JQ Magazine: ‘Bat Out of Hell - The Musical,’ Paul Gilbert, The Joy of Sake
By JQ magazine editor Justin Tedaldi (CIR Kobe-shi, 2001-02). Justin has written about Japanese arts and entertainment for JETAA since 2005. For more of his articles, click here.
Spring has sprung in the Big Apple, and that means one thing: a new season of sounds, colors, and spectacular performing arts to match the blossoming sakura trees throughout the city.
This month’s highlights include:
S2BN
April 29-30, 7:30 p.m.
The Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street
From $87.70
Due to popular demand, Bat Out of Hell – The Musical will be at The Town Hall for two shows on Wednesday, April 29 and Thursday, April 30! Making its grand return to the New York City stage since its 2019 debut, this award-winning production is a thrilling spectacle where the timeless music of Jim Steinman and Meat Loaf reigns supreme. In this reimagined show, the iconic songs are brought to life with a dynamic eight-piece rock band performing among sprawling, multi-level platforms that transport audiences through the diverse worlds of Bat Out of Hell. The epic cast delivers powerhouse vocals on Meat Loaf’s anthems, including “I’d Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” “Dead Ringer for Love,” “It’s All Coming Back to Me,” and of course, “Bat Out of Hell.” Get ready to experience Bat Out of Hell – The Musical as it explodes onto the stage at The Town Hall in an unmissable theatrical extravaganza!
© Sam Gehrke
April 29-May 1, 8:30 p.m.
The Iridium, 1650 Broadway
$50 general seating, $55 preferred seating
Paul Gilbert’s new album WROC is a bold, genre-defying concept record inspired by George Washington’s Rules of Civility, marking his first vocal album since 2016’s I Can Destroy. Rather than waxing a straightforward blues-rock release, Gilbert (of Mr. Big and Racer X fame) challenged himself to transform 16th-century etiquette guidelines into melodic, musically adventurous songs—many using the original text word for word—creating what he calls one of his most listenable and melody-driven works to date. Recorded live in just four days with Nick D’Virgilio, Doug Rappoport, and Timmer Blakely, the 13-track album blends classic rock, metal, pop sophistication, odd time signatures, and vintage influences ranging from AC/DC and Black Sabbath to Burt Bacharach and the Beatles. Sparked by inspiration following Mr. Big’s recent farewell tour (which wrapped at Tokyo’s Budokan last year), WROC finds Gilbert expanding his songwriting horizons, prioritizing melody over guitar flash, and embracing unpredictability in a project he describes as deeply personal, musically ambitious, and creatively liberating.
Courtesy of Joyofsake.com
Thursday, April 30, 6:30 p.m.
Metropolitan Pavilion, 125 West 18th Street
$140
The Joy of Sake returns to New York for its 20th annual celebration with 492 different labels from throughout Japan and the U.S. available for tasting. Sake-themed appetizers from top New York restaurants add to the enjoyment, making this the event of the year for the city’s sake enthusiasts. Experience the largest and liveliest sake-tasting event in the U.S., with award-winning sakes from the U.S. National Sake Appraisal served in peak condition, plus sake-inspired appetizers to nibble while you sip. The admission fee includes appetizers from participating restaurants and unlimited samplings of sake. Good food, good friends, good sake—it all comes together at The Joy of Sake.
For more JQ articles, click here.