Concert #483 - Barry McGuire at the First Baptist Church of Glendora (October 11, 2008)

This was my third time to catch Barry McGuire in concert in just about two years, which clearly demonstrates how much I enjoyed his "Trippin' The Sixties" series of concerts. But there was something different about this third show: Terry Talbott, Barry's long-time musical collaborator, was no longer there. I don't know what led to the breakup, but in the end I was a lot happier with Barry's new partner, John York, a musician associated with one of the early incarnations of the Byrds.

Well into his seventies, Barry showed no signs of slowing down. His seemingly bottomless energy and the tremendous joy radiating from his face are hard to forget. It was very obvious that Barry loved being up there on the stage and when he thanked the fans for their support, his words did not sound fake at all.

I was very impressed with Barry's voice, which remained as instantly recognizable as it was during his "Eve Of Destruction" days. The concert started with "Green, Green", the classic New Christy Minstrels tune featuring Barry's raspy voice, and after that, it was one gem after another, all interspersed with stories about Bob Dylan, Mama Cass, Tim Hardin, the Lovin' Spoonful and others. And you can bet your life that no one questioned his credibility. He was there!

The set list

I went to the show with my childhood friend Mircea, who happens to be a walking encyclopedia of music of all genres, if there ever was one. We both loved the show.

My friend Mircea, just minutes before the show

My friend Mircea checking out the set list

John York was exceptionally good in his new role as Barry's sidekick. Unlike the somewhat overbearing Terry Talbot, Barry's previous partner, John was a perfect complement to the headlining Barry, always offering his musical skills to support, rather than upstage. 

Barry McGuire (left) and John York (October 11, 2008)

The highlight of the show had to be "Eve Of Destruction", a song that still gives me the goosebumps. "I I Were A Carpenter", "Hair" and "Greenback Dollar" were also outstanding, but then so was the entire show.

I consider myself extremely lucky for having had the chance to not only see one of my life-long heroes, but also talk with him. As he often does, Barry made himself available after the show to meet his fans, so I got to shake his hand once again. Barry also autographed for me a photograph taken in December 2007 after his show in Altadena, here it is:

Yours Truly and Barry McGuire in 2007 (photo autographed in October 2008)

Barry McGuire chatting with fans after the show

The sparse stage of the First Baptist Church of Glendora

The First Baptist Church of Glendora

Concert #484 - Kris Kristofferson at the Haugh Performing Arts Center (October 19, 2008)

This was possibly the most emotional concert I've ever attended. This concert gave me goosebumps and made me weep, and all this for two reasons. First, Kris Kristofferson was phenomenally good, and second, I went to the show with a dear friend from the other side of the planet, who decades earlier first introduced me to Kris' music, when I was still living in the music-deprived Old Country.

It was in the early 1970s when my friend Mircea let me have a tape that contained "The Silver Tongued Devil And I", Kris Kristofferson's second and arguably best album. Kris' lyrics were totally impenetrable to me, as my English at that time was less than passable, but the quality of the tunes and Kris' superb delivery were all that was needed to knock me out, and what a knock-out it was. Later in the 70s, life brought me to California, where I've been living happily ever since ... who would have thought that, decades later, Mircea and I would be sitting next to each other, listening to Kris Kristofferson singing many of the very same songs that meant so much to both of us ... well, it happened.

The concert took place at the Haugh  Performing Arts Center on the campus of the Citrus College in the City of Glendora. The theater has 1,440 seats, yet it feels fairly intimate. The place was almost full when Kris took the stage, there were just a few empty seats in the back. The stage was sparse, with just a rug on the floor, a guitar stand with an acoustic guitar, a sheet music stand, a microphone and two monitors, all tell-tale signs that a one-man-show was about to begin.

The stage

Kris opened his show with "Shipwrecked", a lesser known song, but before too long, his famous gems started coming up, and they kept coming one after the other, it was pure magic. Although in his early seventies, Kris sang pretty much with the same voice he had in the seventies (the decade), and even his vocal inflections sounded like the ones from his younger days.

