Al Stewart

The Empty Pockets were great as both an opening act and backing Al Stewart. If you have not heard the original music by The Empty Pockets you really need to. Erika and Josh have amazing voices and great harmonization. Love Al Stuwart but these guys made the concert an unforgettable event

As this was the last show of the current tour, Al Stewart played "Roads to Moscow" as an encore. By his own admission, this is one of the most requested shows at his concerts, but he "rarely plays it anymore". As it is one of his best songs, I feel fortunate to have seen it live. Last time I saw him perform this song was in 1975 (76) during his US tour. In my opinion, Dave Nachmanoff is one of the best acoustic guitar players out there right now. His mastery of the music written by Stewart, and recorded by various instruments in the studio, is amazing.

Al Stewart put on a great show here, performing a nice range of his music, interacting well with the audience, and proudly showcasing his talents and those of his lead guitarist, Dave Nachmanoff (amazing). Al clearly can still sing and tell stories with the best of them. We left wishing only that the concert had been longer. The venue was good for sound and intimacy, and the staff was friendly and efficient, but they could have avoided the unpleasant surprise of a $5 parking fee.

The show was fantastic....Al Stewart sounded great...and so did Dave Nachmanoff. Show was very entertaining. Bad thing was we had to stand the whole time, as even with pre-paid tickets there was standing room only! Would have been nice to know that ahead of time.

Al was perfect as always. I've lost count as to how many times I've seen him since 1976. As for the Rhythm Room, I knew they would sell more tickets than they have seats, but I still resented standing all evening, even though I purchased my ticket well in advance, arrived an hour early, and paid the same price as those who were seated. Then a woman took drink orders from the people in front of me, walked right past me without even looking at me, and took more drink orders from the people next to me. So the evening began rather badly, but Al made it all worthwhile. Interestingly, during Dave's opening set, Al came out from backstage, walked through the tightly packed crowd all the way around to the front hallway, then later walked all the way back again. I didn't see precisely where he went, but I found myself thinking, "Surely they provide him with a restroom backstage, don't they?"

Jesse Winchester did a good mix of old songs and titles from his new album. He had numerous stories to tell about his grand-kids, and some insight into where the inspiration for some of his new songs came from.

Al Stewart and Dave Nachmanoff make an incredible duo representing a full catalog of Al Stewart's work. Stewart is an amazing songwriter with an uncanny ability to paint scenes with his lyrics. While Stewart is an incredibly accomplish guitarist in in his own right, Dave Nachmanoff has some of the best guitar skills that I have seen live. He has mastered Stewart's work and provided top of the line lead guitar skills.

Al Stewart was great and very entertaining! However, the Coach House was a horrible experience ... the air conditioning was not working (has not been for years) and the fans above our heads were not working (have not been for years as well) and the poor musicians were dying on stage and commented on the heat several times! If it had not been for the fact that Al Stewart was amazing we would not have stayed. We do not plan on going to see a concert there again under those conditions!!

Al Stewart created incredible magic with Laurence Juber. A special treat was having Laurence perform solo for 15 minutes before Al came on stage, demonstrating his incredible guitar technique. He and Al then performed songs from Al's entire career, with more emphasis on songs from his Modern Times album. This time, Al brought percussion and horn accompaniment, creating a full effect. Al played the essentials, leaving only Roads To Moscow out of his set. Year Of The Cat was masterful, with Laurence's masterful guitar solos and the sax accompaniment completing the experience. The set included songs from Al's recent albums as well as 3 from the Year Of The Cat album (my favorite!). Awesome!!! The Coach House is a funky old venue that desperately needs to improve their ventilation and food. It gets stifling hot inside when the weather is warm, and cigarette smoke wafts in from the smoking area outside. The dinner menu is simple, but the effort made on the dinner salads and bread is sad. It could be much better with just a little more effort. The entrees are fine, but the simple iceberg lettuce dinner salad with watery dressing and a small, pasty dinner roll comes up short. Anytime you can see Al Stewart live, do it! He is the modern master of the historic folk rock genre.

