BLONDIE- The Paramount-Huntington N.Y.

     Fall of 2011 is when the Paramount Theater opened it's doors. It has been around for a dozen years already and has fast become the premier venue on the north shore of Nassau County, Long Island. The place is nice. The town is nice, quaint, rustic. The theater is located on main street, New York Avenue, surrounded by dozens of outdoor restaurants, al fresco even, to choose from if you'd like to have a nice sit down dinner (fancy, tablecloths) before the show.

    The Spotlight Club at The Paramount is a fun, funky bar, with food, located directly next door. There is a stage with live music on weekends, they have cool art on the walls highlighting different artists, there's also a high-tech radio station where some of the musicians and rock stars go to do an interview before or after sound check. And most importantly they have a full bar and a scrumptious menu right here.

The fun, funky bar next door

    Capacity is 1500+. Website for the Paramount is right here. In addition to having concerts there is a vast array of other highly cultural events to select from; boxing matches, comedy nights, plays, International DJ's for dance nights, you name it.

    WBAB had a ticket contest giveaway, thank you again WBAB, and for the last 30-years, special shout-out to the morning show's Roger & JP, love you guys. My friend Shawn and I really enjoyed it all, the venue and Blondie. We took a train out from Manhattan because Debbie and the band are worth it. We left from Penn Station for a 75-minute ride. The time just flew by. 

    The train station is located on New York Avenue as well, only 1.5 miles from the theater. Cabs were in abundance waiting, but we opted to hoof it because the weather was perfect and we could smoke a cigarette before we get there. At the halfway point was a deli, we got beer and a new lighter. The walk was cool; hilly as it was the north shore, but not too hilly. We passed a rural cemetery. Shawn got spooked "What is this SAW shit you're dragging me out to?" "How much further is this place?" We kept walking. 

F*&% your walk. Get to the music. 

    We get into town, he's breathing easier now. Entry was a breeze. The staff was so super nice, very hospitable, everyone we came in contact with was. The showroom was beautiful and the music was grooving. Acoustics sounded terrific wherever you stood. This show was general admission standing but there were also rows of seats available, if anyone wanted to sit. You had your choice. You want to get up and dance, have at it. You want to sit and chill a bit, there's that option too. We take seats after the walk. 

    Blondie takes the stage. Half of the originals are still present. Some personnel changes have taken place along the way but for the most part, they're still together. There was Debbie and Chris Stein, the lead guitarist and Clem Burke, the drummer, all originals and then on bass was/is Leigh Foxx, who has been the bassist for 20-years now. On keyboards was/is Matt Katz-Bohen, who has been with them since the Squeezbox days (if you know, you know) and on rhythm guitar is a cat named Tommy Kessler, who moved to NYC in 2005 and has been hustling ever since and now here he is. They were all great together. First song to kick off the set was their debut single, from 1976, X Offender and it sounded terrific.

Since the beginning- Chris, Deborah & Clem

      Following that, Debbie had wrapped herself in a cape that read "F*&^ War" in various sizes all over the cape. She held her fist in the air. This was her protest song, she still has the rebel, punk spirit. 'Hanging On The Telephone' started playing. Watch that here if you'd like. 

    The show kept rolling on with a few more lesser known and a few more radio hits like 'The Tide is High' & 'Atomic'. She tossed the cape, this was their crowd. Everything they were doing, we were loving. She is 75 and coincidentally that is how long they performed for, 75-minutes. Most of the musicians are in their 70's and their energy level is still so great. 

Blondie-Now L-R Chris, Tommy, Leigh, Matt, Deborah & Clem

    The crowd really went ballistic when Blondie played 'Rapture'. 'Maria' followed. I remember when 'Maria' was released, in 1999. Blondie played the Today Show concert series at 30 Rock. I got up early and went over to the plaza to see that. And then they finished strong. Pounding out smash hit after hit first 'Heart Of Glass', then encoring with 'Call Me'. You knew the 80's arrived with that jam, from the soundtrack of the movie 'American Gigolo' starring Richard Gere. The finale was the ultimate stalker song 'One Way Or Another.' 

    Check out Blondie's website here for any upcoming tour info.      

Shawn & I, on the train back, with our tickets from WBAB. Walking passed the cemetery after midnight hit different.