Partial set list 

"Shipwrecked

"Me & Bobby McGee"

"Help Me Make It Through The Night" 

"For The Good Times"

"Jody And The Kid"

"Here Comes That Rainbow Again"

"This Old Road"

"In The News"

"Pilgrim's Progress"

"The Final Attraction"

"Help Me Make It Through The Night"

"Sunday Mornin' Comin' Down"

 "The Silver Tongued Devil And I"

"Loving Her Was Easier Than Anything I'll Ever Do Again"

"Love Is The Way" (encore)

"Why Me, Lord" (encore)

Most of his songs ended with a laconic "Thank you". Occasionally, Kris would introduce the next song, but there wasn't much stage banter - the focus was on his music and there wasn't a single bad song during his almost two-hour long concert. With just a voice and an acoustic guitar, Kris held his audience captive and I'm sure that my eyes weren't the only moist ones in the room.

All-in-all, it was a moving encounter with a musician I've loved for many decades. Also one of the most unforgettable concerts I've ever attended.

My friend Mircea at the Haugh Performing Arts Center

Kris Kristofferson fans filing in

Haugh Performing Arts Center

Concert #600 - David Bromberg at McCabe's Guitar Shop (August 6, 2011)

For my 600th concert, I couldn't have asked to see a better performance than the one put on by David Bromberg last night at McCabe's, but I have to admit that, although fully aware of his place in the music world, I had only been a part-time follower of David's career. Shame on me.

Last night's show at McCabe's, the second of two sold-out shows there, was nothing short of extraordinary - no wonder David was given four standing ovations, including one right in the middle of his second set, as he was wrapping up "Mr. Bojangles".

Any attempt on my part to describe David Bromberg's wit, charisma, musical credibility and, pardon my French, joie de vivre, would be an exercise in futility, so let me just say that the guy is witty and charismatic like few others, makes you take in every word he says and the joy of playing music just oozes through his pores.

David Bromberg at McCabe's (August 6, 2011)

And the music he played was great. Last night it was mostly blues, but not only. The proceedings kicked-off with "Keep On Drinkin'", followed by a few songs from "Use Me", David's brand new album of musical collaborations with some of the biggest names in the music business. John Hiatt's "Ride On Out A Ways" and Tim O'Brien's "Blue Is Fallin'" were exceptionally good, but the song that made me scream the loudest was "Diggin' In The Deep Blue Sea", written by Keb' Mo' and performed brilliantly by David and his band. And Keb' Mo' deserves all the credit in the world for having come up with such a perfect song title.

And speaking of the band: they were great as well, particularly Brian Mitchell, who played the piano and keyboards with total fervor and abandonment. He also picked up his accordion to provide the Latin touch for "The Long Goodbye", David's collaboration with Los Lobos. Brian's many extended solos were very well received by the crowd.

Brian Mitchell, pictured here with Dolly Parton

One of the highlights of the evening was David's rendition of "Bring It With You When You Come", an old jug band tune, complete with racy lyrics such as "I ain't no plumber, I ain't no plumber's son, But I can screw your pipes until your plumber comes", and if that wasn't racy enough for you, he went on with "I ain't no lawyer, I ain't no lawyer's son, But I can get you off until your lawyer comes". The crowd loved it, needless to say. But David saved the best for last, by seamlessly transitioning into a folk-music version of "Wooly Bully", with full vocal support from the audience. It was a blast.

David Bromberg at McCabe's (August 6, 2011)

Then there was humor. Lots of humor. At one point, David asked the band "What do we play now? Oh, let's play a blues number in A-minor", and they all started playing a song. The same song. Earlier in the evening, just before the intermission, David told the crowd that they have CDs for sale. And DVDs. Also BVDs. I also enjoyed David's story about Sam Lightnin' Hopkins' way of making cash by recording the same few songs at multiple record labels without signed contracts, which would have limited his money-making options.

And there were more outstanding songs: "Diamond Lil", "Rock & Roll Millionaire", "Kind Hearted Woman", from Robert Johnson's repertoire, Vince Gill's "Lookout Mountain Girl", and the unbelievable "I Will Never Be Your Fool". I've been to a few concerts in my life, but I don't think I've ever seen or heard anything quite like the latter.

David Bromberg - what a performer!

David Bromberg signing autographs before the show

An incomplete set list photographed after the show