Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets - The Vogel, Red Bank, NJ 9/6/2025

 Having just celebrated his 80th birthday the previous day. Al Stewart brought his farewell tour to the Vogel Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey on September 6. He was backed by the Chicago band The Empty Pockets. 

I have never seen Mr. Stewart and was incredibly grateful I was able to see him before he stops touring. 

I know the music would be good, but he sounded better than I had imagined he would, given the fact that he was fighting a summer cold.

His stories between songs were very funny, touching and showcased his knowledge of history, which are a trademark of his music.

  The Empty Pockets opened the show with a short set and provided great backing for Mr. Stewarts songs. Their set included Make it Through, Mrs. Sacramento, Everybody Knows You When You're Down & Out and Outside Spectrum.

  Selfishly, I hope he decides to make this farewell tour go on for years. 

  Happy Birthday!!!!

  Here is the setlist. 

     You Should Have Listened To Al

     Antarctica

     The Palace of Versailles

     Time Passages

     On the Border

     Midas Shadow

     Broadway Hotel

     The Dark and the Rolling Sea

     Joe the Georgian

     One Stage Before

     Year of the Cat

      Love Minus Zero/No Limit (Bob Dylan cover)  

 

In Memoriam - Robert Redford

                                                     Rest in Peace

In Memoriam - Ozzy Osbourne

                                                  The original. Rest In Peace

                            
 

In Memoriam - Tim Cronin

                               Rest in Peace. You cast a big shadow and will be greatly missed. 

                    Jacks Music Shoppe will always be the best, but it will never be the same. 
 

In Memoriam - Brian Wilson

 

                                            The Poet Laureate of Summer. Rest on Peace.

Elvis Costello & Steve Nieve - Count Basie Theatre 2/21/2025

 The last time Elvis Costello played the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey was in 2021, in a concert which featured his band The Imposters. He returned this past February with Imposters/Attractions keyboardist Steve Nieve, for a concert which focused more on deep album cuts, rarities and a couple reinterpreted versions of his bigger hits.

 Songs like She, Less Than Zero, When I was Cruel No. 2, & Alibi were all pretty faithful to their original versions, where I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down was done in a gospel arrangement and Alison was done in a slowed down R & B arrangement. When I Was Cruel No. 2 expanded on the Dancing Queen lyric found on the album version with an extended piano break. Steve Nieve even sang a verse of (What's So Funny 'Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding.

  The crowd also sang Happy Birthday to Mr. Nieve who was celebrating his birthday.

 It was a great concert with Mr. Costelllo spotlighting how well his voice has aged, and how remarkable a pianist Mr. Nieve is.

 Here is the setlist.

 Deportee

 Home is Anywhere You Hang Your Head

 When I Was Cruel No. 2 / Dancing Queen(ABBA cover)

 Less Than Zero

 Motel Matches

 Harpies Bizarre

 Shot With His Own Gun

 Alibi

 American Gangster Time

 Shabby Doll

 Brilliant Mistake

 Dio, Come Ti Amo / Almost Blue

 Clubland / Ghostown(The Specials cover/How Insensitive(Antonio Carlos Jobim cover)

 (I Don't Want To Go To) Chelsea

 Happy Birthday To You

 The Long Honeymoon

 I Still Have That Other Girl

 She

 Isabelle In Tears

 Alison

 Come The Meantimes

 I Can't Stand Up For Falling Down

 (What's So Funny "Bout) Peace, Love and Understanding

 

                                           

                                           

                                            

In Memoriam- Marianne Faithfull

                                                            Rest in Peace