Jonathan Richman

Who thought that one guy, an acoustic guitar and a drummer could pack a house and leave them laughing, thinking & cheering?!? "This is not a concert!" Mr. Richman kept proclaiming throughout the event, and indeed it wasn't, it was an experience of a different kind. He tailor made his song list to fit the "Valentine's Day" theme doing many "Love Songs" and still pleased the packed crowd with his classics like "I Was Dancing At A Lesbian Bar" and "Pablo Paccasso"....it was an hour and a half of sheer innocent delight, smiles and chuckles, which in this day and time is much needed. :-)

A funky journey hitting on comedy, life, history and tragedy my fifth time seeing Mr.Richman hope to see him another five times. I only wish the set was longer.

What pleasure to hear Jonathan's guitar and voice sing in so many languages his surprising and welcome words of humor and humility and hope. Sharing this with our thirty-something kids made up more than a little for the world we are handing them.

It's been almost exactly 20 years since I saw Jonathan play at The Haunt in Ithaca. He is as, if not more, captivating as he was all that time ago. His sweet croon melted hearts and those swiveling hips were contagious. Richman was a green, humanitarian before it was fashionable and he continues to brake new ground with each new release.

Only Jonathan Richman could do a Jonathan Richman show. Perhaps the most fearless performer I've seen, all in all. He's not afraid to play something as goofy as a cover of "Dancing in the Moonlight", or for that matter to perform with a nylon string guitar and a trap set as the entire band. I'd like to hear a few more songs performed more "front to back" than he did this evening -- songs like Let Her Go Into The Darkness work extremely well played straight, too, and Jonathan wasn't playing too many songs that way. Fine selection of songs from across his catalog, and a genuine connection with his crowd. There's nothing like a Jonathan Richman show, and it's a lot more predictably good than some other bands you can say that about.

It was a funny show, he has a kind of laid back way of performing, doing just the things as he want them to do, Making jokes with the audience. He is the kind of guy who is on stage and probably in private the same mellow guy. Tha makes shows like these sort of a family like show, in a nice atmospher as if it is in your own livingroom. Great foor summer and entertaining

If you are already a fan of Mr. Richman's songs and lyrics, you will probably love seeing him perform. If you are on the fence about him and have listened to a few rocking songs in The Modern Lovers but really never listened to the lyrics then you may come away confused after seeing him live. Mr. Richman is exactly as humble, true and honest as his lyrics suggest and this quality about him makes him a truly unique performer. He is never posing as something he is not which gives the audience a truly authentic experience of an artist performing and connecting with us instead of kind of singing songs above our head somewhere. When I saw him perform at the Roseland, it was a hot, stuffy day in New York and the humidity was high. Mr. Richman performs with a truly spared down set of an acoustic guitar and a jazzy drummer and he insisted on the air conditioning being turned off for the show. The result was the audience members suffered and he suffered probably even more but we could hear him play even as he turned away from the mic with his guitar and moved around the stage, which was a decision that in my mind was well worth the heat. When the fans were turned on towards the end "just the little fans", it was a moment we all shared of relief from a struggle, as an artist I think it was wise to place us all in peril and then release us en masse

Really, how can you go wrong with a Jonathan show? He's still a master of testing new ideas while giving the crowd a few old favorites to sing along to. I loved how he told the crowd that he was dissatisfied with his own performance\u2014he then stayed to play a few extra songs to make up for it and totally hit them on the mark. So charming! "Springtime in New York" was a perfect show capper. He continues to wow me.

Jonathan Richman is simply a fascinating human specimen. If you like being honest about emotions and chuckling at them at the same time, Jonathan Richman ought to be high on your list. He is one-of-a-kind. Also it was a good venue. Packed a lot of people but still felt intimate.

Jonathan Richman was fun and fabulous. However the AC in the overcrowded BB was not on. The place was insufferably hot! As usual, the BB staff was accommodating, friendly and professional.

