"Neil Young - Hurricane" (Copyright Graham Nash 2012)

Legendary musician Graham Nash, who will return to Atlantic City for a Crosby, Stills & Nash show at Borgata June 30, will also be making a special appearance in Stone Harbor, Cape May County, the following day, July 1.

What’s the “Chicago” singer doing in Stone Harbor?

Well, turns out, just like Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones guitarist who has an art exhibit in New York through July and one at his own temporary gallery at the Golden Nugget in Atlantic City (see photos, more, interview); and Ringo Starr, who is also coming to Atlantic City (June 23 at Caesars) and bringing his art with him (the Ringo Starr Fine Art Show & Sale with a Meet & Greet takes place at Caesars Atlantic City, inside the Empire A Room on June 22-23 from 10am-noon); Nash is an artist and his work will be exhibited at Ocean Galleries Thursday, June 28, through Sunday, July 8.

Nash will be signing purchased artwork on Sunday, July 1 from 7pm till 10pm.

According to Ocean Galleries, “The Art of Graham Nash” exhibition “is the premiere showcase of Graham Nash’s paintings, pastels, drawings, and artistically enhanced photographs.”

“The collection of Graham’s artwork is astounding,” said gallery owner Kim Miller.  “I think our clientele will enjoy the wide-ranging variety of pieces in this collection. Graham is truly visionary – he sees an interesting subject matter and is inspired to paint it, sometimes mixing images and mediums to create these unique and amazing pieces of art.  A few of his pastels remind me of Chagall, while other art takes on an edginess that you might expect to see in a Soho gallery.  We can’t wait to share the artwork with the world!”

The exhibit also includes a variety of linocuts, a method and medium Graham srarted experimenting with in the mid ’70s inspired by Picasso’s linocuts.

The Ocean Galleries (9618 Third Avenue, Stone Harbor) “The Art of Graham Nash” exhibition includes 91 paintings, pastels, and artistically enhanced photographs.

Here are some more samples (all are Copyright Graham Nash 2012)

"Power to the Banana"

"Self Portrait"

"Reflected Building"

"Lorraine"

Ringo signing prints of his artwork in California

ATLANTIC CITY — There will be a meet-and-greet with former Beatles drummer Ringo Starr following the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer’s art show and sale Friday and Saturday, June 22 and 23, at Caesars Empire A Room, and prior to the Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band concert Saturday night at Caesars Circus Maximus Theater.

The display and sale will feature original artwork by Starr himself, who began painting while on tour several years ago according to the I. Brewster & Company Gallery Web site. I Brewster is the Philadelphia-based gallery that markets Starr’s artwork. “”I started in the late ’90s with my computer art,” Starr says. “While I was touring it gave me something to do in all those crazy hotels you have to stay in on the road.”

Starr's 'Hat Man'

The art show and sale will take place Friday, June 22, from 11am-8pm, and Saturday, June 23, from 10am-3pm, in the Caesars Empire A Room. Anyone who purchases artwork will have the opportunity to meet Starr at 4pm in a special meet-and-greet before the concert. All of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork goes to the Lotus Foundation.

“Most of the titles for my pieces arrived because on computer you have to call them something, so I have,” says Starr. “The easy way to look at it is, if it has a hat on, it will probably be called Hat Man.”

Call 215-731-9200 for more information about the art show and sale. The concert starts 9pm Saturday, June 23 (doors open 8pm). Tickets are $65-$125.

Lary Kane with Paul (left) and John in 1964. Ling-time Philly newsman and author Kane was the only journalist allowed to accompany the Fab Four on their big U.S. tour that year, which stopped in A.C. at Convention Hall.

According to reports, the two living members of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr, are considering an offer to reunite, possibly with the late George Harrison’s son Dhani and either of the late John Lennon’s sons Julian or Sean.

The report appears on philly.com and says that the reunion is being considered for the 2012 Olympics in London.

According to the report, “A friend of Sir Paul told a British newspaper, ‘He [McCartney] has been speaking to organizers and has said he’d love to be involved with the games in some way. The organizers want the Beatles legend to appear alongside other big British acts. And they want Ringo on stage as well to make it extra special….The Beatles are loved all over the world so it’s a no-brainer that they should be represented at the Olympics.’”

Ringo Starr has appeared in Atlantic City several times over the past decade with his All-Starr band. In 2002, Paul McCartney played Boardwalk Hall. AC Weekly columnist David J. Spatz recalled the show as one of the best he ever saw in Atlantic City:

“It was former Beatle Paul McCartney’s first Atlantic City appearance since his old band performed a 35-minute set at Boardwalk Hall in 1964. Sir Paul made up for lost time.

“I don’t think there’s such a thing as a perfect show, but McCartney came damned closed. Even the pre-show was a theater piece in itself; a parade of characters through the audience and onto stage that can best be described as Fellini meets Sgt. Pepper.

“During his two-hour set, McCartney — like Sinatra had done 14 years earlier — turned back the clock. He deftly mixed songs from his solo career with plenty of Beatles tunes, performed a few new numbers, paid tribute to his late mates John Lennon and George Harrison and gave each member of his amazing band a chance to stretch out individually.”

Maybe the reunion will happen, maybe it won’t. If it does, why not take the show out on the road and create one of the biggest tours ever? The Beatles could be at Bader Field in the summer of 2013. Maybe even Boardwalk Hall.

What do you think?

Rants and raves about burning topics that have caught my attention midweek, be it greedy corporate shenanigans, frustration or joy in regards to the Philly sports teams, a movie, show or DVD that has fired up my imagination, an intriguing personality, or what’s happening in the region. — Lori Hoffman, Associate Editor, Atlantic City Weekly

When summertime arrives, the living is anything but easy for the thousands of employees in Atlantic City and the surrounding region who help make our town a sizzling destination resort.

Lady Gaga

Not that any of us are complaining — this is the time of year when Atlantic City can put all the negative press on the back burner. We can table the concerns about the shrinking profits and competition from Philadelphia casinos. This is the time of year when the Jersey Shore’s inviting beach and boardwalk, in conjunction with the lure of casino gaming and the great shopping, the beach bars, and numerous summer activities, make Atlantic City the place to be.

While the off-season was filled with gloom and doom and speculation that Atlantic City was a dying market, this season’s attractions dispute that claim. Atlantic City is one of the best places to see major musical acts because the venues are much smaller and the shows are more intimate.

The AC casinos and Boardwalk Hall have booked an unbelievable collection of major stars for the summer. How good? In the coming weeks AC will host Adam Lambert, 50 Cent, Lady Gaga, Diddy, Ringo Starr, the Flaming Lips, Dane Cook, Sting, Cheech & Chong, Craig Ferguson, President Bill Clinton (not playing the sax), Kathy Griffin, Santana, Simon & Garfunkel, Black Eyed Peas, Aerosmith w/Sammy Hagar, Daughtry, Kris Allen, Rihanna, Barry Manilow, Sheryl Crow, Iggy and the Stooges, MGMT, Chelsea Handler, Donna Summer, Blondie, Billy Idol and the Temptations with the Four Tops. For the complete list, go to upcoming headliners here.

(more…)