (or perhaps considered and passed on)? It start...

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 ...