Great in every way. The lyrics. In a league with the great American lyricists. Warm, funny. Great transitions between numbers. A joy.

Great show, wonderful! Great set, upbeat, crowd was loving it.

Jonathan Richman is so clever and original. Every song was clever and fun. His singing and guitar-playing were very skilled crafts and his dancing along was adorable. His only back-up was the drummer, who provided an excellent rhythmic support.

Best show I've seen in years. Wish he'd done an encour.

My cheeks hurt from smiling so much. Amazing show!

...do yourself a favor! Jonathan is a one of kind.

Awful. Boring, self-indulgent, manure. Really Awful. I walked out. Never Again.

I've been going to see Jonathan live every chance I get for about the last 20 years. I've lost count at this point, but seeing him play gives me the feeling that I'm in the room with a real PRESENCE. It fills me with a unique kind of joy. He is so unselfconscious on stage, which really comes through in his goofy, yet amazing dancing. It's like he's being actively creative while he's performing and you can tell that he LOVES what he's doing. He's not just going through the motions. The few times I've been fortunate enough to talk to him or hang out a bit with him after a show, you can tell that he is a genuinely nice human being. I can't say enough positive things about this guy. He's a top-notch artist and a virtuoso on the guitar. Oh... and Tommy rocks too. :) Just quietly sitting back there working seamlessly with wherever Jonathan takes things. Love these guys.

What can I say, this old man puts on an excellent one man show. Improvised lyrics and dancin--just having a great time--and we all loved it. Tickets were only $16 (in NYC?! scandalous). Everyone should go see Jonathan Richman perform live at least once in their life.

He put on an amazing show - despite the air conditioning being broken in bowery ballroom - and really loved every minute of it! I loved his dance breaks and booty shakes. He's also one of the most talented (and underrated) guitarists out there. He switches from punk rock to a fluid flamenco style easily and knows how to engage the audience. Can't wait to see him again. Hope he plays "She Cracked" next time!

Great show, great time, what a concert! Always worth while!

Jonathan is terrific. Young at heart, bold of spirit, as much now as he was the day he walked through "the door of Bohemia" as a teenager as he retells in his song.

Despite having played tens of thousands of shows over the course of several decades, Jonathan still seems to give a unique performance each time. His stage manner was honest and heartfelt, and often went away from the microphones in order to give an even more real sound. The guitar playing was beautiful in that fancy Flamenco way, and yet his lyrics were off-beat and unpredictable. I felt moved emotionally by the gravitas of his music, and yet I found myself laughing from time to time, as well. Jonathan Richman, keeping doing what you're doing.

I was on my first visit to New York and really wanted to visit the Bowery Ballroom while there. The most interesting gig was Jonathan Richman so I booked a ticket. Loved the Bowery (would love to see a Patti Smith New Year show here) and thought the bar staff here were as good as I saw anywhere in NY. I'm not that familiar with Jonathan Richman's recent work apart from There's something about Mary. His songs were very funny (loved the Van Meer song) as was has self depreciating stage personna. Tommy Atkins drumming is very laid back and provides a great foil to Richman's, occasionally, manic guitar playing. Great show, one of the highlights of my visit to the Big Apple.

Jonathan Richman was awesome and the venue (The Middle East Cambridge, MA) is one of my favorite places!!!

the show was good... I went to the tuesday and the thursday show and he played a lot of the same songs... Thursday he was much more "on it" and exciting. The sound at the MidEast was terrible. I know J.Richman is very picky about the sound, but if you walked around, you could only hear anything in the main hall cause the side fill speakers were not on. making about 50 people wondering what he was singing about, cause it's a quiet show in general. Overall, the shows were entertaining as always, but no openers, and he only played for an hour. SHort and sweet I guess. Wish it was longer. Or at least have an opener.

A very personable artist gave a person performance. Very good sonics, simple presentation in a clean and full venue.