Al Stewart was wonderful! He's not as young as he used to be but sounds like the way he was when he was young.

Al Stewart brought his 2016 tour to the Birchmere Music Hall in Alexandria, VA and the audience was mesmerized by his quality performance. Of course we always get Al's excellent guitar work, but this time he brought along Marc Macisso, a multi-talented musician who excelled at playing wind instruments to add some additional convincing that you were listening to the recorded version and not just two musicians live on stage. For example, getting that sax into "Time Passages" really draws out that particular number. And of course, during the set you always get more and more about how Al writes his music, and musically portrays those memorable historical events whether it's ancient times from the past or more recent political tribulations. All in AL, just great music.

So, last Saturday, a few hundred of Al Stewart's closest friends staggered on into the Birchmere to hear him play. Al often does not make it to the Birchmere in the course of his East Coast tours, so it was welcome not to have to go to Philadelphia, New York or other points north. This was also the first time in quite a long time that Al had a new sideman, who--unlike Dave Nachmanoff--did not play guitar, but rather a variety of wind instruments, including the harmonica. He was outstandingly good, and the arrangements were quite nice: I can't make any sensible comparisons to the two-guitar arrangements I've heard so often before, these were just...different, and excellent. The gentleman in question, Marc Macisso, is very, very good, at least insofar as my untrained ear can discern, and gives new meaning to the term "one-man band". On one number, he performed on about three or four instruments! Al himself is still the same, albeit with some loss of his high notes, a contingent fact of age, I suspect. But he covers it quite well, segueing from a higher register to a lower one smoothly and without obvious disconnects. The songs are always great fun, and so is the shtick, which after all these years and decades Al has polished to a fine sheen. The material is much as expected if you have followed his live performances over the years, and he smilingly turned down a few audience requests on the grounds that he couldn't remember a single word of the songs requested! Al's in his groove, and he likes it that way: and so, I think do his audiences.

This concert sucked. It was only Al Stewart and one guy. It was 2 guys jamming on acoustic guitars. It was not a complete band. It also had a terrible sound system. Al Stewart spent most of the time talking. He played a lot of obscure songs and not the hits. I was ripped off. I wish it was mentioned that this concert was just acoustical and not with a complete band. I would not have bought the tickets.

Very talented musical performers from the opening act and Dave the guitarist and his brother player bass. Of course Al was great.

I would never miss this. By far one of the greatest concert moments of our lives. To be so close and personal, like sitting in your own living room with a musical icon.

I have seen Al play a number of times. He has a great range and his songs are timeless. He is a real character and great to see live.

Since coming onto the folk rock scene in the 60s, Al Stewart set a high bar for some of the best British folk rock out there. Most of the tunes he writes have a historical or character flavor, and those who remember his material from the early 70s would know this if they recall Roads to Moscow, On the Border, Warren Harding, for example. Very unique amongst song writers, Al's musical twists on history are eminently listenable and thought provoking, and his live performances are a treat as he recounts tales from his early days in music to how he wrote he latest album. Yes, he did not stop writing after Year of the Cat, or Time Passages became mainstream hits. He still comes out with a album ever so often, so his setlists usually include a nice mix of the best he has to offer. Very adept guitar work by both Al and his long time accompanist/collaborator Dave Nachmanoff who usually plays a few of his own numbers either before Al hits the stage, or in this case, in the middle of the performance. Not a bad way to spend an evening in listening to Al at a show!

I really like Al Stewart. I have since college back in the 70's. My wife was excited to find out he was playing at Club Velvet, so I decided to buy tickets for the show. Great sound in the club. Al and his accompanying guitarist were great. But the show was very short. I don't think Al was on stage for much more than an hour. And he didn't play some of his classic songs (Nostradamus and Roads to Moscow among them). But he still sounds great. Nice stories between songs. Just wish it was longer.

