There is a version of Tim Moore’s “Second Avenue” that reached #34 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1974. Art Garfunkel sang it. The recording Moore made himself got to #58. That gap—twenty-four chart positions between a songwriter and the better-known version of his own song—tells you something about a career spent earning the admiration of Jimmy Webb, Keith Richards, James Taylor, and Elton John while remaining, for most listeners, a discovery in progress. On Friday, August 14, Moore brings that catalog home to Maverick Concert Hall in Woodstock, performing his compositions on the hall’s grand piano in an unplugged benefit concert for Family of Woodstock.
About the Show
Moore released five albums on Asylum Records, the label David Geffen built alongside Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, and Jackson Browne. His compositions have been recorded by Art Garfunkel, Cher, Richie Havens, and Etta James. “Rock and Roll Love Letter,” from his album Behind the Eyes, drew the attention of Keith Richards; the two became friends, and Moore spent two weeks guesting on guitar at Bearsville Studios during Rolling Stones rehearsals. His 1986 album Flash Forward included “Yes,” a romantic ballad that reached number one in Brazil and held that position for 10 weeks. He won the 1974 American Song Festival Grand Prize Award for “Charmer.” A longtime Woodstock resident, Moore has made rare appearances in his hometown; this benefit is one of those nights.
The August 14 show is an independent production at Maverick, not part of the hall’s regular chamber music series. Moore plays solo on the grand piano for the first set; bass player Rich Syracuse and drummer Jeff Seigel join for the second, opening the performance into more improvisational territory. All three performers are donating their time. Proceeds benefit Family of Woodstock, founded in 1970 following the Woodstock festival’s community influx, which has assisted over 100,000 people and currently operates six emergency shelters, three food pantries, and counseling services for domestic violence survivors and youth across Ulster County.
Venue & Logistics
Maverick Concert Hall was built in 1916 by writer and philosopher Hervey White as part of the Maverick Colony. Its wooden shingle construction and wide plank walls produce what the venue describes as “luminous acoustics,” a room conceived for chamber music and one that rewards quiet performances. Maverick Concerts is the oldest ongoing summer chamber music festival in the United States. The hall is at 120 Maverick Road in Woodstock, in the Hudson Valley. Show begins at 8:00 p.m.
Tickets
General admission: $35 indoors, $25 outdoors. Performers are donating their talents; all proceeds benefit Family of Woodstock. Buy tickets