I love Jonathan Richman. His happy, smiling face, his beautiful music, his amazing dancing, his excellent French, his lighthearted banter... There are few things that make me feel so happy as seeing him play a show. I love how he isn't afraid to sing a song so honest that it would bruise the ego of most performers, and he seems overjoyed while doing it. His enthusiasm spreads through the whole audience, making for some of the kindest, most cheerful encounters with other concertgoers that you are likely to have. You can have your macho, posturing "rock stars"-- I will take Jonathan Richman over them any day!! From the second he came out on stage until the show was over, my face actually hurt from grinning from ear to ear.

I've seen him about ten times, but Mr. Richman was in exceptionally fine form on Valentine's Day night. He pulled some oddities (but I guess they all are) out of his hat, including several songs in French and Spanish. Crazy, but it worked. Best of all, he brought the audience in with a song about lost love, and ended on to tales of the "Love Stinks" variety. Fantastic for the valentines in the audience.

I haven't seen him in at least 15 years but he's more fun than ever. His live show must be seen to be believed.

the best show i've been to in a long time. it was crowded and hard for a short girl who showed up right before showtime to find a good place to stand, but it's a jonathan richman valentine's show. i did eventually find the perfect spot and jonathan gave a stellar performance. he was funny and sweet and sang in three languages. and his "i was dancing in a lesbian bar" dance moves were nothing short of amazing. <3

It's Jonathan Richman playing guitar and dancing then playing more and dancing more because it's Valentines Day and he has about 40 years of songs perfect for just such an evening and just such an audience full of lovers, my girlfriend and I included. The amazingness goes without saying.

As usual, Jonathan rocked the (packed) house. His Valentine's Day themed songs proved once more that there is no one with his outlook and sensibilities.

i was looking forward to seeing jonathan richman play and he exceeded any expectations i had. he is quite possibly the most sincere and charismatic performer i've ever had the pleasure of watching. i left the show with a sense of joy i hadn't felt since my days watching saturday morning cartoons. one of the best concert going experiences of my life. i'd recommend that everyone with the chance to see richman take it.

I've loved Jonathan for several years now but never had a chance to see him live until this past Saturday at the Williamsburg Hall of Music. What a show! Both the sad-eyed troubadour and his faithful skin-slappin' sidekick Tommy Larkins seemed to feel the natural music of the venue and used it to color the ambient textures that are the true focal point of their art. The crowd was deliciously silent for several minutes at a time as his guitar's subtle intonations rang with seemingly infinite sustain, only to succumb to inevitable laughter after delivering one of his quirky, often self-deprecating one-liners. Never before have I witnessed the absence of any barrier between performer and audience, with several improvised numbers and sing-alongs that almost dare you not to smile. Simply the best time I've had at a show anywhere near this price, possibly the best ever...? Magic, to say the least.

the show was fun. jonathan was super funny. the show was almost like a comedy+music thing. i only recognized 1 song though. i was told that's because he rearranged some songs thus i did not recognize. jonathan sings about social issues, too. music hall of williamsburg is always a great venue. i've been there several times. good times.

I really loved this concert. The venue is meh, but Jon Richman is just a quirky, funny genius. He played tons of hilarious songs and is way better at guitar than I thought. His drummer sideman was just okay but served as a straight man at least. JR's songs ranged from ones about his affected accent back in high school to one about how his girl loves him even more than he expected her to...I know the latter sounds conceited but it isn't at all. He also sang old classics like "Pablo Picasso" and "Old World," but shook those up, inserting and improvising new lyrics and music at will. He sang a bunch of songs in Spanish, Italian, and French, which was really charming actually. So just go and see him if you ever have the chance. He's a fantastic performer and human being. Bravissimo!

Aside from the fact that he did not play pablo picasso, the venue was warm, totally not packed, happy hour beers and wells were three bucks!! Plus Mr. Richman was very friendly hugging people and signing autographs.. Very nice.

Fantastic show in a great small venue. Don't miss it!

He was so funny and sang so genuinely. By the end i was so satisfied i almost broke out into tears.