Music
Corey Bearak
Dec31
A Best of 2023 as the year concludes
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Going into New Year’s Eve, I prepare my annual year-end commentary recounting my top ten shows for the past 12 months. I post the list with comments on website on my Commentary page. Some of the concert reviews include Sunday commentary posted to Gotham.   Enjoy the list   1) Jackson Browne (August 28,Beacon Theatre)   2) Jim Messina (Novembe

Corey Bearak
Dec24
Ring in the new year with – what else – some music.
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Three weeks (aka three blogs ago), I shared my Happy Holidays in Song playlist, in an aptly titled, “Tunes for the Holiday Season” so just ahead of when tomorrow’s festivities close, I offer a verified (meaning all the links work) playlist to ring in new year’s eve. With few exceptions, the setlist includes a number of my most fave tunes. As read

Corey Bearak
Dec17
Musical tributes
Posted By : Corey Bearak

The first weekend of this month featured some really great live music. A request by Friday’s blogger to cover a Gotham Red Bandana Award presentation delated this report. Shelly and I enjoyed an evening of John Lennon solo and Beatles music at Town Hall on December 2. The next night was our daughter’s turn join her dad for the music of the Allman B

Corey Bearak
Oct22
Michael
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Generally, we take in a Broadway musical in October.  Yesterday we ventured in the afternoon to the Neil Simon Theatre to take in MJ.  This Michael Jackson musical focused on the music and how Michael evolved and grew as an artist.  It took up some issue and alluded to others.   I found the music and choreography superb.  It covered much of the Jac

Corey Bearak
Oct08
Lists in Play
Posted By : Corey Bearak

I pretty much settled on this topic driving out to the IBEW Local 3 Educational Conference Center in Cutchogue for a NYC Central Labor Council Political Directors Annual Political/ Legislative  Conference last week.  Setting out early Wednesday only, knowing it might take 90 minutes or so, I selected my Songs for the Road playlist. In my Apple Musi

Corey Bearak
Sep24
already gone
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Could've wrote about about an anniversary yesterday but one might say it got "rained out" for real.  But I alway expected this week would cover another musical event. Marisa and her dad - this commentator - took in the Eagles' The Long Goodbye Tour at UBS last Wednesday eve.   The Eagles were "supported" by Steely Dan which I never saw in any of i

Corey Bearak
Sep17
Squeeze those Furs
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Less that a week after seeing the Boss at Met Life, Shelly and I took in a co-headline bill at Radio City.  While bill that way, it was one band - Squeeze - that induced the ticket purchase.  I heard of the other band, The Psychedelic Furs, but was not even sure I knew any of its music.  That said both bands put on strong performances but when you

Corey Bearak
Sep10
Return of the tailgate
Posted By : Corey Bearak

I know football started and I enjoyed a robust discussion at the Gotham Golf Outing's cocktail party with Paul Napolitano concerning tomorrow eve's game I apparently will not be able to view via "conventional" means.  But the tailgating Shelly and I enjoyed in the Met Life Parking lot on September 3 preceded no football contest; instead we gathered

Corey Bearak
Sep03
Farther Along
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Often, I get asked why I still attend shows.  A good example why is the adrenalin rush, the high I get that last for days and propels me and energizes this soul; it caries over into my life and, perhaps for me, my professional side.  And last Monday's Jackson Browne concert at the Beacon Theatre delivered on all the preceding.  In discussing the

Corey Bearak
Jul30
I Got My Eyes On You
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Just under four years ago Marisa and I attended Peter Frampton's Farewell tour at Madison Square Garden.  Following his diagnosis with Inclusion Body Myositis (IBM), Peter expected not to be able to play much longer.  According to John Hopkins, IBM "causes muscle weakness that may worsen over time and damage the muscles. The rate of this decline va

Corey Bearak
Jul23
Heaven Is a Place on Earth
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Music matters. Live music certainly energizes this commentator. Last week I took my wife and daughter to see Belinda Carlisle at the Theatre at Westbury.  I've seen her with the Go-Go's but never live as a solo artist. She performed an exuberant 18-song set including four encores. Marisa posted our attendance to social media. Below find the s

Corey Bearak
Jul16
Hot!
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Occasionally, we attend a Broadway show with friends; they choose the show; (on the date of) an earlier group event we ventured instead to the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey to see Richie Furay. There was no conflict this time and all in our group agreed that everything clicked in Some Like It Hot at the Shubert Theatre. The song

Corey Bearak
Jul02
An educated guess? A Hunch?
Posted By : Corey Bearak

Received an interesting email on Friday.  Sort of a Save The Date for The 43rd Annual John Lennon Tribute from Theatre Within, Saturday, December 2, 2023.  Shelly and I often attend.  So do other members of this tribe that hosts this and six other daily commentaries.  When we both are able to attend we meet up before shows with Vincent and Susan Ru

Corey Bearak
Jun25
The Music Never Stopped
Posted By : Corey Bearak

The title is a Grateful Dead song.  It fits because the first of two shows last week was a Citi Field extravaganza by Dead and Co.  Marisa and I attended.  She remarked that almost 20 years ago, her uncle took her to see the earlier alt version of the Dead, The Other Ones, at Madison Square Garden.  There was an interesting highlight that tied the

Corey Bearak
Jun04
Notes on a Schedule
Posted By : Corey Bearak

A time not so long ago I could blog on a list of summer concerts I'd plan to attend that included many free shows.  So far any free show list appears elusive in terms of original bands and performers.  While I remain on watch for such musical performances, I found a need to list upcoming shows I plan to attend through the summer.  This occurred whe