A Look Back: July 20

image: James Taylor on SPAC stage (July 20, 1975) – photo from the Saratogian

By Mike Stampalia.

 

50 years ago: James Taylor / Emmylou Harris @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

“Gorilla,” “Walking Man,” “Down in Mexico,” and an almost angry version of “Steamroller” balanced the softer songs which are Taylor’s alone. Guitarist Danny Kootch was especially impressive in “One Man Parade.”

– Chat Blakeman for the Saratogian

 

30 years ago: The Kinks @ Starlite Theatre

Then he introduced the rest of the boys. “C’mon, let’s hear it for the Kinks,” he proclaimed with some strange kind of third-person detachment.

With brother Dave Davies revving up his over-amped guitar, the band crashed into an explosive version of  “Til the End of the Day” that seemed time-warped back to the era of Beatlemania.

After that, however, Ray Davies seemed more interested in his next costume change (there were at least a half-dozen) than in plowing through the string of old nuggets, like the tropical “Apeman,” the buoyant “Come Dancing” and of course the rousing sing-along “Lola.”

– Greg Haymes for the Times Union

 

20 years ago: Kenny Chesney / Gretchen Wilson / Pat Green @ Pepsi Arena

Even a throwaway version of John Cougar’s “Hurts So Good” featuring a cameo by opener Gretchen Wilson wasn’t bad. That’s because Chesney could do no wrong on Wednesday night.

Wilson offered up a rollicking 45-minute performance, her strong, soaring voice a perfect fit for Patsy Cline-influenced, country party girl anthems such as “Redneck Woman,” “When It Rains” and “Homewrecker.”

– Michael Lisi for the Times Union

 

20 years ago: The Lovin’ Spoonful / The Happenings @ Empire State Plaza

But the Lovin’ Spoonful without Yanovsky and Sebastian is something like if Ringo Starr and George Harrison re-formed the Beatles without John or Paul. It just ain’t right. Or good.

Butler – now out from behind the drums and handling lead vocal chores – sang passably all night long, from the opening “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice” to the closing signature tune “Do You Believe in Magic?” but there was no magic in the music.

– Greg Haymes for the Times Union

 

1 year ago: Cognitive / Dysentery / Atrae Bilis / Confinement / Sickbay / Dissonant Seepage @ Empire Underground

 

1 year ago: The Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival @ Walsh Farm

A crowd of 7,000 people had turned out for the festival under partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the mid-80s when 15-year-old mandolin prodigy Wyatt Ellis took the High Meadow stage, one of Grey Fox’s four performance areas, at 1 p.m. Because a computer glitch had disrupted air travel, he had arrived by car driving non-stop from Tennessee without his full band. Flatpicking guitar ace Michael Daves and others stood in and drew up an impromptu set list of old school bluegrass, beginning with Bill Monroe’s “True Life Blues.

– Glenn Weiser for the Daily Gazette

 

1 year ago: Super 400 @ Powers Park

 

1 year ago: Chaparelle @ Levon Helm Studios

One cover that had people singing along was their slowed, folky version of Whitney Houston’s “I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Chaparelle ended their set with another cover during the encore. “Video Games” by Lana Del Rey was a song that inspired their own writing. Day has previously worked with Del Rey, opening for her a number of times and being featured on her Joni Mitchell cover, “For Free.”

– Remy Commisso for NYS Music

 

1 year ago: Sydney Worthley / DJ Fearless @ Albany Distilling Company

 

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