PCI Concerts Present Al Stewart & The Empty Pockets and Colin Blunstone of The Zombies

Al Stewart came to stardom as part of the legendary British Folk Revival in the 60s and 70s, and developed a combination of folk-rock songs with delicately woven tales of the great characters and events from history. He is best known for his hits “Year of the Cat”from the Platinum album of the same name, the Platinum album Time Passages, and “On the Border.” In Al’s own words: “I’m just a folk singer that is interested in history and wine that got lucky with some hit records! It’s as simple as that really. And in many ways, I’m still pretty much the same troubadour that I was back in 1965. I still get a kick out of hearing the Zombies, Hendrix, or They Might be Giants on the radio.” Colin Blunstono of the Zombies: Colin Blunstone stood on the stage of Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on March 29, 2019, a huge grin on his face, and basked in the glorious sight of 17,000 starstruck music fans cheering on the band he’d co-founded an astounding 55 years earlier. “This wonderful occasion,” the singer told the crowd, “is an absolute joy and makes it very, very worthwhile. Thank you!” The “wonderful occasion” was the long-awaited induction of The Zombies into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The group—key figures in the fabled British Invasion of the ’60s—had been eligible for induction for decades & now it was finally their turn. An album they’d recorded in 1967, Odessey and Oracle, virtually ignored in its own time, had subsequently been recognized as one of the most brilliant works of its era, routinely finding its way into “best of all time” lists and inspiring raves from fellow musicians and rock fans of all ages. For all of the accolades bestowed upon The Zombies, though, the band’s brief initial tenure is only part of Colin Blunstone’s story. Graced with one of the most distinctive, alluring & soulful voices in contemporary music, one that is every bit as strong today as during The Zombies’ early years, Blunstone has also enjoyed a long & fruitful solo career. He has released 10 albums of his own over a period spanning more than 50 years, & has lent his remarkable pipes to the recordings of many others, most notably the Alan Parsons Project, who featured Blunstone on their 1982 hit “Old and Wise,” as well as on several albums. Doors at 5:30 show at 6:30 p.m.