Still trying to figure out how the orchestra is different from his string quartet. Drums? The quartet is good. However, I would love to see a rock show.

"However, I would love to see a rock show."

I agree. The orchestra(?) did a great job about adding dynamic elements to his songs, but at times I felt like I needed some drums/percussion to kick in.

Nice to see Kelsey Grammer playing alongside on guitar.

i thought the strings were trying to deflect the fact that his new songs arent very good. i was never a huge fan of his...i wish i was...i think he's an interesting guy.

it was an enjoyable show overall. i really dig that place to see bands for some reason...especially when the weather cools down like it did sat.

i left after 5-6 roky songs...felt it was very same-y and i had a date. did he play any 13th floor songs?

Kelsey Grammer closes his eyes when he plays guitar.

It is was Alejandro Escovedo's Sting Quintet:

Alejandro Escovedo Vocals Guitar
David Pulkingham Guitar BG Vocals
Susan Voelz Violin BG Vocals
Matt Fish Cello
Brian Standefer Cello

....And they were out of this world awesome and deserved theirstanding O.

Saw him at Joes Pub and Castle Clinton with the string quartet. Sounded great. Time to rock out. I thought Roky played psychedelic music? He sounded like weak Humble Pie.

Kelsey Grammer ROCKED at Clinton Castle.

"I thought Roky played psychedelic music? He sounded like weak Humble Pie."

This has got to be one of the silliest statements I've read in a long time, in more ways than I care to mention.

I wouldn't call Roky weak Humble Pie, but he wasn't that good. He could have had the audience eating out of his hand, but he had no stage presence. Couldn't even tune his own guitar after four decades of playing? The out-of-tune guitars killed the intro of "Starry Eyes".

Alejandro Escovedo was a tad boring. If you couldn't hear his lyrics (many conversations around) then the music could not hold you interested.

Hey, thanks for posting the photo I took. I'll be posting some Roky pics on my Flickr site soon, so check back.

I wholly disagree that Al's new songs are "weak". His latest "The Boxing Mirror" contains some incredible numbers. "Arizona" being among his best.

I love the string quintet (2 guitars, 2 cellos, violin) set up. When he last played Irving he had the strings as well as electric bass and drums, which was also cool. "Baby's Got New Plans" from the album "Thirteen Years" is one of my top ten favorite songs of all time, and it's great to hear it live with strings- he opens the shows with it often.

I guess Al's music is something that either grabs you or doesn't. I find his music to be thoughtful and emotional in a genuine manner, which I find lacking in the current crop of "sensitive singer songwriters". Doesn't hurt that he has some undeniable credentials.

Some of the comments above regarding Roky are also a little wack. This man has suffered from serious mental illness for many many years, originating from shock therapy treatments he recieved while institutionalized for possesion of marijuana back in the early 70's. He managed to record some great and some spotty music here and there in the intervening years, but has until now been unable to tour. Just to see the man on stage looking reasonably comfortable is something that most thought would never happen. I would not expect much in the way of on stage banter or antics from the man.

It's ture, Erickson was the leader of the great late 60's psychedelic band the 13th Floor Elevators. But aside from the legendary "You're Gonna Miss Me" last weekend's show focused on his solo material, which is a strange hard rock-ish style with lyrics focusing on Zombies, Vampires, Two headed Dogs, and the like. Years of mental illness and institutional living can do that to a guy.

His guitar was indeed out of tune, at times. And his tiny amplifier produced a hell of a racket. But to those of us who love his songs and love the man, those were more charming eccentricities than irritations. It should also be said his backing band "The Explosions" were ace.

As you can see, I enjoed the show VERY much. I think it was a rare, truly inspired bill.

-Allogist, the Jersey City Vegan

"Some of the comments above regarding Roky are also a little wack. This man has suffered from serious mental illness for many many years ... I would not expect much in the way of on stage banter or antics from the man."

I am the poster at 5:42 PM. I am a Roky fan, so I know the whole backstory. I do forgive him for his lack of presence, it is quite understandable, but it doesn't change the fact that it makes a concert "not the best". I wouldn't call him bad, but I am not gushing about the concert either. His voice did sound good, much better than the Coachella videos I saw on youtube. Had to miss the bowery show. His guitarist ran the show: Roky was always looking over to him instead of the other way around.

am the poster at 5:42 PM. I am a Roky fan, so I know the whole backstory. I do forgive him for his lack of presence, it is quite understandable, but it doesn't change the fact that it makes a concert "not the best". I wouldn't call him bad, but I am not gushing about the concert either. His voice did sound good, much better than the Coachella videos I saw on youtube. Had to miss the bowery show. His guitarist ran the show: Roky was always looking over to him instead of the other way around

We can agree to disagree on the concert; I was happy with his performance. I think that his looking to his guitarist for cues (and maybe emotional support) isn't surprising, considering his fragility. And the kids in that band have probably played live hundreds of times more than he has in the last 5 years. Sorry if I insinuated that you didn't know his background, I was giving it for informational purposes.

" I think that his looking to his guitarist for cues (and maybe emotional support) isn't surprising, considering his fragility. And the kids in that band have probably played live hundreds of times more than he has in the last 5 years. "

I only saw the Southpaw show and saw him in Austin a couple years ago. I'm a huge fan of both the Elevators and his solo stuff. If the solo stuff ain't yr taste, that's cool. If you have any decent background in rock music history (not starting with !!! or whatever), you'd recognize what the components of his music are. It's a pure hard rock, weirdo Texas bar band w/ a damn inventive guitarist and a rock solid rhythm section. Did the Castle Clinton gig have subs? Cuz the Exlosives are certainly not "kids".

Lyrically, he relies on movie and comic book imagery (with titles lifted directly, just like Danzig did) that serves as a rich starting point for getting at his various mental and emotional states. Maybe sometimes it would do the same for you. That's usually the friggin' point.

And as far as his demeanor and communication with the guitarist: Even in his weakened state he's simply giving cues, and more often taking cues when to begin verses, end solos, end songs etc. Very basic musician stuff. They're just getting through the tunes. And if you know anything about pharma you'd grok that he's pumped full of stuff stabilizing and maintaing him, chewing on his face, and focusing on the singing which is damn near incredible.

I think "kids" is a relative term, as compared to Roky.

I am sorry to have come across this thread so late...the band Roky played with at the Castle Clinton show had never played with him before. They were a session group put tegether shortly before the show with only a couple of rehersals under their belts. Considering his difficulty interacting with new people, I thought they did a good job.

I am sorry to have come across this thread so late...the band Roky played with at the Castle Clinton show had never played with him before. They were a session group put tegether shortly before the show with only a couple of rehersals under their belts. Considering his difficulty interacting with new people, I thought they did a good job.

It took me awhile to get into Al's songs and music, I think he presents with a sort of atonality, comparable to say, the early American classical modernists. But once you get into it, you hear the greatness, what he's communicating, in terms of his heart. A unique American songwriter -- put it on your iPod, and just keep listening, you'll hear it...