Where Artists Come To Shine
In the 1950's, Jazz was fertile ground for innovative musicians like Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, Thelonious Monk, and John Coltrane; but the only way to experience their true power was to see them live in some dingy, smoke-filled Manhattan nightclub somewhere off 52nd street. That all changed with … [Read more...]
Festivals today are a huge business. As events like Coachella, Bonnaroo, SXSW, and Outside Lands pop up in cities around the country it is hard to imagine these outdoor shows as descendants of 1969’s seminal Woodstock Music & Art Fair. One of the most memorable moments of Woodstock was Jimi … [Read more...]
Full disclosure: I’ve seen Cheap Trick in concert 10 times in the last decade, and nine of those performances were in different ZIP codes. Why? Because they’re one of the best live acts out there. For a band that made its name on a live album originally released just for Japan (1978’s Cheap Trick at … [Read more...]
It was a good Friday the 13th for 10cc. Absent from the American live scene since the late ’70s, the British pop-art band played its first New York date in 35 years at the Concert Hall this past July. With a 40-year career and 30 million albums sold worldwide, the current 10cc lineup, led by … [Read more...]
"Scream for me, Jones Beach!" is genius. That was the command Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson barked at key moments during the band’s Wednesday (June 27) gig, baiting hardcore fans (is there any type at a Maiden show?) to return the favor and also give love to their hometown, or in this … [Read more...]
A few years ago I went to the MTV Video Music Awards in Japan, and noticed something interesting. Whenever categories came up where American artists went against Japanese artists, nine out of ten times, the American would win, and not even be in attendance to accept the award. It seemed so unfair to … [Read more...]