I’m pleased to announce that I’m working on a book! I Don’t Have A Car: My Concert Stories, has been in the works for three years now, and I’m so excited to finally be writing what I hope will be an interesting recollection of one of my biggest hobbies. The bulk of it will revolve around some of the most memorable shows I’ve ever seen. It will not be every single one, as I can’t fit all of them in, so I’ll only be doing the ones that have incredibly special meaning to me. I’ll confirm right here that I will be doing Paul McCartney, Hamilton, my first Billy Joel show, and yes, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
This is not going to be a compilation of the reviews you see on this site, either. They’re going to be freshly written chapters more about my personal experience at the show, how I got into the band/artist, maybe the merchandise I bought, etc. It’s more of a memoir than anything else.
While I don’t have a solid release date yet, I’m hoping to release this around Christmas or maybe even 2020, as there are some experiences I’m going to write about in here that haven’t even happened yet. Also, this isn’t going to be posted on my blog or anything – it’s actually going to be published on iBooks, and probably some other platforms. I don’t think I’m going to go through the trouble of a publishing company to print physical copies, but I’ll still keep you informed.
I’m very happy to finally see my vision come to life on the digital page, and can’t wait for you to read it!
Phil Collins hasn't played a show in Tampa since 2005, in spite of owning a Miami mansion.
It’s a wonder Phil Collins still tours. With damaged nerves and back problems, the legendary drummer of Genesis, and obviously the soul behind an incredible solo career, can no longer drum. Hence why his teenaged son is part of his backing band.
This past summer, Phil did a US leg of his critically acclaimed Not Dead Yet comeback tour, his first US tour in years. But due to overwhelming demand, another limited US run has been announced, and unlike last time, this one will roll into Tampa, over at Amalie Arena. September 26 will be Phil’s first show around here since 2004, which is surprising, considering the fact that he has a house in Miami, and holds galas there from time to time. Maybe he would have taken the drive up here.
Tickets go on sale to the public next Saturday at 10am, and will start at $50. He cancelled a Genesis show two songs in at Tampa Stadium once in 1992. But he hasn’t done it since. With that out of the way, do you care anymore? He’s a living legend, and he sits down the whole show. We’re lucky he still lives on this earth.
Peter Tork, who died today at age 77, last played Florida with Micky Dolenz on The Monkees' Good Times!/50th Anniversary Tour in 2016.
The first concert I ever bought my own ticket for was The Monkees’ 50th Anniversary Tour, which featured only Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork. Mike Nesmith was writing his autobiography Infinite Tuesday at the time, and therefore declined to travel with them. But even though he is about to tour with Micky for the second leg of The Mike & Micky Show tour, the 50th anniversary tour was really his last chance to play with all the other living members, rather than just one.
Peter Tork died today at the age of 77. On one hand, I’m heartbroken and hoped this day would never come. On the other, he lived one hell of a life, as a family man, as a musician, and as a Monkee. I feel very lucky that I got to see him in person once – on that last tour. Right now, I’m going to write out a review of that show in the setting of a few days after it happened, because I remember it clearly, and I didn’t write anything back then. Hope you enjoy, and Godspeed, Peter.
CONCERT REVIEW: Two original Monkees celebrate 50 years of Monkeeing around in Clearwater
From Friday night: Original Monkees Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork proving that even minus two Monkees, they’ve still got it
Micky Dolenz and Peter Tork can still Monkee around after 50 years, and their concert at Ruth Eckerd Hall Friday night confirms that fact. Dolenz, 71, and Tork, 74, just kicked off Good Times: The 50th Anniversary Tour this week over in Fort Myers, and this is only the third date. It’s in celebration of not only their 50th anniversary, but also the release of a new album, properly entitled Good Times!, which releases May 27. The album will feature contributions from the two mentioned, as well as the quiet Monkee, Michael Nesmith, and even an archived vocal from the late, great Davy Jones, who died in 2012.
Nesmith is sitting out this tour, as he says he’s working on his autobiography that should release relatively soon. Hopefully, he’ll appear on select dates of this tour, because you only turn 50 once. But enough of that, how was the show?
Around 8:05, Micky and Peter came out from opposite sides of the stage, humorously attempting to embrace each other before kicking off the show with the Nesmith-penned tune, Listen To The Band, immediately followed by their first smash hit Last Train To Clarksville. Behind them was a jumbo screen that scrolled 50 years worth of video, mainly from their TV show that knocked them into mainstream. But some deep cuts were thrown in, too. One of the few Monkee songs that Tork sang lead on, Your Auntie Grizelda, as well as Saturday’s Child, which was played live for the first time on their 45th anniversary tour with Davy Jones in 2011.
