First up to bat was The Stray Cats. Hailing from Massapequa, these hometown heroes took the stage with jubilation as the crowd gave them a standing ovation. “How are you? Nice to be back,” said lead singer and guitarist Brian Setzer. “How long has it been – 15 years?” Setzer along with drummer Slim Jim Phantom and bassist Lee Rocker were all duded up in rockabilly clothes as they ran through a set list consisting of cuts from their debut album, Built for Speed, (“Rumble in Brighton,” “Runaway Boys”) along with hits “Sexy + 17,” “Gene & Eddie,” and “Fishnet Stockings.” Setzer’s guitar work was incredible, and Rocker and Phantom’s playing was the perfect compliment.
“We used to practice in Lee’s parents’ garage in Massapequa makin’ some noise. Here’s a song I wrote there about a cat,” said Setzer as he introduced the classic “Stray Cat Strut.” The trio, who had undeniable chemistry, was having a blast and so was the crowd. After closing the show with “Rock This Town,” the Cats returned for an encore of “I Fought The Law” and “Built For Speed,” with Setzer wearing a Mets Tom Seaver jersey.
The Pretenders haven’t lost a step in their live show, as the band sounded stronger than ever. “Mazal Tov, people, let the music begin,” announced lead singer and guitarist Chrissie Hynde as the band launched into “Bad Boys Get Spanked” followed by hits “Message Of Love,” “Talk Of The Town” and “Night In My Veins.”
Hynde took command of the stage with her quirky smart-ass quips and pure coolness as her partner-in-crime, drummer Martin Chambers, pounded the skins with a vengeance. While “Don’t Get Me Wrong” and “Day After Day” were enjoyable, the centerpiece of the set was “My City Was Gone,” which found the band jammin’ out one of the best hook lines in rock & roll.
The performance of “Kid” was dedicated to deceased band members James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon. The Pretenders wrapped up their set with “Fools Must Die,” “Back On the Chain Gang,” and “Precious.”
ZZ Top emerged on stage as slick as they were in the 80s with guitarist Billy
Gibbons, bassist Dusty Hill, and drummer Frank Beard working the crowd with
their Texas charm. From “Got Me Under Pressure” to “Waitin’
For The Bus” to “Jesus Just Left Chicago” the trio have
only gotten better with time. “We love coming to New York,” said
Gibbons. “You guys got good food and real pretty girls here, that’s
for sure.”
The band has been around since 1970 and shows no signs of slowing down.
Performances of old classics “Cheap Sunglasses,” “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide” and “Pearl Necklace” mixed well with 80s hits “Gimme All Your Lovin’,” “Sharp Dressed Man,” and “Legs.” They even threw in a cover of “Foxy Lady” as a tribute to Gibbons’ buddy Jimi Hendrix. A wall of lights behind the band showcased images as they performed.
As the evening grew long, ZZ Top dug deeper into their catalog, pulling out
“Tube Snake Boogie” and “La Grange” and closed the
night with “Tush,” featuring Hill on lead vocals. Despite the
prior doubts, the triple bill gelled well and was wildly entertaining.
– David J. Criblez
