NRBQ at Copley Place ~ Boston ~ July 21, 1994

Youtube has some fantastic old concert footage up now, but the only vintage NRBQ set I could find with Tommy Ardolino (one of my favorite drummers ever) is the short but amazing Paradise show from 1982. So I am truly honored to bring you this blurry footage from 1994, which a friend graciously allowed me to copy (on VHS!) back in the day. It's a little shaky for the first half hour, but I wouldn't skip forward or you will miss some great stuff! There is a link to the setlist below, but don't look at it or you will spoil the surprises!

The 1994 summer tour was special for a number of reasons. Most significant was the first lineup change since Tommy Ardolino joined the band 20 years earlier. Al Anderson, one of the most incendiary guitarists of all time had decided to go solo and Joey Spampinato's brother Johnny had taken up the challenge of the guitar slot. While no one can fill Big Al's gigantic shoes, Johnny does a better job than anyone I can imagine. It's a little less country and a little more rock n roll, and that ain't a bad thing! Johnny is a virtuoso guitarist, and I was a big fan of his in the early 80s when he played in the Incredible Casuals, another great band that there is very little video footage of. We kept in touch and I got to hang with him and the Q when they came to Atlanta, and Chattanooga, TN!

Johnny has a great new CD out - check it out here! https://www.thevalueleaders.com/produ...

The tour also introduced two top notch jazz players to the lineup - Dave Gordon and Tyrone Hill from the Sun Ra Arkesta! When the tour came to Atlanta, Dave and Tyrone expressed interest in going out after the show, and my friend and I took them to the Homage Cafe downtown, where they sat in with the Gold Sparkle Band! I hope you enjoy this vintage tape as much as I do!

https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/nrbq/1...