2018 Theatre

              I have been beyond fortunate in regards to the theatre I was able to attend this year. One of the best theatre going years I have ever had.


               

Wicked - London Apollo Victoria Theatre

Curtain Call - Hello Dolly

Curtain Call - Spongebob Cast and Creative Team

Curtain call-Springsteen on Broadway

Merry Christmas 2018

In Memoriam - Carlos O'Connor

I heard the news today that Carlos passed away. Not even sure if this was truly his name.

My sympathies to his family and friends. He was a character, and one nice guy.

Thank you Carlos for many years of enjoyable Friday nights.

                                                                  Rest in Peace

Happy Halloween 2018

Springsteen On Broadway, Walter Kerr Theatre 10/25/2018

  After much griping about how out of control the pricing was for Springsteen On Broadway, my Wife and I went last night to see it and had the same reaction everyone I know has had. Wow.
  Emotional, Funny, Sad, Touching, Hopeful. I have seen Bruce many times, but this was so unique, so intimate. Whenever i forgot the reason why Bruce's music has meant so much to me, I am reminded.
























              Here is the setlist:

           


                 Growin’ Up

                 My Hometown
                 My Father’s House
                 The Wish
                 Thunder Road
                 The Promised Land
                 Born In The USA
                 Tenth Ave. Freeze Out
                 Tougher Than The Rest w/Patti Scialfa
                 Brilliant Disguise w/Patti Scialfa
                 The Ghost Of Tom Joad
                The Rising
                 Dancing In The Dark
                 Land Of Hope And Dreams

                Born To Run  

Phil Collins - Prudential Center, Newark, NJ 10/13/2018

        I was only fortunate enough to see Phil Collins previously when he was part of Genesis. The other night my wife and I saw his Not Dead Yet tour at the Prudential Center in Newark, and it was a great show.
       The tour covers material from his many solo albums and also his Genesis catalog. The band included long time band mates Daryl Stuermer and Ronnie Caryl  on guitars and Leland Sklar on bass. The band also consisted of an additional guitarist, keyboards, percussion, 4 backing singers and a four piece horn section. On this tour, his 17 year old son Nic Collins has taken drum duties, an piano on one song, and was very well received by the crowd.
        Although Mr. Collins health has taken a hit recently, and had to endure back surgery, he was able to walk on his own to his seat on stage and quickly addressed the crowd about what he has gone through in regards to his health. He then went right into Against All Odds(Take a Look At Me Now).
        He covered the majority of his career and performed what seemed like hit after hit, and even bypassing a few to do a couple deeper cuts like Who Said I Would and You Know What I Mean, on which he was accompanied by his son Nic on piano.
       A few notable hits were missing; One More Night, Billy Don't Lose Your Number, Two Hearts, I Don't Care Anymore, Groovy Kind of Love, I Wish It Would Rain, which is a testament to how many well known songs he released in his career.
        The band was great, and you never really noticed that Mr. Collins was seated throughout the majority of the show. The band moved around during many of the songs and Phil still has one of the best personalities and senses of humor in music. Totally engaging and probably loved by most of the people in the arena.
         I hope his health continues to improve and that we are lucky to get an extension of this tour.
         Here is the setlist:

                       Against All Odds(Take a Look At Me Now)
                       Another Day In Paradise
                       I Missed Again
                       Hang In Long Enough
                       Throwing It All Away(Genesis song)
                       Follow You, Follow Me(Genesis song)
                       Can't Turn Back The Years
                       Who Said I Would
                       Separate Lives w/Bridgette Bryant
                       You'll Be In My Heart
                       Drum Trio w/Nic Collins and Richie Garcia
                       Something Happened On The Way To Heaven
                       You Know What I Mean w/Nic Collins on piano
                       In The Air Tonight
                       You Can't Hurry Love
                       Dance Into The Light
                       Invisible Touch(Genesis song)
                       Easy Lover w/
                       Sussudio

                       Take Me Home

                       

One Last Bikini Bottom Day

     SpongeBob SquarePants the Musical played its final performance last night. What a remarkable show.

