Reviews

Lukas Nelson, whose career profile continues to broaden and flourish, most recently for his work in the remake of “A Star is Born,” doubled down on his commitment to the Music Heals International (MHI) organization. On November 19, he again headlined a dynamic, diverse, and musically proficient lineup of music in support of MHI’s Haitian music-in-schools program at the intimate Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, Calif.

Vintage Trouble came home to Hollywood to rock a sold-out crowd of adulate fans at the Troubadour nightclub. Lead singer Ty Taylor sang and danced like the ghost of James Brown, while guitarist Nalle Colt, bassist Rick Barrio Dill, and drummer Richard Danielson jammed blues rock like ZZ Top. Well, that might be a stretch, but not much of one and you get the idea. The band features a retro sound full of classic R&B, Soul and Blues rock riffs.

This long out of print live album, recorded in 1987 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles and The Warfield in San Francisco, has long been considered a rare and desirable jewel in the Garcia catalog because of both it's scarcity and the fact that it circled back to Jerry's acoustic pre-Grateful Dead roots. Roots which were forged in the crucible of the early 1960’s folk-revival.

When Dweezil Zappa’s Choice Cuts! World Tour commanded the stage of Chicago’s Vic Theatre Friday night, Scheila Gonzalez (horns, keys), Adam Minkoff (rhythm guitar, vocals), Cian Coey (vocalist), Ryan Brown (drums), Kurt Morgan (bass) and Chris Norton (keys) and Dweezil Zappa, the late Frank Zappa’s most dedicated interpreter entertained receptive fans for approximately three exuberant hours.

Dweezil, the guitar-slinging son of legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Frank Zappa, dubbed this tour "Choice Cuts" because he and his band would perform “a collection of the meatiest tracks” and some of the the “boldest compositions” from his father’s voluminous repertoire.

Progressive jamgrass outfit Yonder Mountain String Band have been making their way through the east coast this week, and last Sunday the quintet had a tremendous stop at Fairfield, CT’s The Warehouse. With good showing from all members and multiple highlights, The Warehouse definitely saw an all-around very strong show, in what seems to be a strong season for Yonder.

David Crosby may call the nearby mountain town of Santa Ynez home these days, but it is Santa Barbara where he began his musical career and spent much of his youth. “The first time I sang in this theater I was 17,” quipped the 77-year-old two times Rock and Roll Hall of Fame recipient and founding member of The Byrds and Crosby Stills and Nash. He was referring to the Lobero Theater in downtown Santa Barbara, the oldest continuously running performance hall in California.

A diverse group of musicians brought their skills to the Alcazar Theater in Carpinteria, CA, Saturday night November 4th. The intimate acoustic evening was organized by Ones To Watch Productions, the musical promoters who have brought a wealth of Americana music to local venues in Southern California. The historic 200 seat non-profit Alcazar Theater, which was recently remodeled boasts accidentally perfect acoustics, due to its architecture.

It seems like the Violent Femmes have been around forever.  That's because the Milwaukee, Wisconsin band have been playing with several different lineups since 1980, and their eponymous debut album, released in 1983, contains most of their best-known songs.  That album was one of the few albums ever to go gold and platinum without appearing in the Billboard top 200 album chart, although Violent Femmes did eventually appear in the top 200 after the album was certified platinum.

Cellarmaker Brewing Company out of San Francisco has built a stellar reputation for their consistent artisanal brews. As evidenced from their fifth-anniversary celebration hosted at Great American Music Hall last Saturday night, they sure know how to treat their community. Foremost the evening’s entertainment was a fine progressive bluegrass lineup of Billy Strings with Cold and in the Bay supporting.

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