Summer is just about finished and it's the end of an excellent outdoor concert season

As one can feel in the air the beginning traces of the end of summer and the kicking in of autumn, I can say that this year had some excellent outdoor shows. I have never seen so many good outdoor concerts in one summer season. That's one great thing about living in New York City, there are so many parks to catch a good show in on a perfect summer evening. The season started with Ian Hunter down by Battery Park City. The former Mott The Hoople member put on a very good show in June with some vocal assistance from none other than Joe Elliot of Def Leppard. I wasn't familiar with much of his music before but was impressed with the set. Then there was a performance of Miles Davis' excellent On The Corner album in the same park. Some of the actual players on the sessions, including Michael Henderson were playing at the show.

There was Don Byron's tribute to Junior Walker at Madison Square Park featuring the annoying woman who bothered us to move from where were standing with just twenty minutes left in the set. I believe I have another blog post describing that event. There was the Robert Cray Band playing a real good set at the Bandshell in Prospect Park. Bad weather that evening but well worth dealing with for the show. Jackson Browne was there a few days later. I got to see him for a fourth time and that was a perfect evening.

One of the more unique concert experiences I have ever had was seeing the Czech Republic band, Plastic People of the Universe in the outdoor park in Lincoln Center. They were a very different yet very entertaining sort of rock band going back to the sixties. Between them and their opening act, whose name escapes me, they made for an excellent evening.

The outdoor season closed out with the legendary John Fogerty, performing at South Street Seaport from his excellent new album, Blue Ridge Rangers Rides Again.

Also I saw Night Ranger, the wonderfully talented Vanessa Bley (at my friend's benefit show with some other good acts) and will be seeing The Cult on Friday but those were or will be at indoor venues so they don't fit the summer vibe of this post. All I can say is that I hope next summer is this good!