Venue was easy to get to, and comfy to watch a small acoustic performance. Al Stewart seemed to be in a hurry, only playing a little over an hour. Staff was every accommodating and attentive.

The spirited performance, professionalism and superb musicianship of Al Stewart and accompanist Dave Nachmanoff more than compensated for the length of the relatively short (75 minute) set.

Really enjoyed seeing Al Stewart!! It was like visiting an old friend sharing stories infused with wonderful music. Hope he's back again soon.

Al Stewart sounded GREAT, as good as ever! He and his accompanist played their guitars with amazing skill. The sounds were fantastic. We really enjoyed the show and you could tell they enjoyed performing - it was fun! The only improvement needed was with the sound system in the room. Our seats were in the back of the relatively small room at the Rocksino. When Al was talking in between songs, we couldn't hear anything. But, we were there for the music so we still totally enjoyed ourselves.

Great venue for a show that seems really personal.

Seeing Al Stewart perform in person was on my "bucket list", and I'm glad to say it was a worthy moment. It's difficult to recreate some of the familiar piano accompaniment on a guitar, but Dave Nachmanoff did it with ease. Al's voice shows little wear at age 69, and his interaction with the audience was great. The Velvet Club is a great venue. We enjoyed chatting with both Al and Dave after the show. I took a poster that Al Stewart autographed to the framing store today. Terrific show. Catch it if you can.

Better than ever! Folks were clapping, smiling, laughing... What a super evening with our ol' friend Al!

Great concert. Very entertaining, only downside was that he only played for 1 hour 15 minutes.

The Sunday night performance at the Birchmere was in one word: "FASCINATING" Beautiful lyrics excellent breath-taking guitar solos and a great respectful crowd. I have admired Al Stewart and his music for 25 years now and this was a true honor to watch him perform in such a friendly venue. A crowd of maybe 500 people who you could tell they were mostly there for the same reason as I was. To see one of your favorite musicians play at high spirits: "PRICELESS"

Longtime Al Stewart fan and this was perhaps 8th performance I've been to. Sadly, it was probably the least enjoyable. He seemed less engaged with audience and much less banter and fewer songs. He kind of dialed it in this time. The stage set was unusual too: Heavy black drapes and lots of bright distracting spotlights. I guess he had elected to do a more electrified and less acoustic set list, but Al's strength are his melodic and lyrical "quieter" songs, and those were few and far between. Also, I feel like it is more Al Stewart "backing up" Dave Nachmanoff now. Too much of Dave and too little of Al. Hopefully it was an off night and not the norm. Did enjoy having the sax in "Year of the Cat" for a change! Reminded me of his good old days with Peter White.

Very professional, but relaxed. He head a good interaction with the audience. And of course, all songs were wonderful.

It just doesn't get any better than this. The intimacy of the venue along with the talent of this icon is unmatchable. It is like hanging out with him in your own living room.

Al Stewart has been around forever, having opened for the Rolling Stones in 1963 at age 17. His voice is still vibrant and his guitar work is everything it was 40 years ago. His backup players were terrific showmen as well. Stewart is easy with his audience, and shares his memories of all the great 60s and 70s musicians he has known over his career. A great evening!

We totally enjoyed seeing Al Stewart and Dave Nachmanoff at the Birchmere this week. Al did a great job of covering many of old hits ("Year of the Cat," "Time Passages," etc.) as well as songs off his newer albums. Dave Nachmanoff was just incredible on lead guitar, and it was great fun to hear both Al and Dave play four-handed piano on "Valentina Way" (which appeared to be completely spontaneous)! The encore number "Sheila Isn't Coming Home" was particularly rousing, with their opening act Kiki Ebsen on piano, Dave's brother Michael Nachmanoff on bass, and a wonderful solo by Kiki's sax player (who also appeared for the sax solo in "Year of the Cat," to the audience's delight). The onstage patter was fresh and new, and we even got to hear Al play lead guitar on Broadway Hotel - pretty impressive! All in all, a terrific performance by all involved!

