Blues Traveler delivered a healthy dose of Four and a few covers at the Beacon Theater in New York City on Friday night. The band kicked off their Four Live Tour, celebrating the 25th anniversary of their seminal album Four. The audience was mostly full, and loving every nostalgic moment of hearing their favorite songs from the mid ’90s with the stunning architecture of the Beacon Theater serving as a backdrop.
The current line up in Blues Traveler is John Popper (singer/harmonica), Chan Kinchla (guitar), Brendan Hill (drums), Tad Kinchla (bass), and Ben Wilson (keyboards). This fall, the band is playing Four in its entirety to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the certified platinum album. They did just that and brought back many fun memories of this album.
The band sprinkled a few covers into the set, including a rocking “One Way Out” by the Allman Brothers and “West L.A. Fadeaway” by the Grateful Dead. They also played a memorable “Shout” by the Isley Brothers.
Setlist: Just Wait, One Way Out*, Crash Burn, Fallible, Look Around, Stand, Run Around, The Mountains Win Again, Freedom, West L.A. Fadeaway**, Just Wait (reprise), Price to Pay, Brother John, Shout***
Encore: 12 Swords, The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, Drum Solo, Hook
* Allman Brothers Cover
** Grateful Dead Cover
**Isley Brothers Cover
Catch Blues Traveler on their Four Live tour this fall, and celebrate 25 years of Four with them.
Upcoming Tour Dates
Tuesday, Nov. 5 Charlottesville, VA Jefferson Theatre
Wednesday, Nov. 6 Richmond, VA The National
Friday, Nov. 8 Louisville, KY Headliners
Saturday, Nov. 9 St. Louis, MO The Pageant
Sunday, Nov. 10 Cedar Rapids, IA Paramount Theatre
Wednesday, Nov. 13 Grand Rapids, MI 20 Monroe Live
Widespread Panic will return to New York City for the first time in seven years, with five nights planned in early 2020. The Athens, GA band will hold a five-night residency at the legendary Beacon Theatre, February 27, 28, 29th and March 1 & 2nd. Tickets are on sale Friday, October 11th at 11am ET. Click here for more info.
Umphrey’s McGee has released the first batch of tour dates for next year for their ‘Hindsight 20/20’ Tour, including two-night runs in New York City, Detroit and Asheville, which will all have umVIP packages available. The tour will also be making a stop in Pellham, TN at The Caverns, where UM will perform in a gorgeous underground amphitheater.
The Caverns in Pelham, TN
The tour kicks off with a two-night run at Beacon Theatre in New York City on January 17 & 18, and then the band will stick around to play Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn. The tour will then make its way through PA, stopping at Stage AE, and the month of January ends with a two-night run at The Filmore in Detroit, MI. The tour continues into Tennessee, where UM will make a stop at The Carverns on February 13.
Additionally, Umphrey’s will welcome The New Deal for a handful of dates, as well as Billy Strings and Empire Strikes Brass. The Toronto-based live electronic trio returns with new drummer Davide Di Renzo, joining Jamie Shields (keyboards) and Dan Kurtz (bass) to create the third incarnation of the dance party powerhouse, The New Deal. Singer, songwriter, and guitarist, Billy Strings takes the stage in Asheville with his unique take on psychedelic Americana, after Asheville’s own Empire Strikes Brass opens the two-night run with their blend of high energy brass, funk, and rock.
See the full list of Hindsight 20/20 Tour dates below, tickets are on sale now.
Umphrey’s McGee Tour Dates
Jan. 17 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY Jan. 18 – Beacon Theatre – New York, NY Jan. 19 – Brooklyn Bowl – Brooklyn, NY Jan. 23 – Penn’s Peak – Jim Thorpe, PA* Jan. 24 – Stage AE – Pittsburgh, PA* Jan. 25 – Express Live – Columbus, OH * Jan. 29 – Clyde Theatre – Fort Wayne, IN* Jan. 30 – MGM Northfield Park – Northfield, OH* Jan. 31 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI* Feb. 1 – The Fillmore – Detroit, MI * Feb. 12 – Soundstage at Graceland – Memphis, TN Feb. 13 – The Caverns – Pelham, TN Feb. 14 – ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC^ Feb. 15 – ExploreAsheville.com Arena – Asheville, NC^
* with The New Deal
^ with Billy Strings and Empire Strikes Brass
Umphrey’s has also just announced Hall of Fame: Class of 2018, a robust collection of the best of the best live tracks performed by the band in 2018 as voted on by the fans. Available in a limited edition, double LP set featuring splattered three-color vinyl, this year’s HOF collection contains four-and-a-half hours of music and enough improv to confuse pop fans everywhere.
Bob Dylan returns to Beacon Theatre in New York City from Nov. 23 to Dec. 6, with a 10-night run. The historic venue has a longstanding tradition of multi-night runs with acts like the Allman Brothers Band, Steely Dan and, most recently, Tedeschi Trucks Band.
