A majestic night at the Hollywood Bowl with Queen + Adam Lambert

26 June 2017, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CAFor a combination of visual spectacle and musical grandeur with non-stop hits, there is pretty much nothing like a Queen concert. Having accepted this version of Queen, a Queen minus original, enigmatic bassist John Deacon, plus the fabulously flamboyant and vocally victorious Adam Lambert up front, it seems now I’m loathe to miss them if they play where I am. And who wouldn’t want to see Queen at the Hollywood Bowl?

Sheryl Crow and the summer of girl power

7 June 2017, Grammy Museum and 8 June 2017, Greek Theater, Los Angeles, CA

It’s been a few months since I last wrote here (my Liv On review had a huge response), and now that my summer concert season has begun, it’s great to return with another strong woman artist, Sheryl Crow, who has intrigued me for more than two decades and always drawn me into her musical ventures.

Anniversaries – Chicago at 50

5 June 2017, Whisky a Go Go, Los Angeles, CA

This year Chicago is marking 50 years since it formed. I was hoping for a seriously celebratory tour, or a handful of extra spectacular concerts with special guests, perhaps even – foolish fantasiser am I – a one-off reunion with former members. But no, they just decided to go on the road with the Doobie Brothers again, because it’s become standard now for Chicago to tour in a double bill each year, be it with the Doobies, Earth Wind & Fire, REO Speedwagon or some other classic rock band…

Don Henley down home in Texas

17 January 2017, Majestic Theatre, San Antonio, TX

At the final of three shows on my Texas mini tour (four if you count New Years Eve across the state line in Oklahoma), and maybe the last time I will see him with this particular 15-piece band behind him, in the gorgeous theatre that Don Henley performed in on Tuesday night in San Antonio the sound was excellent, the crowd was rowdy, the security was very slack, but as always the experience was mesmerising.

Timothy B Schmit

8 January 2017, Canyon Club, Agoura Hills, CA

When I heard an early preview of Timothy’s new album, Leap Of Faith, last year, I immediately said out loud, “This is Timothy’s time.” I meant it in a couple of ways. Musically, he’d reached a new level of buoyancy as a solo songwriter and performer; and also with the tragic ending of the Eagles, an insatiable need from Eagles followers and fans for connection with and music from the three remaining members, and a general interest from the media in the aftermath of that tragic ending meant – I believed – that Timothy’s solo work and subsequent touring would be more noticed than ever before.

A Tribute To The Music Of Linda Ronstadt

11 December 2016, The Theater at Ace Hotel, Los Angeles, CA

When thinking about how I would describe this outstanding event I wondered what I could add to the detailed reviews in the LA Times and Billboard, the links for which are at the end of this report. While I can certainly speak to the excellent musicianship, the thoughtful choice of songs to represent Linda Ronstadt across all the genres of her repertoire – country, folk, rock, pop, standards, Mexican and more – and the seriously outstanding singing from the female performers on the bill, the greatest impression on me, what mesmerised and touched me, was the outpouring of love for Linda on stage, on the video tributes, and in the audience.

Jeff Lynne’s ELO

10 September 2016, Hollywood Bowl, Los Angeles, CA

This just might be among the best live concerts I’ve ever seen. It should have been longer and it should have been louder, but it was visually and aurally spectacular and, similar to when I saw Barbra Streisand last month, I was aware that I was among the very privileged few even getting to see this show, Jeff Lynne’s ELO tour of the US playing only three nights in Los Angeles and two nights in New York, and nowhere else.