New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu



 

The “Lowdown” on Boz Scaggs: LIVE! at BergenPAC


By Spotlight Central, Photos by Love Imagery

originally published: 05/05/2016

Boz Scaggs, the singer/songwriter/guitarist who, 40 years ago, had the entire musical world groovin’ to his ubiquitous 1976 album, Silk Degrees, recently made a stop in New Jersey on his North American tour. Here in the Garden State, Scaggs presented an evening of ultra-cool blue-eyed soul at the Bergen Performing Arts Center (BergenPAC) in Englewood, NJ, on Thursday, April 27, 2016.

Scaggs opened his show with 1971’s brassy and bluesy “Runnin’ Blue” and kept on groovin’ with newer fare including his 2013 cover of Willy DeVille’s “Mixed Up Shook Up Girl” and 1994’s rockabilly-fueled “Some Change.” He also performed the rhythmic “Hell to Pay,” a duet he recorded with Bonnie Raitt on his most recent album, 2015’s A Fool to Care. Backed by a crackerjack six-piece band — his vocals and guitar playing never sounding better — Scaggs smoothly and effortlessly rocked the house at BergenPAC.

Along with his selection of new material, Scaggs also included a cross-section of tunes he’s best known for, including “Jojo,” the delightfully-funky 1980 smash he wrote with “Hit Man” music producer David Foster, and from 1976’s Silk Degrees, his dreamy “Harbor Lights.”

Also from Silk Degrees, Scaggs performed a spectacular version of his spirited dance tune, “Georgia,” a tune which he initially recorded 40 years ago. His falsetto perfectly recaptured the sound and energy of the original performance.

Although most of the evening at BergenPAC was devoted to songs representing various stages in Scaggs’ varied musical career, he did take some time to feature his back-up vocalist, Coneha Monet Owens, aka “Ms. Monet,” in a leading role. Monet showed off her five-octive vocal range on the Stevie Wonder-penned “Until You Come Back To Me,” a 1973 R&B chart-topper for The Queen of Soul, Aretha Franklin. Before she had finished the song, Monet had already brought the audience to its feet.




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



After an act that’s difficult to follow, Scaggs and the band took back the stage and captivated the crowd with one of his best-known hits, his Top 20 ballad, “Look What You’ve Done to Me.” This song, also co-written with David Foster, is one they specifically created for the 1980 film, Urban Cowboy.

Although missing from the evening’s proceedings were Boz classics such as “We’re All Alone,” “Heart of Mine,” and “Breakdown Dead Ahead,” Scaggs nonetheless lifted the crowd out of their seats with an effervescent version of his infectious 1976 smash, “Lowdown,” and kept them on their feet with a bright and bouncy rendition of his enduring “can’t-stop-yourself-from-dancing!” hit, “Lido Shuffle.”

Following two encores — where he treated the audience to “There’s A Storm A Comin’” from A Fool to Care; his Silk Degrees classic, “What Can I Say?”; 1969’s bluesy “Loan Me a Dime”; and the 1971 Gamble & Huff R&B burner, “Drowning in the Sea of Love” — Scaggs left the crowd with a true appreciation for his five decades of musical output. He also left his fans with a feeling of admiration for the fact that, unlike so many of his musical contemporaries whose performance skills, notably in terms of their lead vocals, tend to weather with age, Scaggs, sounds as good — if not better — than he ever did.

And, at age 71, that’s the “Lowdown” on Boz Scaggs.

For more on Boz Scaggs, his North American tour dates, and more, please go to bozscaggs.com. For more on upcoming concerts at BergenPAC — including Kool & The Gang on May 15, Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band on June 7, and Peter Yarrow & Noel Paul Stookey on July 14 — please see bergenpac.org.


Photos by Love Imagery

Spotlight Central. Your source for Jersey entertainment news and reviews




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



Love Imagery Fine Art Photography. all you need. peace/love/flower/power



FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | FILM | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Blues

Blues People with Special Guest: Jeff Levine

Saturday, July 05, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Straight

Straight No Chaser - Summer: The 90’s Part 2

Tuesday, July 08, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Frisson

Frisson Winds

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
The Morris Museum Back Deck
6 Normandy Heights Road, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Three

Three American Troubadours: A Tribute to James Taylor, Carly Simon, and Carole King

Thursday, July 10, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Axelrod Performing Arts Center
100 Grant Avenue, Deal Park, NJ 07723
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

Candlelight

Candlelight Concert: Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, July 11, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music

Click here for full event listing

 

More events

Event Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages




 

EVENT PREVIEWS

Jazz

Jazz Concert at Trenton City Museum will Feature the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience

(TRENTON, NJ) -- Trenton City Museum will present a free jazz concert Friday, July 18, 2025 at the museum's Ellarslie Mansion in Cadwalader Park. Featuring world-renowned vibraphonist Joe Baione, the Joe Baione Vibraphone Experience is the first group to perform in a series of jazz events leading up to the museum's 2026 TRENTON MAKES JAZZ exhibition, in collaboration with the City of Trenton.



The

The Newton Theatre presents Tonight's the Night - a tribute to Rod Stewart

(NEWTON, NJ) -- Tonight's the Night - a tribute band that celebrates the music of Rod Stewart - will perform at The Newton Theatre on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at 8:00pm.



Hoboken's

Hoboken's Sinatra Park to Host Concert by Freedy Johnson and Karyn Kuhl and the Gang

(HOBOKEN, NJ) -- Local events organizer, Geri Fallo, who retired last year, is inviting you to celebrate with her, as she embraces new and exciting endeavors. Come enjoy a free evening of music in Hoboken's Sinatra Park (525 Sinatra Drive) on Thursday, July 17, 2025. The evening is presented by Mayor Ravi Bhalla, The Hoboken Division of Cultural Affairs, and Geri Fallo. The event is free, and music starts at 6:30pm. Come early for the best seating.



An

An Interview with Dan Kurtz of The New Deal

Formed in 1999, Toronto, Canada based trio The New Deal, is a pioneer in jam-based electronic music. The group was founded by remaining members Dan Kurtz (bass) and Jamie Shields (keys), along with Darren Shearer (drums) who left tND in 2011. Since its inception, tND has remained committed to its improvisational roots and has served as a model for other jamtronica bands bridging the gap between multiple music genres as well as the border between Canada and the United States.



Two

Two NJ Jazz Musicians Will Play with The Jazz Ambassadors in Morristown

Pianist Anthony Pocetti grew up in Hamilton, NJ, studying piano, "doing sort of traditional piano lessons. I have an uncle who was always encouraging me to get into the jazz thing. He gave me the (Miles Davis) Kind of Blue CD, and he knew that the jazz pianist Jim Ridl was living in Hamilton."