Tony Garnier, Bob Dylan’s bassist and music director since 1989, took a break from the strenuous never-ending tour Tuesday night to play at the new P&G Bar at 380 Columbus Ave. on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. He joined Jonny Rosch, who toured recently with the Blues Brothers, as well as Jon Herington, who tours as lead guitarist with Steely Dan. On drums was Tony Beard, a British born drummer for a who’s who of artists including Johnny Winter, Roger Daltrey, Robin Trower, Crosby, Stills & Nash, Jeff Beck and David Lee Roth.
Though Rosch plans a regular Tuesday night gig at the newly moved P&G, his musician lineup will change from week to week and there’s no guarantee he will ever assemble the same band. For the opening gig, the band played two sets to a packed house. There was no cover charge, though the house passed a bucket around the room for tips.
Garnier, unlike his cool demeanor on stage with Dylan, was light, friendly and smiled a lot at the bar. With Dylan, especially when taking bows, he always looks sternly grim while wearing a black hat. When asked about that frown, he said the band does it on purpose because it has worked well with the crowd. As with most Dylan sidemen, he said little else about the tour he has been playing on for 20 years.
---
Tony Garnier (left) with Bob Dylan at the United Palace Theatre in late 2008. All photos by Frank Beacham.
---
Tony Garnier on Tuesday night at the P&G Bar
---
---
---
Johnny Rosch is the band leader
---
Jon Herington on guitar
---
---
The band plays on. Drummer Beard is hidden from view on the left.