As mentioned before, there is a new album releasing next week, so in honor of that, Micky sang leads on She Makes Me Laugh, the first single off of Good Times!, penned by Weezer’s Rivers Cuomo. On Friday, another new song, Me And Magdalena, dropped on iTunes, but there was no sign of that one at the show, nor their other new one, You Bring The Summer. But hey, for their first new song in 20 years, let alone being written by the biggest dork in rock history, it sounds pretty damn amazing.
During Randy Scouse Git, Micky wore the tablecloth poncho he wore in its music video 50 years ago, and banged on (possibly) the same drum. And For Pete’s Sake was thrown in, too. That was, for those who don’t know, the song that played while the credits to the TV show rolled in the second season. Originally, Peter wrote it, but Micky sang it. But here, Peter sang AND wrote it. Micky just needs a break sometimes, you know? At one point, he left the stage so Peter could deliver a banjo accompanied rendition of Jackie Wilson’s (Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher. But he came back out to play a song they’ve “never done onstage before,” Let’s Dance On. “This was the first time we actually sat down together as a group and played, you know, Peter, the night before, had taught me how to hold the sticks!” Micky joked.
After a brief intermission, the duo stormed the stage once again with Mary, Mary, and a medley from their trip-of-a-movie from 1968, Head. Once again, during this part of the show, each of the two got incredible chances to prove that they’ve still got it. Micky broke into an almost-perfectly identical rendition of Goin’ Down, complete with the scat and all. The reason I say almost perfect is because a woman in the front row sang the second verse for him. Look, even Micky knows that when you can sing those words that fast, you need a second or two in the spotlight. Peter also debuted (here, anyway) another song off of Good Times!, entitled Little Girl. It hasn’t been released yet, but it’s a real peaceful, folksy tune that totally fits Peter’s style – I liked it.
And surprisingly, Heart & Soul, off of The Monkees’ critical flop of an album, 1987’s Pool It!, made it to the setlist too. (No offense to fellow die-hards, by the way. Nothing to do with my opinion, just the facts.)
Yes, Daydream Believer was played, and yes, throughout the show, there was much mention of Davy. In the first half of the show, Shades Of Gray, off the revolutionary Headquartersalbum from 1967, was played live, with Davy’s isolated vocals playing over the speakers. Same went for Daydream Believer, except that one was better known than Shades Of Gray, which is now seen as more of a solemn deep (ish) cut. The former had the nearly sold-out crowd singing along to every word, with the thought in mind that Davy was, one way or another, with every single person in the room.
After an encore of No Time and I’m A Believer, I think it’s safe to say everyone went home feeling nostalgic. It’ll probably be awhile until The Monkees tour again, considering the fact that even before they lost Davy, they seldom hit the road. The night was perfect for fans, old and new, to relive Monday nights in the 60s, or the MTV reruns of the 80s. Though maybe Papa Nez will finish his book soon, and do something else special with M and P to cap off 50 years.
After all, his voice on the new single that released Friday sounds incredible, so there’s no rush for anyone to hang it up yet.
The 2019 lineup of The Zombies played their annual Clearwater gig Tuesday night at the Capitol Theatre.
Special guest opening act Liz Brasher
Original member Rod Argent
The 2019 lineup of The Zombies played their annual Clearwater gig Tuesday night at the Capitol Theatre.
They were influences of Tom Petty, Todd Rundgren, and Alan Parsons. And 50+ years later, they’re still going.
The Zombies, in case you didn’t know, are actually one of the most influential bands of all time. Part of the British Invasion, their intended 1968 swan song Odessey and Oracle is listed at number 100 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list. And while most of the original lineup is gone, the two remaining members, lead singer Colin Blunstone and keyboardist Rod Argent are keeping their legendary legacy alive.
Last year, the current band toured with what’s left of the original lineup to play Odessey and Oracle all the way through, in celebration of the album’s 50th anniversary. It was also promised to be the final tour to feature the original lineup, so their Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction later this year will probably be the last time we see them all together. That is, if all four show up.
The Zombies tend to rock Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre annually, and this year’s show was a celebration of primarily their hits. Following an opening act from future rock and roll icon Liz Brasher, The Zombies’ current lineup came out around 9:00 with their rowdy cover of Bo Diddley’s Road Runner. Then came their classic I Want You Back Again, which was revamped and slowed down on their recently released Still Got That Hunger album.
“This is basically going to be a 50 year history of The Zombies’ music.” Blunstone confirmed three songs in. Boy, was it. There were fans in the house that before tonight, probably didn’t know that these legends were still performing, let alone recording new material. Rod Argent pointed that out too, by dedicating the music off of Still Got That Hunger to a fan they met during the preshow meet and greet who said that he was a fan from long ago, and was so glad to find out they were still recording.
