I've seen Billy live over 25 times with Nassau Col. 1977,as a
teenager, being my first. Every show is Fantastic and I just want to
thank Billy for that. Billy has always gone out of his way to please
his fans. In this day and age other artists charge for presales and
then charge ticket prices of $200 and up and perform 1 or 2 shows and
move on to the next city. Billy has never had a presale, has never
priced tickets above $100 and best of all, when his shows sell out he
simply adds another show and when that one sells out he adds another
and another. Billy actually enjoys playing live so adding more shows
is not a hard****p for him.
I've always appreciated over the past 30 years that his shows
were not about dazzling effects or explosions on stage but rather
displayed his singing and playing of musical instruments. Billy has
always set the concert stage so everyone including those sitting
behind stage would get a good close look at him performing.
I would like to thank Billy for continuing to give Q & A
Lectures with a little music at numerous colleges during his free
time. It means so much to the students as Billy p***** the torch to
the next generation of singer/songwriters.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Billy a couple of times upon
his arrival to perform a concert along with a dozen or so people who
seeked an autograph and Billy would always sign for everyone and even
say in a joking manner, "That's all you got"?
I've always been intrigued by the fact that for every show
concert goers with the highest and furthest seats away from the stage
Billy would move them to the 1st or 2nd row center stage. Billy has
even polled the audience in the middle of shows asking them which
songs they prefer to hear. Great gesture on his part.
So, with the release of "The Stranger - 30th Anniversary" I
would once again like to thank Billy for giving his fans what they
crave the most, Live concert music from argueably his best years.
Billy himself has said numerous times that the reason he
writes music is to hear it live. "I can't wait to play this stuff
live".
I hope sales of this release are good enough so future live
performances are also released. May I recommend a "Live from NY"
compilation consisting of:
1) 12/11/77 or 12/12/77 - Nassau Col. shows (incredible setlists)
2) 12/14/78 or 12/15/78 or 12/16/78 - MSG shows (top notch)
3) 6/23/80 or 6/24/80 or 6/26/80 or 6/27/80 or 6/28/80- MSG shows
(outstanding setlists)
I find it incredible that Billy's setlists are becoming
longer the older he gets such as 12 Gardens Live and Last Play at
Shea.
He is truly a blue collar musician who does what he loves and the
money was always secondary. Thanks again, Turnstiles Dan
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