Billy Joel - Live at Yankee Stadium, June 1990

Summer, 1990 ...

It was HOT -- and NYC had its first serial killer since Son of Sam back in 1976/77 -- the copycat Zodiac killer who hit a bunch of people in the spring and summer of that year, then vanished before striking again randomingly in 1992, 1993, and 1994 when he got caught.

But the other big thing that happened in the summer of 1990 were the two big shows that Billy Joel did at Yankee Stadium in June. He had recently put out his 11th studio album, Stormfront, and these concerts were a huge promotion for it. They were recorded on film and it's a raucous experience -- Billy Joel singing with joy and gusto, great visuals, an energized audience, and a deep love for the city runs throughout it. 

I distinctly recall that my brother got to go to one of these shows and I was not invited (too young). But he gave me t-shirt for the shows that I wore until it frayed.

Interestingly enough about 13 years later we were in Nobu at sat at a table right next to Billy Joel, his daughter, and her friend. 

Recently Billy Joel announced that his decade-long residency at Madison Square Garden will be coming to any end. He's still performing but he's winding down his career -- but these concerts in the Bronx in the summer of 1990 shows a legendary American singer-songwriter at the top of his game.