On Tour

“Woke up this morning, what do I see? Three thousand cameras pointed at me.” Taken out of context, the first lyrics Ben Folds sang at the Ogden Theater on Wednesday (from “Levi Johnston’s Blues,” Lonely Avenue 2010) made me feel a bit guilty for sitting at the foot of the stage shooting pictures.

84 year old Bluegrass legend Ralph Stanley braved the thin Colorado air on Sunday for a show at the Boulder Theater. One of the most iconic and influential artists in bluegrass, Dr.

I have not been to the Bluebird Theater in Denver in a while, and at the same time I have not seen the boys from Boulder since I reviewed their show from the

On Sunday afternoon The New Mastersounds were finishing up a remarkable set of true funk as Renard “Ras I Ray” Shy, Sr. (bassist/singer for Easy Star All-Stars) sat in the audience at Red Rocks Amphitheater enjoying the music and mingling with fans.

I have to admit, I am not an avid Phish follower. I don’t travel to see them, I haven’t bought an album since Farmhouse, and I hadn’t really enjoyed a live show since Greensboro ’03, but this show reminded me of all the things I had forgotten.  I love running into all kinds of people I haven’t seen in years in the parking lot. I love the range of music blasting from the cars parked early for tailgating, and the folks selling all kinds of stuff from food and beverages to art and jewelry.

As I pulled down the street to get to the parking garage, I was surprised to see Michael Franti on the street doing some stretches on the side of the tour bus.  I was glad to see he was wearing shoes, since these Baltimore city streets are no joke.  It’s the beginning of the club tour, as he takes a break from the summer festival circuit to promote his latest album, Sound of Sunshine.

The Band of Heathens is a touring machine. Friday night was their third trip to Colorado this year, the second in support of their 2011 LP Top Hat Crown & The Clapmaster’s Son (released March 29th).

Last week the Jacob Fred Jazz Odyssey played a total of four shows at Denver restaurant/lounge Dazzle. The quartet from Tulsa, OK did an early show and a late show on both Wednesday and Thursday, and I was in attendance at the early show on Thursday.

On June 10th, Truth and Salvage Co. played their “first headliner show at the Fox Theatre” in Boulder.  Truth and Salvage Co. co-mingles Bluegrass, Anti-Nashville Country, with 70’s era rock, exceeding expectations and leaving you wanting to hear more.

Bootsy Collins and the rest of the P-Funk crew have not lost a step in the all the years they have been funkin’ it up around the world.

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