J ames Taylor’s brother Livingston need only pull out his self-titled, debut album from 1970 to cover the “something old” requirement. His just released CD Blue Sky fulfills both the “new” and “blue.”
Not sure what Livingston Taylor is going to borrow between now and his marriage to Gail Arnold, a Cambridge third-grade teacher and private chef whom he’s reportedly dated for a decade-plus, but the Crawler knows that some other important dates have been set.
This weekend, Jan. 9 and 10, Taylor will hold court at Noho’s intimate Iron Horse for a two-night stand that will feature tunes from his expansive catalogue. Tix for both engagements are $22.50 in advance, $25 at the door and available at iheg.com.
Meanwhile, two of the best musical stories of 2014… Billy Joel tribute act Big Shot wrapped up its year with a double shot of performances at Connecticut’s Infinity Theaters. Riding on the success of its flagship performance hall and bistro in scenic Norfolk, Conn., Infinity Hall (infinityhall.com) opened a sister venue in Hartford last summer. Months prior to that, Big Shot’s long-time lead singer — Michael Delguidice — received a phone call from the “Piano Man” himself.
“He asked me to join his band, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Delguidice told the Crawler at the time. “I was overwhelmed and finally was able to say, ‘Thank you so much. You and your music have literally fed my family for years.’ He immediately responded with a, ‘No — thank you for keeping the catalogue alive.’ Such a class act and down to earth guy.”
Ever since, Delguidice has juggled Big Shot and Billy Joel band duties — literally bouncing around between local clubs and Madison Square Garden as needed.
The Crawler couldn’t wait to see how such access and interaction with Delguidices’ muse would affect his performance these days. As a means of quenching said curiosity, he attended the first of a two-night stand Big Shot had booked, with one night at Infinity’s Norfolk venue and one in Hartford.
Never one to disappoint, Delguidice delivered his first story about his experiences with Joel early on in the program.
“I don’t care what religion you are or how you celebrate, it’s Jesus’ birthday,” he declared from his piano stool before delivering an inspired “Scenes from an Italian Restaurant.” “I have a tattoo of Jesus on my arm here, and Billy was looking at it one night while we were waiting around in a parking lot. He said ‘Hey, is that me from the Cold Spring Harbor cover? I said, ‘Billy, I love you. But no, man, I don’t have a tattoo of your face on my arm. It’s Jesus.’”
Oh, and speaking of ringing in the New Year, Delguidice and company were nice enough to let the Crawler go on stage and propose to his bride-to-be, Jen Phillips. So thanks for that, guys!
In other Noho news… nearly a dozen local notables celebrate the 68th birthday of the thin White Duke, David Bowie, at the Iron Horse Jan. 8. Dubbed Nothing Has Changed, the Bowie bash includes performances by Lord Russ, Gentle Hen, Drunk Stuntmen, Fancy Trash and more.
Last but not least — or should we say, “Tru” to form, John Tru and his Tru Entertainment (truenentertainmentandpromotions.com) unleash some 29 bands at Holyoke’s Waterfront Tavern Jan. 10-11. Among those delivering the decibels in this first, annual incarnation are Doom Nation, Grzelakurse, Full Blown Chaos, Within The Ruins and the newly reunited Medicated Savage.•
Send correspondence to Nightcrawler, P.O. box 427, Somers, CT 06071; fax to (860) 394-4262 or email garycarra@aol.com.
