Tuesday, August 30, 2016

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE" - CHAPTER 170- NEW YORK STATE FAIR REALLY ROCKS WITH PERFORMANCES BY BRIAN WILSON & HERMAN'S HERMITS w/ PETER NOONE

Wow the Great New York State Fair brought back many great memories for me on Monday August 29, 2016 as both Hermans Hermits with Peter Noone and Hall of Fame legend Brian Wilson took the Chevy Court stage. Noone at 2 PM while Wilson along with Al Jarmine & Blondie Chaplin thrill the 8 PM nighttime crowds, together totaling close to 25,000 CNY music fans.

Hermans Hermits- first visited and performed in Syracuse with the Dick Clark Caravan of Stars back on May 25, 1965 at the Syracuse War Memorial Auditorium. Peter Noone fronted Great Britians third most popular band Hermans Hermits. That nights concert  included such stars as Bobby Vee,  The Hondells (Little Honda),  Little Anthony and the Imperials, Freddy Cannon, Brenda Holloway, Round Robin, Reparata & The Delrons, Billy Stewart , The Ikettes and other. The Mc of that show was George McCannon III and presented to you my WOLF Radio. Hermans Hermits were riding high the the US charts following Mrs Brown, Henry the VIII and others.

They have performed in CNY a number of time including at the Brookside Club (early 1970's) and NYS Fair stage August 24, 2014.

Now its August 29, 2016 and we all knew what to expect watching Hermans Hermits with the great frontman Peter Noone - Lots of Fun, High Energy and all there big hits. And that's exactly what we got for close to 90 minutes through 18 songs with audience participation throughout. 

Here's Hermans Hermits set list for you to enjoy.

 I'm Into Something Good, Wonderful World, Love Potion #9, A Must to Avoid, Ring of Fire, Dandy, I'm Telling You Know, Sea Cruise, Daydream Believer, Jumpin Jack Flash, Just A Little Bit Better, Silhouettes, Listen People, Can't You Hear My Heart Beat, For Your Love, Mrs. Brown, Henry The 8th, ending with A Kind of Hush. 

After the show Peter Noone signed autographs for fans and if you wish you could purchase Cds, T-Shirts and 8x10 color photos to have signed. I brought with me my original 1965 Dick Clark Caravan Hermans Hermits tour program for Pete Noone to sign, that he kindly did..After a quick chat about the 1965 first tour he say to me ..Ron don't wait another 51 years to stop and say hi.....Thanks to Dinosaur Radio's Nick Caplan for his help and for taking some great photo of Peter Noone and myself. Our great Syracuse Music History Rock On ++

Next we'll talk about that evenings special Brian Wilson's 50 Years Anniversary of the Beach Boys amazing album "Pet Sounds'. Brain was joined by special guests Al Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. This album (Pet Sound)  is considered by many as the second greatest album of all-time after The Beatles" Sgt Pepper"


Through the Beach Boys first arrived in Syracuse on September 3, 1964 for an outdoor concert at old MacArthur Stadium. After Carmen Licitra & The Vikings performed it started to rain. The Beach Boys waited and took the stage, to this day a question...some say they played one song before the rains ended the day, other say the Beach Boys they never did perform. Well anyways the Beach Boys performed in and near Syracuse many times through the years, but without the great Brian Wilson. Now it Monday evening August 29, 2016 and the great Brian Wilson arrived to play at the great New York State Fair at Chevy Court at approx 8 PM.

Here's Brain Wilsons set list as I  remember it .

California Girls, (Medley of- I Get Around- Shutdown- Little Deuce Coupe), California Saga, Wild Honey, Sail on Sailor...Then they performed the full Pet Sounds album- (Wouldn't It Be Nice, You Still Believe in Me, Thats Not Me, Don't Talk, I'm Waiting For The Day, Let's Go Crazy For A While, Gold Only Knows, I Know There's A Answer, Here Today, Just Wasn't Made For This.) Sloop John B, Caroline O, Hang on To Your Ego.....(The Encore songs- Good Vibrations, Help Me Rhonda, Barbara Ann, Surfin USA and ended with Fun, Fun, Fun.  A historic night from one of musics all-time greats..right here in Syracuse. How luck for all of us.+++++

Monday, August 22, 2016

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE"- CHAPTER 169- MORE FAMOUS PEOPLE WHO PERFORMED OR SPOKE IN CNY- 1983


More Famous People Who Performed or Spoke in CNY- 1983

Jan 7, 1983     The Monterays                                                 Beginnings Club

Jan 8, 1983     Out of The Blue w/ Skip Murphy                    Beginnings Club

Jan 18, 1983   Kiss                                                                   War Memorial
                        Night Ranger

Jan 23, 1983   805                                                                    Lost Horizon

Jan 23, 1983   Kingston Trio                                                   Civic Center
                        Tom Paxton

Feb 3, 1983     New York Flyers                                              Lost Horizon

Feb 6, 1983    Johnny Cash                                                      Landmark Theater

Feb 11, 1983   Ozzy Osbourne                                                War Memorial

Feb 12, 1983   Phil Collins                                                      War Memorial

Feb 19, 2016   Grassroots                                                        Beginnings Club

Feb 24, 2016    Aerosmith                                                       Carrier Dome
                         Ted Nugent
                         Anvil

Mar 3-5            Bill Doggett Trio                                            Dinkler Moter

Mar 12, 1983   Chubby Checker                                             Beginnings Club

Apr 12, 1983    Rush                                                               Carrier Dome

Apr 17, 1983    SU Dance Marathon w/ 805                          Manley Fieldhouse

Apr 21, 1983    Impression w/ C. Mayfield & J. Butler         Landmark Theater

Apr 22, 1983    Rich Little                                                      Landmark Theater

