[Updated, April 21, 2021, & with good reason] Thursday evening just after 9:00 p.m. Jason Greenberg texts me “RIP Rusty, Tough loss” I read and think what Rusty. Even though Jason and I share an affinity for live music concerts, we connect on so many other levels, that music was not the first thing that came to mind upon reading his message. A few minutes later I said to myself, it can’t be Rusty, I’d have received some alert via social media. I searched the internet for ...

This time of the new year or at the end of the prior year I traditionally post my commentary on the top ten concerts of the year just ended. The recent post to my website covered a handful of shows. COVID19 raising its ugly head (ALWAYS) played the culprit.   I really enjoyed what I got to attend.   The last show before COVID was truly amazing. I ran into several Gothamites (Jason Greenberg, Steve Lichtenstein and Bernie Dolington) at that special Allman Brothers Band 50th A...

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...

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 ...

Best wishes in this first weekend of the new year. Many recent Gotham blogs looked ahead and share resolutions and predictions for this year. Instead, I continue practice to share a list compiled and commentary posted to my website on the top ten shows I attended in the year just ended. Hope you find the list -- 1) John Fogerty and ZZ Top 2) The Richie Furay Band performs POCO DeLIVErin’ 3) Jeff Beck, Paul Rodgers, Ann Wilson 4) Glenn Tilbrook 5) The Eagles 6) Ro...

I intended a blog about a show my daughter (Marisa Jean) attended in L.A. Friday eve and a show by the same artist that Fridays with Fred blogger Fred Klein and I attended last month in Roslyn. However, a review by Fred’s “muse,” Bob Lefsetz emailed last night inspired today’s commentary about both concerts by Poco founder Richie Furay who is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Buffalo Springfield.  The shows featured performances of Poco's iconic first live albu...

The wretchedly rainy weather suggests otherwise. Usually the warm weather we usually find – albeit not this year – signals wondrous opportunities to experience live music, often outside. So in addition to looking forward to attending some baseball games, discussions before, between and after my weekly weekend and eve basketball games involves upcoming concerts; we call them “shows.” Many performers take to the road during the summer. Several of my friends and I scan the c...

My enjoyment of good music remains steadfast. Those who know me best know my preferences (tastes?). Indeed leaving a lunch last month at my alma mater (same place for poli. sci. and law school) the question, what is Poco?, got posed by the distinguished ethics professor and the speaker my friend Sean and I delivered to the Mineola LIRR on our way back to Queens. A bumper sticker displayed prominently on the rear states “Induct Poco into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Employi...

Some people can boast of attending Woodstock or Monterrey Pop some renowned concert like George Harrison’s Bengla Desh shows at Madison Square Garden or the Allmans at the Fillmore East or The Band at the Academy of Music (Rock of Ages) or their Last Waltz, or No Nukes also at the Garden. Indeed movies chronicles many of the shows and most of the great performance (though not all). You may suggest other shows. Myself I attended more than 400 and probably some I forgot to d...