Dead & Company - Wells Fargo Center, Philadephia, PA 11/5/2015

  Grateful Dead offshoot band Dead & Company performed at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia last night.
    Having not seen the Grateful Dead, or any of the associated bands, since 1995, I was looking very forward to seeing this show. And after the amazing things I heard about the reunion shows in July, I was hoping not to miss this current tour.
    The line up for Dead & Company consists or Bob Weir, Mickey Hart & Bill Kreutzmann from The Grateful Dead. They were joined by John Mayer on guitar and vocals, Oteil Burbridge on bass and Jeff Chimenti on keyboards. Bob Weir handled all his original vocals, and some of Jerry Garcia's, with John Mayer singing the bulk of Jerry's parts.
     The show did not let down. The first half was very good, but the second set was excellent. The show hit its peak with the China Cat Sunflower/I Know You Rider pairing. John Mayer's guitar work was remarkable throughout the night. Each solo was was faithful to the spirit of the band, but he also managed to put his own sound to them.
     And although Oteil Burbridge did not have any bass solos, his sound was very noticeable, but not overpowering. For a new band, at least half of the members anyway, they played beautifully together.
     Looking forward to seeing them again , hopefully soon. Here is the setlist:

                               
                                         Set 1

               Here Comes Sunshine - John Mayer lead vocal
               Loose Lucy - Bob Weir lead vocal
               Candyman - John Mayer lead vocal
               Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodleoo - Bob Weir lead vocal
               Bird Song - John Mayer lead vocal
               Cumberland Blues - John Mayer/Bob Weir lead vocals
               Casey Jones - John Mayer/Bob Weir lead vocals

                                    Set 2

                Iko Iko - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Feel Like a Stranger - Bob Weir lead vocals
                China Cat Sunflower - John Mayer lead vocals
                I Know You Rider - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Drums/Space
                Playing in the Band - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Standing on the Moon - Bob Weir lead vocals
                Sugar Magnolia - Bob Weir lead vocals

                                 Encore

                 U.S. Blues - John Mayer lead vocals

              
              

           

   

Happy Halloween

In Memoriam - Maureen O'Hara

 
                                                                        63 Years

Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga-Radio City Music Hall 6/20/2015

       Finally got to see Tony Bennett. Extra nice since Lady Gaga was sharing the bill with him.
The show spotlighted selections from their CD Cheek to Cheek. Both performers were backed by a full orchestra and also their own small jazz groups. They performed several songs together and also several by themselves.
       Tony Bennett performed a tribute to Frank Sinatra whom he cited as one of his best friends and teachers.
        Lady Gaga performed a jazzed up version of the Cher song Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down).
        They both clearly enjoyed performing together, with Mr. Bennett thanking the audience many times for being there, and Lady Gaga telling Tony how much she was honored to be there with him.  Both sounded great, and in strong voice. Pretty amazing since Tony Bennett is 88 years old.


        Here is their setlist:


                             

                           Anything Goes - Both

                        Cheek to Cheek - Both
                        They All Laughed - Both
                           Stranger in Paradise - Tony Bennett
                           Sing You Sinners - Tony Bennett
                           Nature Boy - Both
                           Watch What Happen - Tony Bennett
                           The Good Life - Tony Bennett
                           Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Lady Gaga
                           Bewitched,Bothered & Bewildered - Lady Gaga
                           Firefly - Tony Bennett
                           Smile - Tony Bennett
                           When You’re Smiling - Tony Bennett
                           Steppin’ Out With My Baby - Tony Bennett
                           For Once in My Life - Tony Bennett
                           I Won’t Dance - Both
                           The Lady’s in Love With You - Tony Bennett
                           Solitude - Tony Bennett
                           I Can’t Gove You Anything But Love,Baby - Both
                           Lush Life - Lady Gaga
                           I’ve Got the World on a String - Tony Bennett
                           In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning - Tony Bennett
                           La Vie En Rose - Lady Gaga
                           How Do You Keep the Music Playing? - Tony Bennett
                           Let’s Face the Music & Dance - Both
                           Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye - Lady Gaga
                           Who Cares - Tony Bennett
                           Fly Me to the Moon - Tony Bennett-no microphone
                           I Left My Heart in San Francisco - TonyBennett
                           But Beautiful - Both
                           The Lady is a Tramp - Both
                           It Don’t Mean a Thing if it Ain’t Got That Swing - Both