Reviews

For the 26th time in 28 years, Blues Traveler returned to Red Rocks Amphitheatre on Sunday for their annual Independence Day celebration. Although it was the Fourth of July, the band and crowd celebrated freedom on a number of levels outside of the national holiday, including freedom from COVID, from masks, from isolation.

The lights fell and alone on stage stood Big Red, Trey Anastasio, looking as Dad-like as ever. His big goofy smile sent waves of love, comfort, and release to the sold-out crowd in Manhattan, at the Beacon Theater. As Trey opened the show with a solo "Theme from the Bottom", the audience was sent into a feeling of happiness and familiarity, returning to concerts indoors, a pre-covid relish.

One of the tents disappeared but the heap of trash maintained by aggressive vagrants keeps growing. I avoid that area entirely. It used to be a normal route on my runs, but it’s too frightening now. Every day I watch as the situation becomes grimmer. Friday at 1:45 a.m. I was shaken awake, not by an earthquake which is typical for LA, but loud, obscene music and hollers. I peered out my blinds like Mrs. Kravitz from Bewitched. Discombobulated from the early hour and without my glasses all I could make out were some people gathered around a bike.

Wisconsin welcomed Goose back to the Cheese State for one more night of epic jams and good company on Saturday, July 3rd at The Pines Music Park in Eau Claire, WI. The band did not disappoint, as the pod shows turned mini festival included much more than just the music. The gaggle of fans participated in activities during the day, creating many new friends and memories.

Jamband darling Goose kicked off the July 4th weekend and the second leg of their summer tour like a firecracker at The Pines Music Park in Eau Claire, Wisconsin to a sold out crowd, many seeing the band for the first time. The weather cooperated, dairy products were plentiful, and the vibe was very chill compared to Goose’s home in the Northeast.

Tab Benoit packed the house last night and boy was he happy to be playing live music. The Fort Collins crowd welcomed him and his band with open arms and hearts. When Tab is not melting your face with his guitar and vocals you can usually find him behind the drum kit, yup he is multi-instrumental. He is not just a drummer he plays the drums with energy and power.

Marcus Rezak kicked off his Truth of Sound Tour with a bang at Cafe Wha?, nestled in New York City’s West Village last Sunday, with his band, Shred is Dead. The tour is promoting Rezak’s latest album, Truth of Sound, featuring several members of the Trey Anastasio Band, including the late Tony Markelis. The group collectively delivered inspiring progressive instrumentals and vocals of the Grateful Dead as well as new Truth in Sound tunes.

Todd Park Mohr was born in Colorado in 1965, attended Columbine High School, Colorado State University and University of Colorado Boulder. Mohr formed his namesake band Big Head Todd and The Monsters with friends from high school and toured Northern Colorado achieving mainstream success in the early to mid-nineties.

The Westville Music Bowl in New Haven, CT was once again the hot spot in the Northeast for outstanding jam bands, as Pigeons Playing Ping Pong delivered a fiery evening of their signature psychedelic funk. Connecticut’s finest were on hand to elevate the festivities, including supporting artist Eggy and guitar virtuoso Tim Palmeri.

Excitement lingered in the summer air as thousands of concert-goers lined up at Red Rocks Amphitheatre to see the legendary Austin-born and based Shakey Graves. The buzz and anticipation for a night filled with blues, folk, country, and rock and roll, was lighting up each attendee’s face. Being only his third show post-pandemic, many loyal fans and attendees were enthusiastic to welcome his music back to the stage.

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