The music of Frank Zappa could be considered the most important compositional contributions to American popular music in the 20^th century. Many might find this claim blasphemous. What about Miles Davis? John Coltrane? Bing Crosby? The list could go on. Zappa's music blended important elements of orchestral and jazz music while serving as a working parody of music and popular culture.

The name Perpetual Groove indicates a stylistic form for the veteran jam band. You hear the name and imagine long songs segueing through jams from one to the other. In a sense, Perpetual Groove could define many jam bands, but with PGroove, you get the name, and an assortment of various musical tastes and styles that careen from the stage like a robotic factory on overdrive.

Seventeen years ago in September, the iconic American rock band the Grateful Dead announced a well-thought but difficult decision. Without their fallen band mate Jerry Garcia, who had passed that August, they would not be able to continue touring as the band Grateful Dead. It was a tough choice to make as certain band members were divided about what should become of their future tours or even the possibility of continuing without Jerry.

I spent the better part of the year after college graduation driving around my hometown, fretting, blasting Pedro the Lion’s “Options.” The powerful, simple chords resonated within my bones and the lyrics spoke to me on an entirely different level. Control, the album that hosts “Options,” turned 10 years old recently, so David Bazan and his band hit the road to give the album the recognition it deserves.

The whole Indie phenomenon is what really keeps me generally detached from mainstream popular music. Something never cliqued with me about bands like Radiohead or Arcade Fire. And not that those particular acts would self-apply their music as “indie”, as it usually seems that its listeners that apply the label. Maybe it's the very concept of straying from what was previously donned as hip becoming the new hip.

The Colorado Jazz scene has always been active, but never really definitive. Denver and Boulder have few actual jazz venues (thank god for Dazzle Jazz) and most of the renowned artists that tour through choose mid-sized theatres, performing arts centers, or even laid back dives as their outlet. Since our music culture is so welcoming and lets face it, who wouldn’t want to tour through our beautiful state, we get some of the hottest names in Jazz touring through and giving their all to Rocky Mountain audiences.

In a town that prides itself on a diverse music and arts scene it comes to no surprise to see a band like Good Gravy rise from the mix. With bluegrass roots combined with eclectic jams, this 5 piece groups creates a warm, welcoming sound that invites the crowd to get down on the dance floor. Although the roots of this group are imbedded in bluegrass, Good Gravy dissolves boundaries playing a mix of jam rock, jazz, funk and psychedelic grooves.

The Lee Boys are the finest “sacred steel” ensembles I’ve ever had the pleasure to see. Within just a few notes, I and everyone I was with for the evening knew The Lee Boys had something special happening.  The band members include three brothers, Alvin Lee , Derrick Lee and Keith Lee.  They are joined by their nephews Roosevelt ‘The Doctor” Collier, Alvin Cordy Jr., and Earl Walker.

Nine years ago, I lived every pop-punker’s dream. I was on my way into my first New Found Glory concert and one of their crew members stopped my cousin, asking her if we wanted to go onstage with the band. We did, of course, and watched NFG perform from bleachers on the stage, in front of the thousands of people at Giant Center.

On Saturday November 24th in Williamsburg, New York a good time was to be had by all. Virtually free to the public, Tauk, a NY-based jam band put together a relief benefit for the communities affected by Super Storm Sandy which took place at the, true to its location, hipster haven bar,  Spike Hill. To enter donations were gladly accepted but not required, all of which went to those dealing with the aftermath of the hurricane.