After a heartfelt salute to the mainstream musicians who gave Odessey and Oracle the reputation it has, including Zombies superfan Tom Petty, came a quartet of songs from the album. Appropriately, the opening track Care Of Cell 44 started, followed by the slow-going song that can be seen as a response to their Hall Of Fame induction, This Will Be Our Year. Later came the Rod Argent vocalized I Want Her She Wants Me, as well as their earworm Time Of The Season, which got everybody going. And there was not a soul in the house under the age of 30.
With all that said, an Argent hit, (not just Rod – the group he formed with former Zombie Chris White) Hold Your Head Up, was easily the highlight of the night. “Let me just clarify before we begin that the lyrics in the chorus are ‘hold your head up, woman,’ not ‘hold your head up, wo-oah!” he confirmed beforehand. The song lasted around eight minutes, and featured one of Rod’s many extensive, yet legendary keyboard solos heard that night.
The night to remember closed with their smash hit, 1964’s She’s Not There, along with God Gave Rock And Roll To You. Yeah, you read that right. The song KISS made famous again.
You can thank Argent for that. And also The Zombies for keeping it alive. No wonder they’re being inducted to the Hall Of Fame this year. It really took a long time to come.
It’s been a hard few years for rock sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson. After a family related falling out midway through their massive Rock Hall Three For All tour with Joan Jett and The Blackhearts and Cheap Trick, the Magic Man singers have hardly been on speaking terms until as recently as last year. Both sisters said that they were willing to reunite and put everything behind them. And there were signs of that on the official Heart website as early as last week, when the homepage was taken over by a countdown to something.
On August 17, 2019, one day before Queen + Adam Lambert rock Tampa’s Amalie Arena, Heart’s Love Alive Tour, with special guests Elle King and yes, Joan Jett and The Blackhearts, will stop 15 minutes away, over at the Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheater. Tickets go on sale this Friday on LiveNation.
In spite of Ann Wilson releasing a covers album, Immortal back in September, maybe some new material will be released from the Wilson sisters. But whether there is any or not, this is not a show to miss.
No Axl Rose? Oh well. These two legends likely won’t be playing an extensive amount of Guns N’ Roses music anyway.
Guitar legend Slash and vocalist Myles Kennedy have been jamming together for years on end. And whenever Slash isn’t shredding for Axl and Duff, he’s on the road with Myles. And with a new album out last year, why not? Slash hasn’t been to the US in a year or two, so now the time has come for some Americans to experience a duo that will probably go down as one of the most legendary rock duos in history.
On August 13, 2019 at Orlando’s Hard Rock Live, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators will conclude their US summer tour. Tickets go on-sale to the public Friday, and is a primarily GA show. GA tickets start at a whopping $33.
Keep an eye out for those pre-sales, too. The SiriusXM one is happening right now, and that code is…well, you figure it out. I just said it!
Jon Anderson of Yes has a new solo album coming out this year. 1000 Hands: Chapter One has been nearly 3 decades in the making, and will feature contributions from Robby Steinhardt of Kansas, Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull, and fellow Yes bandmate, the late, great Chris Squire.
Anderson has just announced a tour in support of the new album, and on May 8, 2019, Clearwater’s Capitol Theatre will get a taste of him solo. His last time here solo was in 2014 over at Ruth Eckerd Hall, when the Capitol was still under renovations.
The show has not officially been announced by Ruth Eckerd Hall, but has been confirmed on his website. I’ll keep this page updated as more information comes out.
Once legendary British rockers The Who finished off their critically acclaimed The Who Hits 50! tour in 2016, and then some in 2017, surviving members Pete Townshend and Roger Daltrey parted ways for a year so they can do their own things. It felt like The Who was finally over.
Wrong.
Late last week, they announced a forthcoming album of new material, their first like that in 13 years, along with a tour with a symphony orchestra. But that was the only info we were given, other than the fact that Daltrey is thinking that this is his last tour. Then again, he’s been saying that for 40 years.
Nonetheless, on September 22, 2019, The Who’sMoving On! tour will arrive at Tampa’s Amalie Arena.
UPDATE: Tickets go on sale this Friday at 10AM, and will start at $66.75.
Queen + Paul Rodgers performing at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, FL, their second to last Florida performance.
Nope. You’re not on drugs. (Well, metaphorically anyway.)
The last time the original lineup of Queen, one of the most respected and known rock bands of all time was in Florida was when they stopped in Lakeland on the Jazz tour in 1978. That’s right. Smash hits such as Another One Bites The Dust and Radio Gaga had not yet been written or recorded. But now, everything is different. Of course, Freddie Mercury passed away in 1991, and there’s nothing that can be done about that. Yet Queen’s two sole surviving members, guitarist Brian May and drummer Roger Taylor hired Bad Company’s Paul Rodgers to front them for a few years, and on their 2006 US tour, Florida, specifically Miami and Jacksonville were played for the first time in almost 30 years.