The shows will come at the end of the famed songwriter’s mostly college/university fall tour. Dylan first played at Beacon Theatre back in 1989 and continues to establish a tradition of end-of-the-year performances at the Upper West Side venue. He previously played the Beacon 33 times including a seven-concert residency in 2018.
A stop in Central New York will also be on the schedule. Bob Dylan & His Band will
perform at the Ithaca College Athletic and Events Center on Sunday, Nov. 17 as
part of his upcoming tour dates.
The fall tour kicks off Oct.11 in Irvine, CA. Tickets are currently available for purchase through Ticketmaster.
Bob Dylan Tour Dates: Oct. 11 – UC Irvine – Irvine, CA Oct. 12 – Santa Barbara Bowl – Santa Barbara, CA Oct. 14 – Stanford University – Palo Alto, CA Oct. 17 – The Mission Ballroom – Denver, CO Oct. 19 – Pinnacle Bank Arena – Lincoln, NB
Oct. 20 – Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland – Kansas City, MO Oct. 22 – Stifel Theatre – St. Louis, MO Oct. 23 – Iowa State University – Ames, IA Oct. 24 – Mankato Civic Center – Mankato, MN Oct. 26 – Eagles Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
Oct. 27 – Indiana University – Bloomington, IN Oct. 29 – Illinois State University – Normal, IL Oct. 30 – Credit Union 1 Arena at UIC – Chicago, IL Nov. 1 – Morris Performing Arts Center – South Bend, IN Nov. 2 – Ball State University – Muncie, IN Nov. 4 – Ohio State University – Columbus, OH Nov. 5 – Michigan State University – East Lansing, MI Nov. 6 – University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, MI Nov. 8 – Northern Kentucky University – Highland Heights, KY Nov. 9 – University of Akron – Akron, OH Nov. 10 – Robert Morris University – Moon Township, PA Nov. 12 – University of Maryland Baltimore County – Baltimore, MD Nov. 13 – Virginia State University – Petersburg, VA Nov.15 – Penn State University – University Park, PA
Nov. 17 – Ithaca College – Ithaca, NY Nov. 19 – University of Massachusetts – Lowell, MA Nov. 20 – Providence Performing Arts Center – Providence, RI Nov. 23 – Beacon Theatre – NYC Nov. 24 – Beacon Theatre – NYC Nov. 26 – Beacon Theatre – NYC Nov. 27 – Beacon Theatre – NYC Nov. 29 – Beacon Theatre – NYC Nov. 30 – Beacon Theatre – NYC
Following six sold-out Caribbean cruises and a sold-out inaugural Mediterranean sailing, legendary guitarist Joe Bonamassa, along with the Keeping the Blues Alive Foundation, and Sixthman, have announced the second annual Keeping the Blues Alive at Sea Mediterranean II cruise. The cruise sets sail August 14 to 19, 2020 on the Norwegian Jade, leaving from Barcelona, Spain with stops in Genoa, Italy and Cannes, France.
The cruise will feature blues musicians Jonny Lang, Walter Trout, Ana Popovic, The James Hunter Six, with more to be announced. They’ll be joined by just announced artists Marc Broussard, Samantha Fish, King King, Jimmy Vivino, The Suffers, Selwyn Birchwood, The Cold Stares, Daddy Long Legs, Elles Bailey, Ben Levin, and Lakota John, in addition to New Hartford, NY native Bonamassa for this second European voyage.
Music will be featured across multiple stages, as well meet and greets with artists, and one-of-a-kind collaborative sets from blues legends. In addition to non-stop music, the specially curated schedule of events offers a variety of music-centric activities including an activity with Joe Bonamassa. Beyond the onboard experience, guests will have the chance to explore two of the world’s most beautifully renowned cities. Attendees can spend the day at the waterfront town of Cannes, famous for sparkling, sandy beaches and lush attractions, and explore the historic streets of Genoa, a remarkable gem of the Italian Riviera.
Bonamassa has also announced the release of Live at the Sydney Opera House, featuring recordings from his 2016 performance at the UNESCO Heritage Monument. The album will include previously unreleased live versions of tracks from his No. 1 album Blues of Desperation.
Band members on the live release includeLate Night with David Letterman‘s Anton Fig (percussion), Nashville recording legend Michael Rhodes (bass), Rock & Roll Hall of Famer and member of Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble, Reese Wynans (keyboards), Paulie Cerra (sax), and Lee Thornburg (trumpet), with Mahalia Barnes, Juanita Tippins, and Gary Pinto on backing vocals.
Pressed on vinyl 180 Gram and including a commemorative booklet, the Double LP features the exclusive bonus track “Livin’ Easy,” and is due out on J&R Adventures October 25. Pre-order has begun and you can listen to the first track “This Train” below.
Live at the Sydney Opera House follows the 2018 release of British Blues Explosion Live, which marked Bonamassa’s milestone 20th #1 album, and precedes his latest studio album Redemption that took the blues world by storm later that year, bringing him his 21st #1 album on the blues charts.
In addition to Live at the Sydney Opera House, Bonamassa has a new studio album on the horizon, and plans to hit the studio this winter, following his extensive international and U.S. tour dates.
