The other day one of my young (yes young) basketball (Our school gym has been closed since schools closed in March and we remain without any word on a possible re-start.) players texted he is part of an outdoor summer “free, socially distant” concert in downtown Jamaica. I responded there were plans that eve to see one of my all-time faves in the South Orange Performing Arts Center in New Jersey that eve but I am sure it will be rescheduled (it was already rescheduled from last May). I checked the SOPAC website and now that special show falls on a Saturday next May. It focused me back to a blog that appeared in this space in the last Sunday in January. This blog covers what might have been with all the shows canceled and/or rescheduled into the new year, but notes the nice taste of one of the show provided live but remotely this past Thursday.

I really expected to attend a near record number of concerts this year, with a good number this summer including Rod Stewart, Squeeze opening for Hall & Oates, Steve Winwood opening for Steely Dan, The Doobies Bros. 50th Anniversary including Michael McDonald and Tom Johnston in the same lineup, James Taylor and Jackson Brown, and the Laidback Festival inspired by Greg Allman of blessed memory featuring the Steve Miller Band and Brian Wilson with Alan Jardine and Blondie Chaplin. Before the summer started I looked forward to attending three Richie Furay shows before he “retires” from “headline touring,” the return of Gotham’s Battle of the Bands, John Fogerty at the ornate Palace Theatre in Brooklyn, and Poco/Pure Prairie League/Firefall at Tilles Center.

This year I already enjoyed the Eagles and, just before everything closed down, The Allman Bros 50^th Anniversary show, both at the Garden.

So with the “show shutdown” this summer, I was glad to experience a real treat when Richie Furay livestreamed a concert from his back porch featuring special guest Jock Barkley (Firefall), Randy Meisner (original bassist in Poco and Eagles) and current Poco bassist Jack Sundrud.

The set included On the Way Home, Pickin’ Up The Pieces, We Were the Dreamers, Hard Country (Jesse Furay Lynch vocal; Jack Sundrud on backing vocal), A Child’s Claim to Fame, Wake Up My Soul (Cass Clayton on backing vocal), Kind Woman and For What It’s Worth (Jock Bartley on slide, Richie & Jesse share lead vocals, Randy Meissner on backing vocals)

Before the concert, I participated in a meet and greet; Richie discussed my question about what song he wrote could perhaps be adapted to a political event. After noting he generally wrote love songs (many of which I included in my Songs of Love playlist), he suggested a more recent song from his Hand in Hand album, Don’t Tread on Me (I had thought about a song, Keep On Believin, he co-wrote with now Eagle Timothy B. Schmit on Poco second studio LP (often known as “Oranges” because of the Album cover).)

I can only hope things will improve and live shows will resume in the new year.