SAB November 2001
Stanton Anderson’s “Old New Borrowed & Blue Tour” resumed during the weekend of November 2 & 3, and the enthusiasm generated proves that the band and its fans STILL have got such a love thing!
Making stops on Friday night at the Village Pub in Port Jefferson and Saturday night at Mulcahy’s in Wantagh, the shows packed the punch of prior gigs and gave the crowds exactly what they have been waiting for since the last tour stop in August. This time around SAB brought in two “new old” original tunes to add to the ONBB catalog, “Boys in the Band” and “Something’s Missing.” These songs were first introduced by the band circa 1981-82, and were performed for the last time during the first set on Sunday, September 12, 1982 at the legendary Tuey’s in East Setauket. This date is significant because it marked the final appearance of Stanton Anderson until the reunion in 2000.
Once again, SAB’s classic rendition of Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” provided a fine occasion for the band to pay tribute to fallen friends. News arrived a few weeks before the gigs that John Kraft, Stanton’s original master of the keyboards, had passed away last year. John was warmly remembered during “Heaven’s Door”, as was firefighter and SAB fan Frank Bonomo who gave his life at the World Trade Center. The solemnly searing guitars gave everyone an opportunity to close ranks, close our eyes and remember those we knew who were lost on 9-11-01.
I addition to the live music, the band provided fans with the third in it’s series of “Official Live Bootleg” CDs. The artwork on these disks keeps improving, as does the auditory aspects. OLB #3 includes new SAB works like “Don’t Get Scared”, as well as classics like “Feel Like A Fool” and even some Springsteen done Stanton-style. The weekend of November 2 & 3 was prolific in many ways. The Yankees were defending their world title in the Fall Classic, the city streets were filled with runners hoping to make it to Central Park to finish the New York Marathon, and the Stanton Anderson Band gave us another memorable musical weekend when we really needed it. Always remembering, but always looking towards the future, seeing all these things happening left us feeling that we as New Yorkers and we as Americans, would be OK.

Bill D.

Mulcahy's photo's courtesy of Mike & Brian