On a last minute whim, my friend and I decided it had been far too long since we had seen our homegrown boys, Widespread Panic. With a passion for the exhilaration of live shows and the surprises a band like Panic brings, once the thought entered our minds, we knew we couldn't fight it. So, we gathered a few others and set out towards Pelham, Ala.We drove quickly, but it was inevitable that we would not make it on time.

South Bend, Indiana progressive rock band Umphrey's McGee has made quite a name for themselves in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul area over the years. In the beginning the band played at venues like the Minnesota Zoo Amphitheatre and The Cabooze, building a reliable fan base that grew every time they returned to the Twins Cities. As they gained popularity, Umphrey’s McGee began to headline shows at the legendary First Avenue Nightclub, playing as many as three nights in a row to sold out crowds.

Once again members of the Disco Biscuits come to Colorado in one shape or another to play for a very dedicated fan base. On two mid-week days in the middle of July, Disco Biscuit fans and fans of electronic music in general packed the Fox Theater for two pretty different shows.

WHAT ! ? !

Power-pop pioneers Cheap Trick kicked off the 2013 Seaside Summer Concert Series, which celebrates its 35th—and possibly last—anniversary this year. While the show didn't feel very summery due to the rain, it was a rousing start to another season packed with music legends such as Smokey Robinson, The Go-Go's, and Huey Lewis and the News.

There are certain bands that you hear recordings of, and they're decent, good even, but when you see them live, it changes your perception all together; that is The Silent Comedy.  

The beginning of summer is my favorite time of year. It does not hurt that I am a teacher and look forward to some personal time, but it is a time to rejoice for everyone especially in the music world. Festivals start to catch wind, and the discovery into new and old music becomes an inspiration that one will always look back on. In the musical utopian land that Boulder is, there is a new venue for the eTown show that is reminiscent of church, since that is where it is located inside of. On its website it states,“For the first time in 21 years, eTown finally has a home of its own.

We have all been to shows in which our objectivity towards the music is undermined by a more powerful force. Something happens apart from the stage that distorts, and often intensifies, the true sonic nature of each set. These are the shows that lay futility at the feet of those who try to listen to a recording later on to recapture the magic. This happened to me for the first time in October ‘99 when I saw Phish at Illinois State. I was smitten with a girl who would, very soon after, become my first love.

Flashback to 1972. It’s been a tremendously busy year for the American Rock band the Grateful Dead. Solidifying their identity as “American” the boys (and Donna) traveled to Europe for a 22 show multiple country engagement including East and West Germany, Amsterdam, Lille Fairgrounds, Rotterdam, and beyond. This tour was groundbreaking in Dead evolution, displaying focused and extended jams on newer material such as Playing in the Band, while refining jazzier touches on standby opuses such as Dark Star and The Other One.

So, Widespread Panic played a show at Red Rocks on Saturday night. Honestly, for those of you who have seen them in that setting before, that’s about as good of a review as you need. All it would take is one glance at the set list, particularly from the second set on, to know that it was a spectacular evening.