Richard Lloyd at the Bowery Electric

Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Richard Lloyd moved with his family to New York City when he was six. Lloyd turned onto music as a young teenager when he saw the Beatles perform on The Ed Sullivan Show and experienced the phenomenon of Beatlemania. In his early teens he studied drums and a few years later he turned to the guitar. In 1969, Lloyd briefly moved with his parents to Montclair, New Jersey, but then in search of a music career relocated for two years to Boston, Massachusetts, followed by two years in Los Angeles, California. In 1973 he heard about the New York Dolls and the beginning of a new New York scene, so he moved back east. There he met guitarist Tom Miller, who became Tom Verlaine, and bassist Richard Meyers, who became Richard Hell, and with the addition of drummer Billy Ficca the quartet became Television in 1973. The group became popular at CBGBs and recorded two studio albums, but split in 1978. Lloyd subsequently recorded solo and with Matthew Sweet, John Doe of X, Rocket from the Tombs and others. Lloyd's sixth and most recent studio album is 2016's Rosedale. He now lives in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Lloyd  returned to the Bowery Electric tonight with a band that consisted of guitarist David Lennard, bassist Tom Currier and drummer Kevin Tooley. Lloyd performed four of Television's best-known songs, but the twist this time was that instead of engaging in guitar duals he played all the lead parts himself. Hence, the oblong and obtuse extensions that trademarked Television were all but gone. Instead, Lloyd played the no-compromise guitar solos like a rock star. The set also included songs from several of his early solo albums, much of which were of the same flavor as his previous work. In the end, Lloyd will not be remembered for his faltering vocals, but his fluid guitar playing lifted the songs to outstanding merit.

Richard Lloyd will perform at the free, outdoor Arts and Music Festival in Hoboken, New Jersey, on May 6.

Visit Richard Lloyd at www.richardlloyd.com.

Setlist:

1. The Word/I'm Waiting for the Man (The Velvet Underground cover)/The Word
2. Watch Yourself
3. Monkey
4. Glurp
5. Pleading
6. Elevation (Television song)
7. Marquee Moon (Television song)
8. Fire Engine (13th Floor Elevators cover)
9. Swipe It
10. Alchemy
11. Friction (Television song)
12. Amnesia
13. See No Evil (Television song)
14. Field of Fire