Al's voice sounds as strong as it did in 1976. Wonderful mix of songs, great musicianship and a fun, lively show. We were pleasantly surprised!

We enjoyed the University Auditorium s historic setting as it was perfect for Al s musical storytelling. Al and Dave Nachmanoff were masterful with their guitars and it was truly a special evening. Dave passed out guitar picks and both took the time to meet some of their fans afterwards which we really appreciated. I am going to find my guitar and learn to play again. Thanks for the inspirational and we look for to seeing you again in Coconut Creek.

I never knew he could be so funny. The music was outstanding. He runs with a new side-kick who is quite the ball of fire and can really play. I highly recommend this show.

University of Florida could not have picked a more perfect place for Al Stewart to play. The accoustics at the University Auditorium only enhanced his music. The only down side was that I was confused on the parking and we went to the wrong place but still made it to the venue on time. The seats were perfect and I even got to meet him at the end. It was a great experience!

You know you're in for a great show, when from their first number this duo of Al and David sounded like a four-piece band. Their amazing guitar gymnastics, complimented by soothing harmonic vocals left us with a sense of musical delight! We all enjoyed the historical perspective Al insinuated into both his music and his audience conversation. Al's intellectual songwriting is something sorely lacking in today's musicians.

Great evening listening to Al Stewart play acoustic versions of many of his popular songs from the 70's. Al's voice has not changed at all over the years. Dave Nachmanoff did a fabulous job with the guitar solos including a sensational solo on Year of the Cat.

Al Stewart still has his wonderful voice and great talent. Great songwriter and performer.

Fantastic show! Back-up group, Empty Pockets, was excellent. Only drawback was the facility did not have very good air conditioning. It was too hot.

The acoustics are fantastic, the seats are very comfortable and the food was great. We loved the experience and will be back in the future when there is a band or act we want to see. Great job Ludlow Garage.

I never had an opportunity to see Al Stewart before but have listened to Year of the Cat for 45 years or so. Al has aged and I didn t know what to expect. He was the first performer I ever saw wearing a starched and pressed white shirt and dress pants with creases. His show was amazing. He surrounded himself with amazing musicians that made the whole album content come to like. One of the most enjoyable performances that I have ever seen!

Al was great, and Empty Pockets were good supprting musicians. Amps just too loud, and detracted from voices.

Great intimate venue, and being served in your seats is amazing. And those seats are quite comfortable, but so tall that my 5' girlfriend had trouble seeing over the top of them.

Al Stewart is a great folksinger and story-teller. Loved hearing each song!

great show!! loved every minute of it!! loved how he interacted with the crowd

I have been going to rock concerts for over 45 years and I would say the Al Stewart concert was definitely in the top 5 concerts that I have been to. Al related well to the crowd and the back up band "Empty Pockets" was incredible. I would see them even without Al. The Stiefel is a great format for a personal concert such as the one Al Stewart gave. I hope I am fortunate enough to see him perform again.

Al was great for his age. Empty pockets band a nice surprise, with great guitar player.

Many of the seventies pop stars are lacking what they had back in the day, but Al Stewart still sounds the same. Grey short hair and slight of build, he remains articulate and sings like a younger man than his 72 years. He likes to tell stories about the songs and we were surprised that he has released 19 records. Most of us only know the cat record and maybe "Time Passages". He says he never tried to be a commercial success as he is an historian who happens to write songs based on history and literature. He knows that most don't care about lyrics but his young band from Chicago, the Empty Pockets, provided all of the music that propelled his quirky, librarian style to the top of the charts. His saxophonist ran all around and played the parts that were on the cat record, even twining with the guitar parts like the record. The keyboards were intact and the rhythm section solid. We heard a few of his other songs first before he launched into "Year of the Cat". A very nice show!

