A Look Back: July 1

(Image: Arlo Guthrie and Pete Seeger at SPAC, 7/1/75 – photo by the Saratogian)

By Mike Stampalia.

50 years ago: Arlo Guthrie & Pete Seeger @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

The pair played nearly three hours, taking only a 20 minute intermission in the middle of the evening. Throughout the performance, they played both together and separately, with Seeger often doing banjo solos, while most of Guthrie’s ballads were done on the piano. While the other one was playing, the remaining folk singer would sit right down on gthe SPAC stage and strum along and just look on. Although there is a large difference in their ages, it appears that Seegere and Guthrie have a great deal of respect and admiration for each other.

– Steve Grandin for the Saratogian

50 years ago: Gordon Lightfoot @ Tanglewood

However, in the middle of the first encore, “The Last Time I Saw Her,” Lightfoot stopped singing abruptly and waved his arms to stop the band.

He finally closed the show with the upbeat “In the Early Morning Rain,” an early Lightfoot compostion made popular by Ian and Sylvia, and left the stage amid shouts of “More!” I was still wondering what had happened to the other half of “The Last Time I Saw Her” and to a few other songs, disappointed because something had gone slightly wrong with what was for the most part, the best liver performance I’ve heard in years.

– Jay McInerney for the Berkshire Eagle

30 years ago: “Newport Jazz Festival” @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

Sporting a pork pie hat, and the spitting image of seminal jazz saxophonist Lester Young, [James] Carter demonstrated a jaw-dropping command of his instrument. He summoned broad, bluesy notes, menacing low-end growls, and stratospheric squeals that impaired the hearing of any dog within range.

– Mike Curtin for the Post-Star

20 years ago: Dave Matthews Band / Galactic @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

And the new music sounded good, especially a fiery rendition of “Louisiana Bayou” that featured some spirited fiddling courtesy of violinist Boyd Tinsley. Versions of the powerful “You Might Die Trying,” “American Baby” and “Hunger for the Great Light” were impressive, easily winning loud cheers from the crowd.

Vocally, Matthews sounded great, his throaty growl superb on songs such as the sweet “Dreamgirl,” the gritty “Stand Up” and the always intense “Don’t Drink the Water.

– Michael Lisi for the Times Union

1 year ago: Story of the Year / Plain White T’s / Senior Living @ Empire Live

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