May 11, 1983   Triumph w/ Rik Emmett                                War Memorial
                          Foghot

June 4, 1983      Three Dog Night                                          NYS Fair-Miller Ct
                           Mark Doyle & Joe Whiting

June 19, 1983    Papa John Creach                                       Long Branch Park
                           Jonathan Edwards & David Bromberg

July 2, 1983      Texas Woodstock                                         Carrier Dome
                          Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings,
                          Linda Ronstead, Emmylou Harris
                          Merle Haggard, others

July 24, 1983    Roger McGuinn                                            Long Branch Park

Aug 1983         Quiet Riot                                                      Lost Horizon

Aug 23, 1983    Stray Cats w/ Brian Setzer                        

Aug 23, 1983    Def Leppard                                                 War Memorial
                          Uriah Heep

Aug 24, 1983    Iron Maiden                                                 War Memorial

Aug 28, 1983    James Taylor                                                 NYS Fair

Aug 28, 1983    Richard Naders Rock Revival                      NYS Fair- Miller Ct
                          Del Shannon
                          Marvellettes
                          Bobby Comstock Band

Aug 29               Loverboy                                                      NYS Fair

Aug 30, 1983    Neil Young                                                     NYS Fair

Aug 31, 1983    Santana                                                           NYS Fair

Sept 1, 1983     Bobby Rydell                                                  NYS Fair

Sept 2, 1983     Beach Boys                                                     NYS Fair

Sept 6, 1983     David Bowie                                                   Carrier Dome

Oct 22, 1983    Grateful Dead                                                  War Memorial

Oct 26, 1983    Oak Ridge Boys                                              War Memorial

Nov 16, 1983   Huey Lewis & News                                    

Nov 18, 1983   Twisted Sister                                                  Uncle Sams

Nov 25, 1983   Righteous Brothers                                          Carrier Dome
                         Kenny Rogers
                         Helen Ready

Dec 12, 1983    Genesis- w/ Phil Collins                                 Carrier Dome

Dec 22, 1983    New York Flyers                                             Lost Horizon

Dec 24, 1983    Bill Doggett Trio                                            Dinkler Motor Inn

Dec 29, 1983    805                                                                  Hotel Syracuse

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

HISTORY OF SYRACUSE MUSIC "OFFICIAL SITE" CHAPTER 168 - PAUL MC CARTNEY'S "ONE ON ONE" TOUR ROCKS WASHINGTON's VERIZON CENTER- AUGUST 9TH, WITH SYRACUSE MUSIC CONTINGENT WATCHING.

May 9, 2016 - Setting here in Washington, DC with my wife Nancy awaiting tonight Paul McCartney live show at the Verizon Center when she reminded me that it was 40 years since the late time I had seen Paul in concert. That being on May 9, 1976 at Maple Leaf Garden in Toronto, Canada. That day will always sticks in my mind as our good friend Wings drummer Joe English arranged for six of us Syracuseans to attended the "Wings Over America" Toronto show. The six- David Rezak, Jack Belle, Bob Perry, Rick Barry, Sid Marshall and myself drove straight thought arriving at 4:00 PM. We had backstage VIP passes from Joe hoping to catch McCartney & Wings soundcheck at 5 PM. To our dismay no one was allowed in the building when the soundcheck happened. So dinner it was then back for one amazing show sitting with Paul's aunt & uncle from Detroit. A Wings Over America tour program was bought and we hoped to catch up with Joe English after the show but they were late  for there scheduled flight to Cleveland for the next days show. So Jack & I drove all night back to Syracuse to working the next morning.

Well back to today 2016. After checking into our hotel Nancy & I met up with longtime Syracuse friends Mike & Nancy Ferrante along with Ted & Shane Storto (who were all seeing Paul for the very first time) for dinner at the DC Chop House and then drown the street to the Paul McCartney "One On One" concert at the Verizon Center scheduled to start at 8 PM. After a half hour of Paul tunes and visuals he took the stage with his great band. Listed below the entire set list from the August 9, 2016 McCartney show for your enjoyment...

Hard Days Night, Save Us, Can't Buy Me Love, Letting Go, Temporary Secretary, Let Me Roll It, I Got A Feeling, My Valentine, 1985, Here There and Everywhere, Maybe I'm Amazed, We Can Work It Out, In Spite of All The Danger, You Won't See Me, Love Me Do, And I Love Her, Blackbird, Here Today, Queenie Eye, New, The Fool On The Hill, Lady MaDonna, 45 Seconds, Eleanor Rigby, Brought to You For Benefit of Mr. Kite, Something (George Harrison tribute), Ob-La-Di, Ob-La- Da, Band on the Run, Back in the USSR, Let It Be, Live and Let Die, Hey Jude....

6 Song Encore- Yesterday, Hi Hi Hi, Birthday, Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight and The End.

Paul really blended with the packed Verizon Center crowd telling some history of how songs were named and ideas behind them. The show lasted well over 2+ hours with the crowd singing along with many of the 38 songs performed. PS- With over 22+ being Beatle tunes.

No matter if you've seen Paul perform once or many times those the years you'll always remember that day as we have. I've been very luck to have seen all four Beatles during my 50+ year music career, but sadly not together. If you get that lucky chance to see Paul in your area or have to travel to catch his show do your self a favor and do so. 

PS- Ringo Starr and his All-Star Band also made a stop here in Syracuse to play the new Lakeshore Amphitheater.... TWO BEATLES IN ONE YEAR HOW GREAT.

Also on Paul McCartney's 2016 New 4 Cd release "Pure McCartney" our friend Joe English is included on eight of the tracks..they being- Warm and Beautiful, Listen to What The Man Said, Silly Love Songs, Let Em In, Girlfriend, With A Little Luck, Don't Let It Bring You Down and Venus and Mars/ Rock Show.