I went to my first concert since Covid (Duran Duran)

[IllinoisTVFan]

I haven't gone to any concert in years due to many reasons, such as work and with Covid I haven't gone anywhere for 2 years. When Duran Duran announced they were touring I got tickets. I got them in March and since then changed jobs.


The concert was great but they always put on a great show. They are so talented. Can't wait to see them inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame later this year.

[Babalu]

I went to my first concert since Covid last week.
I bought tickets for the same show last year but sold them when Covid began getting worse again.

Christopher Cross at the Westbury Theatre. Small venue. About 2,000 seats. Sat right up front. He put on a great show. Much better guitar player than I realized.

Sorry, the pictures seem to be insanely large.

Just open them in new window.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Babalu

I went to my first concert since Covid last week.
I bought tickets for the same show last year but sold them when Covid began getting worse again.

Christopher Cross at the Westbury Theatre. Small venue. About 2,000 seats. Sat right up front. He put on a great show. Much better guitar player than I realized.

Did he play Ride Like the Wind? I love that one... "...make it to the border of Mexico..."

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Did he play Ride Like the Wind? I love that one... "...make it to the border of Mexico..."

Yes he did. He doesn't have that many hit records that he could leave some out.

He also told some great stories. When Cross was unknown and making his first album, Michael McDonald was recording in the studio next to him. When McDonald had some down time he would come in and listen to Christopher record, giving encouragement, eventually offering to sing backup on songs. They remain friends to this day.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Babalu

Yes he did. He doesn't have that many hit records that he could leave some out.

He also told some great stories. When Cross was unknown and making his first album, Michael McDonald was recording in the studio next to him. When McDonald had some down time he would come in and listen to Christopher record, giving encouragement, eventually offering to sing backup on songs. They remain friends to this day.

Very cool. Michael McDonald is an awesome singer. His work with the Doobie Brothers was terrific. Another Christopher Cross song I like is Sailing, but my favorite is Ride Like the Wind.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Very cool. Michael McDonald is an awesome singer. His work with the Doobie Brothers was terrific. Another Christopher Cross song I like is Sailing, but my favorite is Ride Like the Wind.

Sailing and Arthur's Theme are by far my favorites.

I much prefer the Tom Johnston Doobie Brothers to the Michael McDonald version, but now I have a greater appreciation of Michael McDonald as a person. The first time I saw The Doobie Brothers live was also at Westbury. They were not only good but also friendly. Westbury has a revolving stage, and if the band uses that revolving stage (Christopher Cross did not) they have to enter and exit down one of the aisles. As they exit, the people sitting on the aisle seats in those rows try to shake hands with the bands. The Doobies went out of their way to shake hands and say hello to all.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Babalu

Sailing and Arthur's Theme are by far my favorites.

I much prefer the Tom Johnston Doobie Brothers to the Michael McDonald version, but now I have a greater appreciation of Michael McDonald as a person. The first time I saw The Doobie Brothers live was also at Westbury. They were not only good but also friendly. Westbury has a revolving stage, and if the band uses that revolving stage (Christopher Cross did not) they have to enter and exit down one of the aisles. As they exit, the people sitting on the aisle seats in those rows try to shake hands with the bands. The Doobies went out of their way to shake hands and say hello to all.

I could definitely see The Doobies doing just that. They all seem very chill and approachable. At the Jones Beach Ampetheatre (I always thought that was Wantagh, is it Westbury)? Anyway, over there, I've seen John Mellencamp, Styx and Aerosmith. At the Beacon Theatre in NYC, I've seen The Allman Brothers a few times, Counting Crows and Kraftwerk. Madison Square Garden was The Who and I also saw The Who at Nassau Coliseum. IMO, the best place for concerts is that Jones Beach Ampetheatre. I saw a bunch of concerts in Atlantic City, too. That was OK. What is your favorite venue?