     Sad to see it leave Broadway. It's sad that a show that it so creative, so original, could not find a bigger audience.

     Ethan Slater and company gave an amazing final performance, and were rewarded with ovation after ovation for almost 3 hours.

     Director Tina Landau gave a touching post show speech thanking the crew, the cast, the creators, the fans for everything they had contributed.

    

Curtain Call

Director Tina Landau

David Byrne - OceanFirst Bank Center, West Long Branch, NJ, 9/7/2018

           David Byrne never disappoints.
           Back in the early 1990's I saw David Byrne perform 2 shows at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey. The shows were filmed and were used in his concert film Between the Teeth. The tour was for his album Uh-Oh. I thought those shows were amazing and he would not be able to top them. I was wrong.
           I purposely did not read any reviews of this new American Utopia tour so there would be some sort of surprise element. I was hooked from the first moments straight through to powerful final song.
           The stage was empty bare with the exception of a card table and chair for the opening and a stand up lamp used later in the show.
            The 11 piece band entered during the second song and moved around the stage during each song, never stationary for too long. Simple lighting effects brought intensity to songs like Blind and Burning Down the House.
             The songs presented a real and also idealized version of America, without getting preachy or making simplistic critiques. It was powerful and, I think, hopeful, without bypassing some of the issues which are in the news day after day.
             His solo songs and Talking Heads songs blended together seamlessly.
             As the lyrics for Everyday is a Miracle say, "Everyday is a miracle, love one another".
              Simple, but spot on.

             I hope that after the tour finished in Europe, he brings this to a Broadway theatre for a limited run. This would play perfectly in a small theatre.

                                Here
                                Lazy
                                I Zimbra(Talking Heads song)
                                Slippery People(Talking Heads song)
                                Dog's Mind
                                I Should Watch TV
                                Everybody's Coming To My House
                                This Must Be The Place(Naive Melody)(Talking Heads song)
                                Once in a Lifetime(Talking Heads song)
                                Doing the Right Thing
                                Toe Jam
                                Born Under Punches(The Heat Goes On)(Talking Heads song)
                                I Dance Like This
                                Bullet
                                Everyday is a Miracle
                                Like Humans Do
                                Blind(Talking Heads song)
                                Burning Down the House(Talking Heads song)

                                Dancing Together
                                The Great Curve(Talking Heads song)
   
                                 Hell You Talmbout(Janelle Monae cover)

In Memoriam - Burt Reynolds

                                                                  Rest in Peace

                                       A true hero. A true American. You will be deeply missed.
                                                                        Rest in Peace.

In Memoriam - Aretha Franklin

                                                                     Rest in Peace

Adam Ant - Paramount Theatre, Asbury Park, NJ 7/21/2018

  I can't recall if Adam Ant had ever played in New Jersey during the last 30 years. Adam Ant and Adam & The Ants were a regular fixture on MTV when I was in High School. I loved the Epic sound of his music and had always wished I was able to see him.

  Luckily this summer his Anthems Tour came to the Paramount Theatre in Asbury Park this past weekend. The show was great.

   He sounded much better than I had expected. He never seemed to have the strongest voice in the concert clips I had seen. His band was tight, heavy on guitar and drums, as expected.

   The setlist was pretty much split between his solo work and his catalog from Adam and The Ants.

   Here is the setlist.

                            Best My Guest(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Vive Le Rock

                            Dog Eat Dog(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Apollo 9

                            Friend or Foe

                            Ant Music(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Room At The Top

                            Desperate But Not Serious

                            Car Trouble(Adam & The Ants song)
                            Young Parisians(Adam & The Ants song)
                            Prince Charming(Adam & The Ants song)
                            Zerox
                            Gotta Be a Sin
                            Puss 'n Boots
                            Can't Set Rules About Love
                            Christian D'or(Adam & The Ants song)
                            Strip
                            Kings of the Wild Frontier(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Greta X

                            B Side Baby(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Stand and Deliver(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Goody Two Shoes

                            Lady/Fall In(Adam & The Ants song)

                            Red Scab

                            Physical(You're So)(Adam & The Ants song)