I've been a big fan of Al Stewart since the 1970's. I was beyond thrilled to finally see him live for the first time in Ojai, Ca. He was on point! A night of fantastic songs and stories was more than I could ever ask for. Al is great live!

Please go see Al Stewart while he is playing in the USA. What a wonderful performer with GREAT music! His opening band, The Empty Pockets, played their own harmonious style of music that made my jaw drop in awe. Hope to see them all again!

These guys were exceptional. Not only was Al very entertaining but the Empty Pockets alone or backing Al are a very talented group and fit well as Stewart's backing band. Also of note was the horn/flute player which accompanied Stewart, he was sensational. Together they faithfully reproduced and even embellished the album cuts. While the set did not include some major hits all the tunes were familiar album tracks. Off the top of my head he did do Year of the Cat, On the Border and a couple other hits absent were Roads to Moscow and a few others, no matter as Stewart was/is not historically a Top 40 artist being more of a troubadour and story teller. Also of note was the Libby Bowl in Ojai as it is a very pleasant venue though parking can be a problem. The sound system and acoustics were top notch. It was something of a shame that the venue was only about 1/3 full, more should experience these concerts.

This was one of the most enjoyable music evenings I ever had. Venue perfect. I will be back very soon.

Before this show, I really didn't know much about Al Stewart....But by the time we left that night, I was a huge fan. He was charming, his storytelling and guitar playing was so enjoyable, and he had me at hello. The band, Empty Pockets was the perfect pairing with his personality and message. What a lovely evening!! If you have a chance to see them.....Do it!!!

Was fortunate enough to see Al Stewart and the Empty Pockets onboard the Celebrity Eclipse and at the Canyon Club in Agoura, Ca this month and was very pleased. Al sounded great and is a great storyteller and the Empty Pockets, a band out of the Chicago area are a GREAT young band with a husband and wife who can really sing and are great musicians as well! Fabulous horn player too... Both great shows!

Al Stewart gave an awesome concert as usual. The venue is the perfect place to see him.

Al Stewart is a unique talent in the annals of pop and rock music. His voice compliments his words beautifully. Empty Pockets did their own excellent set and then played with AL. When Erika (the keyboardist) sings, you would swear you are hearing Linda Ronstadt.

I have been to an Al Stewart concert at this venue previously. This one was very forgettable. None of us in a prime location in the Birchmere could not understand any of the lyrics with the full band behind him. He is a folksinger, for God's sake....there is no need for a full band.

Al is always so terrific to see in concert. But the Empty Pockets guitarist is definitely no Dave Nachmanoff and that "multi-instrumentalist," while talented, is a distracting ham who seems to be mainly about himself. (Why, for example, does he need to come into the audience? He's not THAT great.) I've seen him with Al before, and I think Al should lose him--or at least ask him to step out of the limelight more. Fortunately, Al is so wonderful that he more than makes up for these flaws. I just wish he'd play Roads to Moscow; with the possible exception of Close to the Edge it's the most perfect song ever recorded (at least that I've ever heard), yet he never plays it even though fans invariably request it (and Maestro Nachmanoff could certainly make it sound all the more gorgeous). In fact I haven't seen him play it in concert since the 70's.

As a treat to all of the Al Stewart followers in the world, this year Al has offered up his 1976 "The Year of the Cat" album in it's entirety. After a few numbers by a great backing band, the Empty Pockets out of Chicago, Al came on stage, performed three classics and then launched into the YOTK album. Well, more to the truth, he glides into his sets. If you know his style; he is one of the smoothest performers on tour today. Great delivery, and one of his finest concerts I've ever had the pleasure to attend. Performing with a band brings a very strong depth to the work he does. Marc Macisso was excellent on the saxophone, flute, and harmonica. Setlist: Sirens of Titan, Antarctica, Time Passages, Lord Grenville, On the Border, Midas Shadow, Sand in Your Shoes, If It Doesn't come Naturally -Leave It, Flying Sorcery, Broadway Hotel, One Stage Before, Year of the Cat, Encore: Valentina Way, Almost Lucy. VIP Tickets got the band's soundcheck and meeting with Al.