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I could definitely see The Doobies doing just that. They all seem very chill and approachable. At the Jones Beach Ampetheatre (I always thought that was Wantagh, is it Westbury)? Anyway, over there, I've seen John Mellencamp, Styx and Aerosmith. At the Beacon Theatre in NYC, I've seen The Allman Brothers a few times, Counting Crows and Kraftwerk. Madison Square Garden was The Who and I also saw The Who at Nassau Coliseum. IMO, the best place for concerts is that Jones Beach Ampetheatre. I saw a bunch of concerts in Atlantic City, too. That was OK. What is your favorite venue?

Technically it's now the NYCB Theatre at Westbury. That's indoors, in the round meaning there are seats 360 degrees around the theater and the stage in the center, which revolves slowly so every section of the theater gets an equal time seeing straight on.

The Nikon Theater at Jones Beach is outdoors on the water in Wantagh. Years ago, the stage was actually surrounded by water and the sets floated in and out. I saw The Sound of Music there when I was maybe 7 or 8.

They are two completely different venues.

I've seen a lot of concerts around the city. I've seen shows at the Garden (too many to count), the Coliseum, the Meadowlands, Shea Stadium, Citifield, Giant's Stadium, Radio City, stadiums and arenas in Philadelphia, LA, Tanglewood in the Berkshires, and a lot of others. But my favorite is probably the Beacon. I've seen a lot of shows there too. I'd say the two best ones at the Beacon were the first time I saw Kansas and the Kinks, both in the 80's.

The theater at Wesbury is probably better than Jones Beach because it's inside and there's only about 25 rows in the whole place; really no bad seats, even though I still like to sit up front. The only negative about it is that it's small so no real big names play there. We're going to see Howie Mandel there this Friday.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Babalu

Technically it's now the NYCB Theatre at Westbury. That's indoors, in the round meaning there are seats 360 degrees around the theater and the stage in the center, which revolves slowly so every section of the theater gets an equal time seeing straight on.

The Nikon Theater at Jones Beach is outdoors on the water in Wantagh. Years ago, the stage was actually surrounded by water and the sets floated in and out. I saw The Sound of Music there when I was maybe 7 or 8.

They are two completely different venues.

I've seen a lot of concerts around the city. I've seen shows at the Garden (too many to count), the Coliseum, the Meadowlands, Shea Stadium, Citifield, Giant's Stadium, Radio City, stadiums and arenas in Philadelphia, LA, Tanglewood in the Berkshires, and a lot of others. But my favorite is probably the Beacon. I've seen a lot of shows there too. I'd say the two best ones at the Beacon were the first time I saw Kansas and the Kinks, both in the 80's.

The theater at Wesbury is probably better than Jones Beach because it's inside and there's only about 25 rows in the whole place; really no bad seats, even though I still like to sit up front. The only negative about it is that it's small so no real big names play there. We're going to see Howie Mandel there this Friday.

I've never been to the one you described in Westbury. It sounds cozy but I love the one in Wantagh. Many years ago, I was dragged to a Beastie Boys concert at the Meadowlands. I wasn't too crazy about the Meadowlands. I liked the hotel concerts in Atlantic City. For instance, I saw Earth, Wind & Fire at one of the Atlantic City hotel/casinos. It was so much fun. I loved it. I'm so jealous you got to see the Kinks. That must have been a great show.

[IllinoisTVFan]

A thread where Babalu and Wawwie getting along is nice to see. Anyway, I remember Christopher Cross, he was really good. He was talented and his songs hold up. He just happened to come along when music was changing due to MTV and it hurt his career. His music brings me back to my childhood when I would hear songs on the radio and remind me of specific things from the past. Sailing was a light song that reminds me of just chilling. Ride Like The Wind I think was his first song if I recall. I think he did have songs in the mid '80s. Sounds like you had fun Babalu and great photos.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by IllinoisTVFan

When Duran Duran announced they were touring I got tickets.