Fall 2019 Tour Dates
Friday, October 18 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
Saturday, October 19 – Oakland, CA – Paramount Theatre
Tuesday, October 22 – Bakersfield, CA – Fox Theater
Wednesday, October 23 – Rancho Mirage, CA – The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage
Friday, October 25 – Phoenix, AZ – Comerica Theatre
Sunday, October 27 – Las Vegas, NV – The Colosseum at Caesars Palace
Tuesday, October 29 – Oklahoma City, OK – Chesapeake Energy Arena
Wednesday, October 30 – Wichita, KS – Century II Concert Hall
Friday, November 1 – Springfield, MO – Juanita K. Hammons Hall
Saturday, November 2 – Kansas City, MO – Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
Sunday, November 3 – Springsfield, IL – University of Illinois Springfield Performing Arts Center
Tuesday, November 5 – South Bend, IN – Morris Performing Arts Center
Thursday, November 7 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
Friday, November 8 – Detroit, MI – Fox Theatre
Saturday, November 9 – Washington D.C. – The Theater at MGM National Harbor
Monday, November 11 – Burlington, VT – Flynn Center for the Performing Arts
Tuesday, November 12 – Binghamton, NY – Broome County Forum Theatre
Though Pink Floyd has been retired since their 1995 “Pulse” tour (with the exception of the 2014 release of The Endless River) all three surviving members of the band have treated New York City to different flavors of the live Pink Floyd experience. Roger Waters made a statement with his present-day adaptation of The Wall at Yankee Stadium in 2013. David Glimour mesmerized Manhattan with three nights between Radio City and The Garden. This past weekend, Nick Mason propelled the Syd Barret era back into the limelight, presenting works from the band’s earliest recordings.
In comparison to large venue shows, The Beacon Theatre provided a much more intimate experience and prompted many to share stories about their first experiences seeing the band in smaller venues before the show even began – a reminiscence which become even more real later in the show.
Nick Mason and Guy Pratt performing at the Beacon Theatre
The intro riffs of “Interstellar Overdrive,” from Pink Floyd’s first album, were quick to establish the theme of the show, something to which Mason remarked upon after a couple of songs. He dismissed considering his band some sort of Pink Floyd tribute-act or a nostalgia machine. His band wasn’t a random assemblage of musicians either. Joining him on bass was Guy Pratt, who toured with Mason, Gilmour and the late Richard Wright, on the post-Waters Pink Floyd tours; on guitar, Gary Kemp, a longtime friend of Mason’s. Kemp’s familiarity and Pratt’s Floyd touring experience were evident in many aspects of the night from performance style to the band’s chemistry and character, just to name a few. It all created the genuine Pink Floyd-esque show Mason intended. Also joining Mason was Lee Harris (former guitarist for The Blockheads) who effortlessly flowed along with Kemp to re-create Syd Barrett’s sound, and Dom Beken on keys, dialing in Richard Wright’s style.
The setlist included several favorites from the early Floyd catalogue, which haven’t been played live in many years by either Gilmour or Waters, and dug into some rarer songs off those albums. Some box-sets and re-releases brought some of these songs back into the light, but other songs in the set like “Green is the Colour” and “Vegetable Man” were a treat from the realm of obscurity for dedicated fans in the audience. Pratt got his wish to pick a song to play on this tour. For Gilmour’s mid/late 2000’s tour, Pratt was given the chance to choose a song for the setlist, to which he suggested “The Nile Song.” He joked that the idea clearly wouldn’t fly as it wasn’t popular, “[that] album was half the cost of all the other Pink Floyd albums and everyone had it.” However, the heavier/louder psychedelic sound was welcomed at the Beacon Theatre and didn’t disappoint the crowd.
Nick Mason performing at the Beacon Theatre
With New York a major crossroads and hub in the music world, the unexpected can happen. Mason was telling a story about not being able to play the shiny gong behind him in the early years for “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” because of a certain bandmate that always took that job from him. During which, Roger Waters emerged from the shadows of stage right to the gasps of the audience. Without a bass in hand, Waters performed the lyrics of the song, capturing an original recording and early performances of it.
The two former Pink Floyd members had been on stage together during Waters’ The Wall tour and previously during the band’s 2005 Live 8 reunion set. But, this is the first time in many years members of Pink Floyd have collaborated on stage for one of that band’s early songs. The surviving members have reunited to a limited degree in the years since the full 2005 reunion, (the three appeared briefly on stage in 2011 with a special appearance by Gilmour) and the experience NYC got with Waters and Mason will probably be the closest thing to a Pink Floyd reunion at this point, but these moments will certainly be welcomed.
Setlist: Interstellar Overdrive, Astronomy Domine, Lucifer Sam, Fearless, Obscured By Clouds, When You’re In, Remember a Day, Arnold Layne, Vegetable Man, If -> Atom Heart Mother -> If (reprise), The Nile Song, Green Is The Colour, Let There Be More Light, Childhood’s End, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun, See Emily Play, Bike, One of These Days
Encore: A Saucerful of Secrets, Point Me at the Sky
