A Look Back: August 2
Written by Mike Stampalia on August 2, 2025
By Mike Stampalia.
30 years ago: Santana / Jeff Beck / Keb’ Mo’ @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center
A regular at SPAC in recent years, Santana closed the concert with his usual fine performance, but there was no question that Beck stole the show with a volcanic performance that left most in attendance absolutely slack-jawed in amazement.
Sauntering in from the stage-right wings in mid-riff, Beck appropriately enough blew into a torrential “Hurricane” to start the show, and the winds of invention never slacked in his sails.
– Greg Haymes for the Times Union
70 years ago: Carlos Montoya @ Berkshire Music Barn
His simulation of drums and bugles in a military procession during “Saeta” was a mastery of control and precision. And in the numbers where the rhythms became wild in the gypsy manner, he laid his head square on the instrument and allowed the sheer emotion to carry his hands at breathless speed.
– Milton R. Bass for the Berkshire Eagle
30 years ago: The Jayhawks / Peter Stuart @ Saratoga Winners
What would you have if Gram Parsons fronted Grand Funk? A country band with classic rock muscle? A cosmic American freight train? Just a beautiful, beautiful thing? You’d have all of those and you’d probably call it the Jayhawks.
And you’d probably call the Jayhawks concert at Saratoga Winners on Wednesday night one of the best of the year.
– Greg Haymes for the Times Union
1 year ago: Brandon Santini @ the Linda
Santini had three cases of more than 30 harmonicas and handled most of the vocals. His guitarist Timo Arthur is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music who cut his teeth in the underrated Boston music scene.
– Don Wilcock for the Daily Gazette
Visit onstagealbany.com to keep up with Capital District concert reviews, both old and new.
RadioRadioX