Donovan was inducted into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this Spring and he decided to play three concerts in the U.S this fall to celebrate with a promise of a full-on tour next year.
At the intimate 800 capacity Society for Ethical Culture on the UWS, he reminded his fans how well his songs have held up. He told stories of getting high with Gypsy Dave and being adrift on the Ganges with The Maharishi and The Beatles. Through one acoustic set and one electric one with a four piece band, he was the hippy philosopher and spiritual troubadour that I expected and hoped he would be.
On the evening of the Led Zeppelin press conference earlier this month, I saw Pete Townshend chat with Rolling Stone co-founder Jann Wenner at Barnes&Noble in Union Square. Pete said he is happy and has dealt with any of the weirdness of his youth that he details in his new autobiography Who I Am. He was engaged and engaging.
He played Drowned and Won’t Get Fooled Again on acoustic to wrap up the festivities. He’s touring with Roger Daltry playing Quadrophenia beginning next month..