But now, Bri and Roger have hired American Idol runner-up Adam Lambert to front the group. Their first few dates were in the US, and they did not come near Florida at all. Last year, they announced another US tour, and they snubbed Florida again. This year, the group has toured Aussie and New Zealand, and stood by to watch the making of the groundbreaking theatrical biopic Bohemian Rhapsody. And they’ve just announced some new US dates.
But there will be something very different about this set of dates.
On August 18, 2019, Queen + Adam Lambert will rock Amalie Arena for the first time ever. This will also be the group’s first time in the Tampa Bay area ever, excluding a show the old Sunshine Speedway in St. Pete in March 1975 that was cancelled due to being too small of a venue. That’s right: Bohemian Rhapsody was still not a thing last time they were supposed to rock Tampa. Can you imagine what a Queen show must have been like without it?
Tickets go on sale December 7, and will start at $45.75. While retired original bassist John Deacon will not be present, we just may get a glimpse or two of Freddie. We Tampa fans only expect the best for a legendary rock band that’s about to make their debut here, after close to 50 years.
Ed Sheeran's Divide tour made a second stop in Tampa Wednesday night, at a much larger venue than last time.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour made a second stop in Tampa Wednesday night, at a much larger venue than last time.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour made a second stop in Tampa Wednesday night, at a much larger venue than last time.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour made a second stop in Tampa Wednesday night, at a much larger venue than last time.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour made a second stop in Tampa Wednesday night, at a much larger venue than last time.
Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour made a second stop in Tampa Wednesday night, at a much larger venue than last time.
Snow Patrol opening for Ed Sheeran. Last time they were in Tampa, the roles were reversed.
Snow Patrol opening for Ed Sheeran. Last time they were in Tampa, the roles were reversed.
Lauv opening for Ed Sheeran and Snow Patrol.
“After this tour, I won’t be playing in America for a very long time.” Modern-day heartthrob Ed Sheeran called out only two songs into his hour and a half long set. All I can say is if what Tampa was given Wednesday night, or even one of the other five times he’s been here, is what the rest of the world will be getting from the Thinking Out Loud performer, they’re in for one hell of a treat.
Last year, the opening act was You’re Beautiful sensation James Blunt. This year, however, is singer-songwriter Lauv(I Like Me Better), and Irish alt band Snow Patrol (Chasing Cars, Run). The latter, who just released a new album in May, haven’t been on tour since 2012, and their last opening act was an up and rising star named…Ed Sheeran. Surprise surprise.
After Lauv and Snow Patrol’s Gary Lightbody trilled out their hits, the jam-packed Raymond James Stadium screeched at the top of their lungs, as the headliner, wearing a short sleeved turquoise shirt under a white long-sleeved one and jeans, ran on up. With just his voice, his guitar, and some pedals, Castle On The Hill kicked everything off, with every word being sang right back to him by a few thousand teenagers. “Everything you’re going to hear tonight is completely live, coming from this guitar!” Ed called out following another song off his newish album, Divide, Eraser.
Ed didn’t only truck through the hits one by one. He gave shout-outs to his opening acts, of course. Same to the boyfriends and dads that didn’t want to be there, and “took the time on a Wednesday night to come out here.” Because in his book, even his haters deserve good recognition, or something like that. Especially Tampa.
Unfortunately, there was no I See Fire, which was the song he did for The Hobbit: The Desolation Of Smaug in 2013. Instead, for the first time this leg of the tour, he played Supermarket Flowers, a song he wrote about his grandmother, who passed away during the making of Divide. Apparently, many fans told him backstage before the show how much the song means to them. His tears during the song proved that he really loves his fans enough to take a request of something he seldom plays.
Oh, and there was also Justin Bieber’sLove Yourself, written by Sheeran. “I wrote this one on the tour bus when I was in Florida!”
Even with that oddity, just like his last Tampa show, last year at Amalie Arena, 2011’s Give Me Love made it in. But in a medley that included Lego House and Tenerife Sea, among others.
Of course, he couldn’t leave out his groundbreaking 2014 sophomore album, x. “If you don’t know the words to this song, you’re at the wrong concert.” he declared before leaping into a heartfelt rendition of Thinking Out Loud, which brought a wave of nostalgia. x’s other hit, Photograph immediately followed, followed by last year’s phone-illuminated Perfect, a song he did solo, with opera legend Andrea Bocelli, and Beyoncé.
The main set ended with an audience-assisted Sing, also off of x. A very generous encore was given shortly after, with Ed sporting a Bucs jersey with his name – A transposed Shape Of You, and a foot stomping, yet more obscure You Need Me, I Don’t Need You capped up one of the most epic shows of the year.
Ed’s well-loved around here, which is probably why this was his sixth show here since opening for Snow Patrol at Jannus Live in 2012. “Florida was the third place in the US I ever played!”
It’ll be three years until he comes back, so hopefully, it’ll also be one of the next.
Josh Bradley Live 