Central Park

1975-07-25 Arlo Guthrie

in ,

Central Park

There were many great shows in Central Park in those days, and I made it to a few.

For a teenager from Long Island, it was definitely a blast to get into the city by train, head up to the deli on Sixth Avenue near the lower entrances to the park where you could buy a beer in a paper bag, and then go right into the park for the show.  There were many good spots to see some of it and hear all of it right there in the park if you were inclined to save the money on a ticket and sit outside the main venue.

1978-07-21 Crosby and Nash

in ,

Central Park

This was a great show to attend at the old Wohlman rink concert venue.  We sat outside the venue on the rocks in Central Park and enjoyed the weather as a cool breeze came through after a storm earlier that day.  From that vantage point we could see part of the movie screen above the stage and hear it really well.  We took a walk and could still hear the music on the famous old bridge that crosses the pond.

1995-08-08 Ratdog / The Band

in , ,

Central Park Summerstage

1995-2-4.jpg

Rob Wasserman's Trios album showed how artists as diverse as Jerry Garcia, Edie Brickel, Brian and Carney Wilson and Yo-Yo Ma could play on a single album and make it work. On this night it was a treat to see not only the original iteration of Ratdog but also The Band. The Grateful Dead had been on tour earlier that summer and I had seen them at Giants Stadium. When I considered whether I wanted tickets for this Rat Dog show, it seemed like a no-brainer as I was then working in midtown manhattan and living on the upper east side - so going to Summerstage was literally on my way home from work and felt like my own backyard. As I recall it was a nice night and a great show.

Unfortunately, unbeknownst to most fans, in the days before this show, Jerry Garcia had been admitted to Serenity Knowles treatment center and had some severe health health problems in addition to his opiate addiction. Jerry passed away on this night. The next day the news reported it, and thus began the mourning of Jerry's passing. Bob Weir decided to go ahead and play the show that Ratdog was scheduled to perform the following night (Aug 9) in New Hampshire, and he briefly addressed Jerry's passing in an interview before the show. By the end of that show Weir's emotions got the better of him, and he threw his guitar down in frustration as Ratdog completed their performance. Overnight, I went from having a pleasant feeling seeing two of my favorite bands outdoors on a lovely summer night to mourning the death of one of my favorite musicians. What a difference a single day had made.