Reviews

Genre defining electronic musicians Thievery Corporation kicked off their Outernational Tour last Friday at the ornate Wall Street Theater in Norwalk, CT to a packed house. Despite issues traveling to Connecticut, the band was thrilled to be performing together, as this marks the first tour since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. Dessa was on hand and lended support for the event.

Fab Four enthusiasts will be delighted this month to have been granted access to four previously unreleased mixes from the band’s 1969 and 1970 Get Back sessions which ultimately culminated in 1970’s Let It Be. The batch of songs, released collectively as a single titled Get Back (Take 8), includes alternate versions of “Get Back,” “One After 909,” “Across The Universe,” and George Harrison’s “I Me Mine.”

Samantha Fish and her band performed their debut show at the majestic Mishawaka Amphitheatre last night. This Colorado gig has been highly anticipated by music fans for many months. Fish is a messenger of poetic truths that land on your soul. Lyrically gifted with the art of expression and armed with a no-hold-back attitude she is poised to get your attention.

Saturday night, Phil Lesh and Friends closed out their three-night Colorado run with a final stop at the picturesque Planet Bluegrass in Lyons, Colorado. Following two magical nights in Dillon and Vail, the group concluded the transcendental trifecta to a sold-out crowd under a near full moon, clear skies, and perfect temperatures.

Trey Anastasio brought his side project, the Trey Anastasio Band, to the Westville Music Bowl for the first time, along with the largest crowd the venue has seen since opening in May 2021. This high energy, jam rock meets big band ensemble brought many familiar qualities to the show, as well as new directions, including band members and song selection.

Trombone Shorty closed out the annual BRIC Celebrate Brooklyn Festival with the high energy New Orleans flavor that he is known for. The weather cooperated and yielded a thoroughly enjoyable evening for all fans in attendance.

Grounded by the pandemic, it had been a long time since I took to the air when I departed out of Philly for Labor Day weekend. Destination? Atlanta. Reason? A homecoming/reunion concert featuring Atlanta sons, brothers Chris and Rich Robinson and their band, the Black Crowes. To be honest, I had some reservations about my plans – the Delta variant, the usual fatigue of the work week, and the nagging little existential questions I had started to ask during the long, dark COVID winter - Will live music ever come back? Will I be too old and jaded for rock-n-roll if it does?

Iconic singer-songwriter Jackson Browne played his first post-pandemic concerts in Santa Barbara as part of a mini warm-up tour before launching into a national co-headline tour with James Taylor. The long-time Santa Barbara County resident first played the Santa Barbara Bowl on Sunday, September 5th, and the venue's first live music event since before the pandemic.

Dead and Company returned to Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio last weekend for a Saturday night show that was one for the books. Great weather, perfect music, and a welcoming and happy crowd were just the right ingredients to make the perfect cocktail of a concert. To make things better, drummer Mickey Hart was celebrating his 78th birthday that day, and everybody loves a good birthday party.  

As part of their Good Day For A Good Day World Tour, Michael Franti & Spearhead made their way to the McMenamins Edgefield in Troutdale, Oregon summer concert series on September 11, and their ability to thrill and energize the fans was on point.

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