Archive for the ‘John Varvatos’ Category

I SPY NY: Nick Jonas, Passion Pit and More

January 13, 2010

I spy in NY…

Nick Jonas performing (with surprise guests Joe and Kevin Jonas) at Beacon Theatre Thursday night (top photo), Passion Pit tearing up Terminal 5 Saturday (middle photo), Catherine Zeta Jones leaving the Walter Kerr Theatre after performing in A Little Night Music last Monday (bottom photo), Edwin McCain trio playing Highline Ballroom Saturday night, Tabatha Coffey hosting a meet-and-greet at Splash Thursday night, and Peter Frampton and Denis Leary rocking at John Varvatos in the Bowery Thursday night.

New York Dolls Return to Their Roots

May 6, 2009

“This is beyond my wildest dreams,” New York Dolls frontman David Johansen said, as the Dolls took the stage at 315 Bowery (former home of CBGB and new home to designer John Varvatos) Tuesday night around 9:45.

It’s been 38 years, but the man’s still still got it. The 59-year old ripped through over a dozen jams with ease, rage, and (so what?) a little help from his lyrics sheets. The performance was in honor of the band’s newest release (Cause I Sez So, out yesterday), but the boys managed to pepper some rocking classics (“Trash,” “Stranded in the Jungle”) through the predominantly new set.

Varvatos, a long-time rock supporter and Dolls fan, opted to sync the performance with a live broadcast to his new Sirius Radio rock ‘n’ roll show, which also launched Tuesday.

Also supporting the boys in attendance were rock fanatic Rachael Ray, Semi-Precious Weapons frontman Justin Tranter, America’s Next Top Model winner CariDee English, handbag designer Jack Germain, and famed rock photographer Bob Gruen, who shot a Dolls documentary in the early ’70s.

Said Gruen:

“Life goes on and things change, but David’s the best entertainer around and the band is one of the best out there. I don’t live in the past, and I don’t think the Dolls do either.”