As the sun crested the sky on one of the more perfect afternoons you could ask for in the middle of New York City at the end of August, Phil LeshLesh and his Terrapin Family Band huddled at the side of the stage as the audience hooted and hollered, unable to contain their excitement for… Continue reading Phil Lesh & the Terrapin Family Band | NYC
“Ronnie Scott’s…” mused the boundary-shattering guitarist John McLaughlin, “…where would I be without them?” The venerable London jazz club and its charismatic namesake gave so much to McLaughlin’s career, the roots of which extend as far back as McLaughlin’s stint as a member of the club’s house band in the 1960s. Since then, his pioneering… Continue reading John McLaughlin's "Live @ Ronnie Scott's"
As a music journalist for a decade and a half, I see a lot of live music. But every once in a while, I catch a concert that gives me a special feeling of knowing that I have seen music history and something sonically special. This was one of those moments. A few years ago… Continue reading Father John Mistyfies Red Rocks
Dressed in black, like his collaborator Carlene Carter’s famous dad, Johnny Cash, John Mellencamp wasted no time getting in tune for his second Ravinia performance, surrounded by a smoke machine and a background of scrawled graffiti. The legendary Ravinia may be one of Chicagoland’s most expansive venues, but the 2008 Rock and Roll Hall of Famer quickly… Continue reading John Mellencamp | Ravinia Fest. | Review
“Music is like color,” Lukas Nelson has said. “When I listen to the musicians who affected me when I was growing up, I take from the primary colors to find my foundation. Then I apply secondary colors and the music becomes more and more complex.” Released this week by Fantasy Records, the new self-titled album… Continue reading Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real | LP
In the last decade, one the North Bay Area and wine country’s premier venues has become Weill Hall at Sonoma State University. Housed in the Green Music Center, this indoor/outdoor hybrid venue space is one of a kind. The theater has stunning wooden seats and a double-tiered balcony, while the outdoor lawn seating is ideal… Continue reading Chick Corea + Bela Fleck & the Flecktones
This past Saturday at the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater, Nederland’s own Yonder Mountain String Band and longtime jam legends Gov’t Mule co-headlined an action-packed show filled with sit-ins, surprises and an incredible all-star tribute to the late great Gregg Allman. It was the first time in over ten years that Yonder and Gov’t Mule have… Continue reading Mule, Yonder and Marcus King @ Red Rocks
Classic rock music fans descended on the Greek Theatre located in the hills above Hollywood, Thursday, August 10th, for a show by veteran rockers Steve Miller and Peter Frampton. Frampton began the show early at 6:30 PM, while most of the crowd was still struggling to reach the venue in yet another epic summer traffic… Continue reading Steve Miller & Peter Frampton | 8/10/17
Heavy Metal madness descended on Paso Robles Tuesday night, August 8th, with a triple header of hard core music at the Vina Robles Amphitheater. As thousands of black shirted metal fans flocked to the magnificent outdoor venue, the music began early with a sunset appearance by the Polish hardcore metal band Behemoth. The Polish band… Continue reading Metal Rules Vina Robles Amphitheater
There’s always been something mythical about Fleet Foxes‘ music; those intricate harmonies and swelling arrangements intertwined with frontman Robin Pecknold‘s often-lofty poetry convey intimacy while conjuring up Homeric images of cloudy mountain forests, stormy seas, and some connection to the spirit of the earth long-since forgotten. As such, there’s a risk when bringing their music… Continue reading Fleet Foxes | Thompson's Point | Review
