A Look Back: July 5

By Mike Stampalia.

50 years ago: The Bee Gees / Revelation @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

The audience was especially impressed with “Jive Talkin’,” which obviously gives the group hope that their new image may be taking hold.

– Steve Grandin for the Saratogian

50 years ago: Tom Rush / Orleans / Wendy Waldman / Leon Redbone / Mimi Farina @ The Music Inn (Stockbridge)

Apparently, Redbone is even older than his blues roots. He says he is 394 years old. Despite his advanced age and the fact that he looks at his feet while mumbling songs like “Didi-wa-didi,” Redbone drew a very enthusiastic response from the audience.

– Jay McInerney for the Berkshire Eagle

20 years ago: James Taylor @ Tanglewood

And he can make pleasantly self-deprecating comments about his songs, which he says he “wrote, or channeled, or stole.” He admits that it takes him a long time to understand them, and there are some like “Never Die Young” that he hasn’t figured out yet. “Frozen Man,” he realized only recently, is about his father.

– Richard Dyer for the Boston Globe

1 year ago: Dave Matthews Band @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

In what is apparently a seldom-played jam, a cover of David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” the audience jumped to their feet and did just that – dance. The energy of the evening was joyful, and positivity radiated from every viscid body in the venue even more than body odor did.

– Elissa Ebersold for the Daily Gazette

Visit onstagealbany.com to keep up with Capital District concert reviews, both old and new.