My first time at Birchmere. Great place, excellent setup and yes , everyone gets a seat. Food was better than expected compared to other music venues. and great sound system. And staff was unbelievably courteous. Al Stewart's backup band was a nice surprise and they did a great job on their own. Al has the same tone on vocals but the range is not there, but is not meant to be negative. I admire him for being on this tour. He has great energy and covered all tracks plus a few more. All in all was a great evening with my best friend and wife.

The first verse of Year of the Cat is the best piece of poetry ever written! In four lines, we learn about the history of the singer, where they are now, what is happening around them, and what their feelings are--and more! Most of Al's songs are like that--vivid little pieces of life. I preferred his previous tour with the quieter guitars rather than a rock group, but I also enjoyed this performance. Josh of Empty Pockets did a great job too. I am so very glad Al still tours--what a pleasure to see him in person!

Al Stewart was very good, but the band backing him was exceptional! That band, "Empty Pockets" is a band worth seeing!

First off, I am a huge Al Stewart fan - have been for 30 years. Was looking forward to many of his classic history-based hits like "Road To Moscow", "Nostradamus", "Old Admirals", etc. All he did was "The Year Of The Cat". His performance was smooth and witty but pretty short in duration. As I said, I'm a bit disappointed.

Al Stewart was in top form, performing in a perfectly-sized venue-The Pageant. BUT the evening was extra special due to the terrific, multi-talented group of supporting musicians, The Empty Pockets! SO FORTUNATE TO HAVE ATTENDED THIS CONCERT!

Al Stewart still has an amazing voice and can play the guitar very well, but I was a bit disappointed in the song selection and the rather short set. I think that he played his favorites rather than our favorites.

Being in my mid-40's and not having a great deal of exposure to Al Stewart, this show was something I wanted to see to learn more about Al Stewart's other material besides "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages", and I was not disappointed at all. The show was almost like an MTV Storytellers type of setting, and Al did a great job of explaining each song between songs, and offered many historical references which appear in most of the songs. Besides the excellent songwriting which provided the basis for the performers, the performances were excellent. I had no idea who the Empty Pockets were (the opening band, as well as backing band for Al Stewart), but I was very impressed at their tightness, and vocals - especially their harmonizing abilities. As a backing band, the Empty Pockets provided a solid backing instrumentation to Al Stewart's vocals and acoustic playing. And then there was the multi-instrumentalist, Marc Macisso, who performed on the saxophone exceptionally, and played the iconic solos on Al's best known tracks "Year of the Cat" and "Time Passages" flawlessly. One thing that was visibly evident in general was that the band got tighter and more fluid as the show progressed, and this made the show that much more fun to watch and listen. In all, it was a great show where great songwriting, great songs, and excellent performances culminated to provide a great, intimate concert experience!

His accompaniment, Marc Macisso, was certainly talented, but his instruments weren't a good fit at all with one acoustic guitar, which Al played. Music sounded very shallow with the combination of an acoustic guitar and woodwinds (although the harmonica sounded fine combined with the guitar). Recommend that Al perform with another guitarist or at least add a bass guitar to the mix to give the music some depth. Better yet, Al should go back to performing with a full band, at least some of the time. The all acoustic show is getting a bit repetitive. Also, he was only on stage for about an hour and 10 minutes, and part of that was to have Macisso play a couple of his own tunes. Al has traditionally gone much longer when playing with Dave Nachmanoff.

Al Stewart's concert at the Birchmere on June 18 was wonderful as always, both the great music, with old favorites and new songs, and Al's always witty commentary. Marc Macisso, the very talented musician who accompanied him, was amazing, playing a variety of instruments. My only criticism of the concert was that it was too short!! If it were longer, it would get five stars from this longtime fan.