Cat Stevens
photo by Zack Lane / MSG Photos (via Beacon Theatre Instagram)

Yusuf/Cat Stevens played his first 2 NYC shows in 40 years at Beacon Theatre (pics, videos, setlists)

For his first full New York performance in 40 years, Yusuf entered the stage strumming the opening chords of “Where Do the Children Play?” while standing in front of a backdrop showing an urban skyline at night, illuminated by a gleaming full moon. The curtain soon fell away, revealing a cutaway of an attic, which, as Yusuf explained, was a re-creation of his childhood sanctuary above the London restaurant his parents owned. Memorabilia filled the set: a Van Gogh painting (signifying the singer’s early love of visual art); posters for 2001, West Side Story and Stevens’ own 1976 Majikat tour; a blue jersey with the number 33 that he often sported in the Seventies. The message was clear: Yusuf was inviting the audience into his home. Recalling his earliest influences, the singer actually retreated into the room to play the Beatles’ “Twist and Shout” on a phonograph, referring to John Lennon’s shrieking vocal turn as “the primal scream that brought us into existence.” [Rolling Stone]

Yusuf / Cat Stevens is on tour now, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of his debut 1966 single “I Love My Dog,” and Monday night (9/19) he hit NYC for his first show here in FORTY years. It took place at Beacon Theatre, and was followed by another show there the next night. He played “I Love My Dog” both nights, plus over thirty other songs across two sets and an encore, including classics like “Wild World,” “Father And Son,” “Morning Has Broken,” “Peace Train,” “Moonshadow,” and plenty of others. He also did a few covers, like “Love Me Do,” “People Get Ready,” and “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood.”

Check out the setlists from both nights, videos, and a few more Instagrams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aqLBZg6x54M

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKmuCVaAf4_/?taken-at=217007835

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKmrhNfAYT9/?taken-at=217007835

September 19 Setlist (via)
Set 1
Where Do the Children Play?
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
Somewhere (P.J. Proby cover)
Love Me Do (The Beatles cover)
Here Comes My Baby
The First Cut Is the Deepest
I Love My Dog
Matthew & Son
A Bad Night
Trouble
Fill My Eyes
Katmandu
I Wish, I Wish
Miles from Nowhere
On the Road to Findout

Set 2
Sad Lisa
Don’t Be Shy
Into White
Father and Son
Moonshadow
How Can I Tell You
Sitting
The Boy With a Moon and Star on His Head
Ruins
Oh Very Young
Novim’s Nightmare
People Get Ready (The Impressions cover)
Be What You Must
Roadsinger
Maybe There’s a World / All You Need Is Love
Peace Train

Encore:
Wild World
Morning Has Broken

September 20 Setlist
Set 1:
Lilywhite
Don’t Be Shy
America (Leonard Bernstein song)
Up on the Roof (Carole King cover)
Love Me Do (The Beatles cover)
Here Comes My Baby
I Love My Dog
Matthew & Son
Blackness of the Night
A Bad Night
Trouble
Katmandu
I Wish, I Wish
Miles From Nowhere
On the Road to Findout

Set 2:
Tea for the Tillerman
Sad Lisa
If You Want to Sing Out, Sing Out
Into White
Father and Son
The Wind
How Can I Tell You
Sitting
The Boy With a Moon and Star on His Head
Angelsea
Oh Very Young
Novim’s Nightmare
People Get Ready (The Impressions cover)
Be What You Must
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone cover)
Maybe There’s a World / All You Need Is Love
Peace Train

Encore:
Wild World
Moonshadow
Morning Has Broken (Cat Stevens cover)

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