A Look Back: July 31

By Mike Stampalia on July 31, 2025

40 years ago: Motley Crue @ Glens Falls Civic Center

Motley Crue

On their latest album, Motley Crue has covered “Smokin’ in the Boys Room,” an old Browsville Station song written by Cub Koda, who currently lives in the Boston area and has promoted numerous shows in Greater Lynn.

“I used to sing that song when I was doing shows on the strip in Hollywood,” Neil said. “We tried it about four years ago when we started, but it didn’t sound so good. Then we tried it again this year, and we decided to record it.”

The band has since met with Koda “and he loves the song.” Koda joined the band in Glens Falls, N.Y., the first stop on its current U.S. tour.

“He sang it with us on stage,” said Neil. “It was great.”

– Steve Krause for the Daily Item

70 years ago: Teddy Charles Quartet @ Berkshire Music Barn

Teddy Charles

Charles Mingus is one of the great bass players of modern jazz and amply demonstrated his versatility throughout the evening and especially in his solo of “Memories of You.” However, the bass is essentially a harsh, blunt instrument and no matter how virtuoso the performer, there is a certain loss of melodic line when the instrument is too dominant in a group. Mr. Mingus overrode all opposition in the quartet, not only with his instrument but also with his personality.

– Milton R. Bass for the Berkshire Eagle

60 years ago: Josh White @ Berkshire Music Barn

One of the good things about a White performance is the thumping, zinging zest of his guitar playing. He makes it whine, sing and thunder with wonderful agility. His voice is whisky rough. If he doesn’t sing very well, as he told Saturday’s audience, it’s all right because he’s really just telling a story.

– Lisa Lansing for the Berkshire Eagle

40 years ago: Gordon Lightfoot @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center

He started on “Cherokee Bend,” when another power outage struck. After a short delay, the show went on to the applause of a sympathetic audience. The “ballad salad” ended with “Pussywillows, Cattails.”

– John Magee for the Post-Star

10 years ago: Ariana Grande / Prince Royce @ Times Union Center

After this, the show alternated between song, Grande disappearing as a video played, then returning for a song. While the minimalist (for her) ballad “My Everything” soared, she was a bit out of breath on “Honeymoon Avenue.” None of this mattered by closing number, “Problem.” Grande and her crew returned dressed like go-go dancers, fireworks were blasting and confetti rained down on the crowd, who sang and jumped in the aisles with the type of mad, unrestrained pure joy kids show when they are having a load of fun.

– Jim Shahen Jr. for the Times Union

10 years ago: Slipknot / Lamb of God / Bullet for My Valentine / Motionless in White @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center