Category: Concert Connection

Celebrating The Arrival of The Beatles at JFK Airport

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[cycloneslider id=”honoring-beatles-50th-anniversary” fx=”fade” timeout=”5000″ speed=”1000″ width=”600″ height=”400″ show_prev_next=”true” show_nav=”true” hover_pause=”true”] I was very lucky to get into the ceremony celebrating the arrival of The Beatles at JFK Airport in 1964. The NY news media was there in force as they met with Beatle fans and other dignitaries at the event in the famous TWA Flight Center, a building that Port Authority Executive Director  Pat Foye described “painstakingly recreated” as a symbol of the early sixties “jet age.”

The one official getting most of the attention was Gary Millar, the Lord Mayor Councillor of Liverpool (UK). I also met Billy J. Kramer, a British Invasion/Merseybeat singer who often opened for the Fab Four in those early days. A commemorative plaque was unveiled for the occasion, and the Beatles cover band Liverpool played a few songs in advance of this weekend’s Fest for Beatles Fans. Check out Liverpool’s performance embedded on the last slide above. (Note: Keep your mouse pointer in the slide area to view the video without interruption.)

Glen_BurticI was fortunate to do a mini-interview with Liverpool lead singer/guitarist Glen Burtnik. It was pretty cool even though I was “winging it.” Glen was very friendly and approachable, he’s worked alongside Marshall Crenshaw in Broadway’s Beatlemania and mentored Graham Alexander. We started talking before I even got his full name!

Roger Hodgson back in the US for the “Breakfast In America” Tour

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Roger Hodgson helped propel Supertramp to international superstardom in the 70’s with album sales of well over 60 million, including 1979’s stellar blockbuster, Breakfast in America, which alone sold upwards of 20 million copies. Timeless in nature, his songs have played on the radio continuously for more than thirty-five years. Now, in concert, Hodgson reignites memories and emotions with a heart-stirring voice that both critics and fans declare is sounding better than ever. This is an experience you do not want to miss.

He’s visiting the Massachusetts, New Jersey, and New York area.

Power Popaholic Fest 2013 Report

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Everyone had a great time at our 2nd annual Power Popaholic Fest in Brooklyn, NY. I have to say I was very pleased with the Rock Shop as a venue and it looks like we’ll have next years Fest in the same location. Jana Peri started the show with an acoustic set to get the crowd warmed up. Jana and guitarist Jacob brought a feel-good vibe to the place and then Kurt Baker went up to the mic solo. He gave a great solo performance but at one point in the middle of a song he had “brain fart” and forgot how to continue with a song. The audience had a blast as Kurt ad-libbed his way past that and then finished the song.

Then The Turnback took to the stage and the crowd began to grow, the band is planning an LP in 2014, so they showcased a few brand new songs. The audience was packed now, and The Anderson Council buzzed through their set, to many hoots and applause. Then to promote their entire catalog release in iTunes, The Gripweeds took to the stage. The band sounded amazing with a virtuoso drum performance by Kurt Reil that thrilled the crowd. Rick Reil and Kristin Pinell chimed in with their Byrds-styled guitarcraft. The night rounded out with local Brooklyn retro-poppers The Above who also did an excellent job. The audience stayed through the entire Fest and we all can’t wait till next year!

To commemorate the experience Power Popaholic is selling limited edition album cover sized posters of the “Fest Volume 2.”We are also auctioning off a poster, signed by each one of the bands that played Power Popaholic Fest on ebay.

We are also selling non-signed posters for $4.00 each.




Big Star “Nothing Can Hurt Me” and Concert Tribute in NYC

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BIG STAR: NOTHING CAN HURT ME is a feature-length documentary from Magnolia Pictures about legendary Memphis power pop band Big Star.  The film opens in New York at the IFC Center on July 3 and will also be available that same day on iTunes and via most on demand video services.

New York City – The Central Park Concert on June 30th: the show will include Sharon Van Etten, Richard Lloyd, Kurt Vile, Marshall Crenshaw, Pete Yorn,  Reeve Carney (Spiderman: Turn Off The Dark),  Jonathan Donahue (Mercury Rev), The Uptown Horns and Becky Stark (Lavender Diamond). The core band will once again feature Mike Mills (R.E.M.) on bass; Mitch Easter (Lets Active) and Chris Stamey (The dB’s) and Ken Stringfellow (The Posies, Big Star) on guitar; Charles Cleaver on keys; Django Haskins (of The Old Ceremony), Brett Harris and Skylar Gudasz on harmony and guitar; and original Big Star member Jody Stephens on drums, all backed with a twenty- piece chamber orchestra including the famed cellist Jane Scarpantoni. Details here.

The film’s soundtrack was just released too:
Buy it at Omnivore Recordings or Amazon

The Rolling Stones celebrate their 50th anniversary

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You know, if someone had told me 30 years ago that the Rolling Stones would still be touring today, I would’ve laughed at them. As the Rolling Stones launch their “50 and Counting” Tour, it’s worth noting that 2013 seems to have brought with it a clear shift in the cultural zeitgeist in which vintage musicians such as the Stones, Bowie, Rod Stewart, Dylan, Lou Reed, and Ozzy Osbourne are being embraced instead of being subject to ridicule and scorn “for being too old.” For those of us who believe that music – not smooth-skinned celebrity and youth – is what really matters, one can only say “welcome back my friends to the show that never ends!”