LIVE: Eddie Money @ the Empire State Plaza Food Fest, 8/17/11

Back in Nippertown for his fourth free show in five years, veteran rocker Eddie Money had the headlining slot at the annual Empire State Plaza Food Festival at – where else? – the Empire State Plaza in Albany last week.

Money came armed with his new single, “One More Soldier Coming Home,” his tribute to the troops. But it was his old hits that really got the crowd stirred up. He fired off “Baby Hold On” and “Walk On Water” early on and revved things up with “Take Me Home Tonight” and “Two Tickets to Paradise” towards the end of the show. Let’s face it, Money hasn’t had a hit since the ’80s, but he still knows how to wail on those big, hook-filled rockers, especially when backed by a solid band led by his longtime guitarist Tommy Girvin.

With vocalist Debbie Gabrione at the microphone, Nippertown rockers Ten Year Vamp held their own in the slot opening for Money, as they showcased selections from their new album, “Lust,” fueled by drummer Greg Nash’s big, beefy beat.

Earlier in the day, other featured performers at the fest included the Chris Busone Band, Chris Dukes and Slick Fitty.

Review by Roger Houston
Photographs by Stanley Johnson

SECOND OPINIONS:
Excerpt from Brian McElhiney’s review at The Daily Gazette: “He’s a showman, through and through, and hammed it up nicely on rockers like ‘You’ve Really Got a Hold on Me’ and ‘Take a Little Bit.’ He even had a chance to shine on saxophone on ‘Trinidad’ and the surprisingly effective ‘I Wanna Go Back.’ And his ubiquitous hits ‘Take Me Home Tonight’ and ‘Two Tickets to Paradise’ burned brightly at the back end of the set, sounding huge delivered by his snarling backing band.”

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Photographs by Matt Mac Haffie of Eddie Money’s 2010 concert at Albany’s Alive at Five concert series