Did they do Hungry Like the Wolf? Or Reflex? I like those ones.

[IllinoisTVFan]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

Did they do Hungry Like the Wolf? Or Reflex? I like those ones.

Yep along with Wild Boys, A View To A Kill, Notorious, Girls On Film, Ordinary World, Rio and Save A Prayer, to name just a few. They played for 2 hours and except for 4 they played from the new album (album is great by the way)all were older songs.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by IllinoisTVFan

Yep along with Wild Boys, A View To A Kill, Notorious, Girls On Film, Ordinary World, Rio and Save A Prayer, to name just a few. They played for 2 hours and except for 4 they played from the new album (album is great by the way)all were older songs.

I remember Wild Boys, Girls On Film, Notorious and Rio. The others, I don't really remember. Did you ever see Culture Club? I would have loved to have seen them.

[Babalu]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I've never been to the one you described in Westbury. It sounds cozy but I love the one in Wantagh. Many years ago, I was dragged to a Beastie Boys concert at the Meadowlands. I wasn't too crazy about the Meadowlands. I liked the hotel concerts in Atlantic City. For instance, I saw Earth, Wind & Fire at one of the Atlantic City hotel/casinos. It was so much fun. I loved it. I'm so jealous you got to see the Kinks. That must have been a great show.

I only went to one rock concert at Jones Beach. I saw ZZ Top and John Fogarty a few years ago. John Fogarty was good but ZZ Top was amazing. They were the headliners and really who I went to see.

I saw Billy Joel at the Meadowlands not long after it opened. I think it was about 1986 or 1987. It was The Bridge tour. That's when he was young and chipper and would run around the stage with a different keyboard stationed at each corner of the stage. Seen him a bunch of other times too, including when he and Paul McCartney would guest on each other's shows. Later on I saw Bruce Springsteen at the Meadowlands. I was so impressed with Clarence and that saxophone filling the building. After that I saw Springsteen at the Garden and I also saw his Broadway show. Like most venues, it all depends on where you sit. Guitar heavy music doesn't always sound good from high up due to the echo off of the ceiling.

The Kinks were amazing. That was their first unofficial farewell tour in (I think) 1987 or 1988 and they only played one show at the Beacon. They played two encores and Ray Davies came out by himself for one last bow with tears in his eyes. He didn't want to leave the stage.

[Wawwie]

Originally Posted by Babalu

I only went to one rock concert at Jones Beach. I saw ZZ Top and John Fogarty a few years ago. John Fogarty was good but ZZ Top was amazing. They were the headliners and really who I went to see.

I saw Billy Joel at the Meadowlands not long after it opened. I think it was about 1986 or 1987. It was The Bridge tour. That's when he was young and chipper and would run around the stage with a different keyboard stationed at each corner of the stage. Seen him a bunch of other times too, including when he and Paul McCartney would guest on each other's shows. Later on I saw Bruce Springsteen at the Meadowlands. I was so impressed with Clarence and that saxophone filling the building. After that I saw Springsteen at the Garden and I also saw his Broadway show. Like most venues, it all depends on where you sit. Guitar heavy music doesn't always sound good from high up due to the echo off of the ceiling.

The Kinks were amazing. That was their first unofficial farewell tour in (I think) 1987 or 1988 and they only played one show at the Beacon. They played two encores and Ray Davies came out by himself for one last bow with tears in his eyes. He didn't want to leave the stage.

I also saw Billy Joel in 1998 at Madison Square Garden. Our seats weren't that great. It was a very good show. I'm so jealous you got to see John Fogerty. I love him! And CCR! I would have liked to have seen ZZ Top too. I really like "Sharp Dressed Man." For some reason, that song makes me think of GW Bush. I don't know why. Springsteen must have been fun too, I never saw him. If you liked the Springsteen concert, you probably would have liked the John Mellencamp concert I went to at Jones Beach. He told a lot of stories about his life and stuff plus he sounded terrific!