JOEY MOLLAND'S BADFINGER- City Winery

Written by Backstage Bruce

Joey jamming

      Good times were had by all tonight at the sold-out show at The City Winery. Badfinger was there. It is the summer of 2017, the 50th anniversary of the 'Summer Of Love'. And who, from then, is still out there doing their thing? Maybe a dozen bands? The Stones, Steve Miller, The Who, Blue Oyster Cult, Fleetwood Mac, Moody Blues, Peter Frampton, Chicago, Dead & Co., The Zombies and Badfinger.

     Handpicked for stardom, this was the very first band that The Beatles signed to their new label, Apple in 1968. Paul McCartney wrote their first hit, 'Come And Get It'."If you want it, here it is, come and get it, but you better hurry cause it's going fast". 

Badfinger, back in the day

   

    There were only a few single tickets left when I went to the box office in the afternoon, day of the show. I purchased a 'Bar Stool' seat, for only $25.00 flat, excellent price for a show in NYC, last minute. I was expecting to sit on a bar stool in the very back, right in front of the window looking onto the street, as far away from the stage as possible. That's fine, as long as I was in I was happy. I prefer last rows sometimes, gives you elbow room and space to dance. 

    The host, Zach, walked me to the bar stools by the window and we passed them by, took a right and started heading right toward the stage. There were more bar stool seats lining a wall. Pleasant surprise, I was escorted all the way up to the very first bar stool, halfway in the middle of the place. I got to sit closer than hundreds of people who sat at tables. 

The album cover for 'Straight Up' 

     And since I was on a bar stool I was overlooking the handful of tables of people sitting in front of me. My view was never obstructed throughout the entire performance! I really felt like some V.I.P. Two hours ago I didn't even know if I was getting in and now I'm sitting here, nice. 

     If you're not familiar with Badfinger's history, there are two great documentaries out there: BBC and VH1 Behind The Music. It is absolutely Shakespearian tragic. Dreams come true, they get signed, have hits, suffer major financial loss dealing with super shady businessmen, Stan Polley (boo, hiss), suicide, remaining members fighting over name, at one point two-dueling bands both using the name Badfinger, more legal trouble, another suicide, it just didn't stop. "These were kids, that were bamboozled." Stan Poses- Former VP. Badfinger Ent.

     Fast forward 2017, the only founding member remaining is Joey Molland and he is still going strong. Asked why he keeps touring, he stated "If I don't do it, then who else is going to do these songs? I get to tell the correct story of exactly who wrote what."

     Words to live by, it's showtime...

     The support act was the band The Cryers, they were great, real fun. They were releasing an upcoming album coming out soon, give their website a peek here: The Cryers Website During intermission, very interesting videos of vineyards and grapes being harvested and other wine making techniques were being shown on the screens, very unique.

Looking good for 70

     Badfinger takes the stage. Tonight they are slated to play the album 'Straight Up' in its entirety, Eighteen songs, plus. "Many reviewers now regard it as the band's best album." David Fricke, from Rolling Stone, "Badfinger's power-pop apex". The album was produced by the great Todd Rundgren.

     In 2013, the smash hit series, Breaking Bad concluded. In the series finale, Badfinger's song 'Baby Blue', from the album, 'Straight Up' was featured prominently, which caused a resurgence in the charts.

     They looked fantastic and sounded better. The show was incredible. It was like going back in time. One song flowed effortlessly into the next. In between Joey would tell a little story here and there to keep the record straight as to who wrote what, it was interesting, a rock history lesson.

Joey telling a story

     The band still has a lot of great energy, you could feel it. Joey and his rhythm guitarist took center stage and together they did this amazing eight-minute jam where they just wailed on their axes, absolutely superb.

      Badfinger straight up played 'Straight Up' and the audience loved every note. It was an experience back in time. "The thousand dollar songs" as Joey jokingly referred to his hits were up next: 'Without You', 'No Matter What', to name a few. 

     The show finishes, band leaves to thunderous applause. They return for their encore, Joey says "I never knew 50-years ago when Paul wrote this song for me that I would be singing it for the rest of my life!" Everyone laughed. We knew what was coming next, 'Come And Get It.' 

Joey Molland, Badfinger, Come & Get It, 6/10/17

     It was an awesome night, terrific show, fantastic place.

* Thanks to all resource references: VH1, BBC, Wiki, Band's websites
** Thanks to Getty Images for the great pics.