United Palace Theater
For a few years there seemed to be a bunch of good rock concerts at The United Palace.
The United Palace Theatre is a most unique and special place way uptown in Manhattan, and this was a great show to see there.
Concerts 2009-2010
2009-02-07 Jorma Kaukonen / Robben Ford / Ruthie Foster
Palace Theater
This was kind of a one-off special event featuring three great guitarists. I went primarily to see Jorma, but have also seen Robben play a couple of other shows as well as this one.
2009-08-23 Hot Tuna / Little Feat
Capitol One Bank Theater at Westbury
What was long known to me as "Westbury Music Hall" (maybe because its in Westbury, NY) had become the “Capitol One Theatre at Westbury” until North Fork bought Capitol One. Then it became the "North Fork Theatre" (due to sponsorship by North Fork Bank - since Westbury is not on the "North Fork" of Long Island), and had now taken on this new name. Aaaaanyway, here was two of my all-time favorite bands playing on the same bill in an intimate venue. Its really a unique place - every seat in the house is very close to the stage, but the seats in the lower half are incredible because they place you so close, and the rise from stage level is steep so you have this feeling like you are hovering over the band.
2009-09-06 Hot Tuna
Tarrytown Music Hall
After the Westbury Music Hall gig came another trip to a familiar old music hall, the one in Tarrytown, another fine venue where every seat seems close to the stage.
2009-10-10 Bruce Hornsby & The Noisemakers
Xanadu Theatre at the Taj Mahal
Only a small crowd of Bruce fans showed up for this show out in Atlantic City.
Bruce started by suggesting the possibility of playing the Dead tune "Jack Straw" but the response failed to impress and the band then went right into a standard set. While it was rare that Hornsby would play a show for his own fans that was comprised only of his most well-known tunes, it didn't bother me at all. I was happy to see and hear that show from the first row, and was able to take excellent photos of the band on this night.
I was able to chat with JT Thomas after the show, and he was surprised to learn that Kelly Clarkson was also playing that night in the larger theatre inside the Taj Mahal.
Above: The billboard outside the theatre.
2009-11-29 Hot Tuna
Ridgefield Playhouse
2009-12-05 Hot Tuna
Beacon Theatre
If I recall correctly they had GE Smith as a guest on guitar. We sat way deep down in front for this show, Row A of the Center Orchestra.
2010-02-06 Earl Klugh
The Blue Note
2010-02-14 Dr. John / The Neville Brothers
Ridgefield Theater
I’m a little disappointed I only got to see the good doctor one time. This was a great show, I enjoyed very much seeing two bands at the core of the New Orleans jazz and funk music that’s been such a big influence on the bands and musicians covered in this concert blog.
I was glad Dr. John played several selections from the Duke Elegant album, a tribute album covering music by Duke Ellington - and one of my favorites albums of this era. Just a little while later Joe Jackson would cover the same territory with his “Duke” album, equally outstanding material to students and fans of the great master of American jazz, the Duke.
Below: excerpts from the program.
2010-06-03 Sachal Vasandani
The Little Theater
It was an interesting and unusual experience attending a show at the Little Theatre inside Saratoga State Park. I had discovered Sachal’s music originally at one of the jazz festivals at SPAC, and now took the chance to see Sachal and his band at a small venue, the the first of several times.
2010-06-04 Dave Matthews Band
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
My first DMB show; after missing N2 of this weekend I would rarely miss another DMB show at SPAC.
2010-06-17 Phish
Comcast Theatre
My first Phish show, they played Farmhouse and When the Circus Comes, both were already favorites of mine.
2010-06-20 Clearwater Festival
Croton Point Park
2010-06-26 Saratoga Jazz Festival
Saratoga Performing Arts Center
Taj Mahal, who I listened to in College and saw on several other occassions, played as part of the lineup on this day.
2010-07-13 Dave Matthews Band
Bethel Woods Center for the Arts
The words Lie In Our Graves and Boyd summarized this show for me.
2010-07-14 Dave Matthews Band
Montage Mountain
This show featured The Stone as a rare opener, and had an intense energy throughout. Montage Mt is an unusual venue with a white tent covering the orchestra section. My seat was in 102 Row CC and I was able to stand straight in the middle of the orchestra section and see everything on stage with perfect sound about 35 yards back from the stage. Only my third DMB show and by the end of it I was then hooked for life. This show was released as Live Trax Vol. 22, representing one of the great live performances the band thought was worthy of releasing.
2010-10-10 All Night Soul, honoring Frank Wess
The Jazz Ministry at Saint Peter’s Church
This particular year’s event honored the all-time great saxophone player Frank Wess.
2010-10-30 Phish
Boardwalk Hall
My second Phish show, it would have been nice to catch the Halloween show on the next night. Knowing how much of a Little Feat fan I am, my friend grabbed me a copy of the “Phishbill” for the next night’s Halloween show, one at which the 1978 Little Feat live album was played in its entirety, with a recognition of drummer Richie Haywood’s contributions to this genre of music.
