*appreciates and hails*
As a Long Islander, you can't help but run into Billy here and there. I have seen him perform live...four or five times now, always a treat. But the coolest time I saw him was on the street.
I was working for my buddy one summer at his liquor store in the West Hampton Beach. Was out on a delivery for one of the house down on the water, and low and behold I run into him and his daughter (this was when she was young) walking down the street to the car. I say hello, wish him the best and tell him to have a great day. Just real relaxed. Nice guy having an ice cream cone with his kid.
ANyway, the last time I saw him live was a couple of years ago. First time outside of New York. So as I am singing the tunes, where he typically changes the lyrics to Long Island landmarks, he instead sang the regular version, so I felt like an ass. ha ha ha ha. But good fun.
The most intimate show I saw him at was at a high school auditorium for an environmental benefit in the Hamptons. It was him, his piano, an literally a high school auditorium filled with various folks. Very low key and cool. Christie Brinkley was there, as was Chevy Chase. I sat a row away from Chevy. Just beyond cool.
Billy has said he's done mostly writing lyrics, but I hope one day he does another traditional rock album. Been WAY too long.