Author Archives: mike

Simply the Best Halftime Show Ever

First, a disclaimer. Every performance featured on Newport 65 is selected because it’s been deemed extraordinary. Ninety-nine percent of the time, that also means the performance is excellent. But sometimes, as in this case, we’ll leave the descriptors at extraordinary. Here … Continue reading

Posted in Covers, Pop | Leave a comment

Ed Sheeran Plays One More Song

If the name Ed Sheeran makes you think top 40 radio, sappy songs, and a teeny bopper audience, fair enough. Those things have made him very famous and very rich. But before all that he put in the work, played … Continue reading

Posted in Covers, Rap/Hip-Hop, Singer/Songwriter | 1 Comment

Beyoncé Strips Down

Musically. Beyoncé strips down musically. Sorry for any misunderstanding. The problem with concerts of pop megastars is that you are likely to see one of three things:  1. They dance around on stage while their record plays, 2. they sing … Continue reading

Posted in Pop, Soul/R&B | Leave a comment

Otis Redding Don’t Want to Go

Before Otis Redding played Monterey Pop in 1967, his shows had been primarily for black R&B audiences. But Monterey was mostly white flower children (you can get a good idea of the demographic from the first couple minutes of the … Continue reading

Posted in Soul/R&B | Leave a comment

Damien Rice is Very Very Mad at Someone

Damien Rice doesn’t hold back. And maybe sometimes he overreacts. Take the song Cheers Darlin’, for example. It’s got lyrics in it like “I die when you mention his name”. Turns out that song is about a girl he met … Continue reading

Posted in Singer/Songwriter | Leave a comment