The demographics of a show that contains any member of The Grateful Dead is not as easily predicted as you may think. Wednesday night’s show at Innsbrook Pavilion, near Richmond was peppered with the usual suspects, to be sure. But amidst all those vintage tye-dies, and tour shirts one also found mom’s grooving away with… Continue reading Wine & Recreational Chemicals: moe. & RatDog in Richmond
Nineteen year old Adam Oberlin has been looking forward to this show for weeks. The recent Hampton, Virginia high school graduate got tickets from his parents, who are also Primus fans, from “way back,” according to Adam’s mom, Stacey. “It’s awesome that Adam digs this, too,” offered the father, as they all sprinted past me… Continue reading Oh death & Les Claypool | 7/9/09 | Review
On Friday, July 3rd, The Dead Guise, one of the Bay Area’s best Grateful Dead cover bands played a wonderful two-set concert at The Starry Plough that drew quite the crowd. The Plough was packed as it always is whenever The Dead Guise play and lots of the same friendly faces I have been seeing… Continue reading Dead Guise Headline 2 Spectacular Sets
With a voice as chilling as Janis Joplin’s and as sweetly strong as Eva Cassidy’s, Grace Potter proves that behind her girl-next-door bangs and thrift store-chic style, she has the chops to make rock ‘n’ roll history. A piano playing Amazon who captures all the retro appeal of a real woman singing about real-live truths,… Continue reading Grace Potter | Fox Theater | 7/1/09
Although I am no stranger to Grand Rapids, I had never attended a show at the Intersection until the Rothbury Pre-Party. There is no more appropriately named venue to host such a dynamic collaboration of talent. EOTO, Ultraviolet Hippopotamus and Herm Productions is quite the trio to kick off the Rothbury Music Festival. As I… Continue reading Rothbury Pre-Party: EOTO and Ultraviolet Hippopotamus
This Wednesday, July 1st, will mark an important one year point for Fort Collins band Tickle Me Pink. Just short of twelve months ago on this date in 2008, Tickle Me Pink were to celebrate the release of their first album on Indie label Wind-Up Records, but instead found themselves alongside many fans mourning the… Continue reading Tickle Me Pink Infuses Audience with Fixed Liveliness
The day Michael Jackson died was a particularly beautiful one, here in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Blue skies, just enough clouds, and uncharacteristically low humidity greeted the audience along with the stunning natural scenery of the Ginter Botanical Gardens, in Richmond, Virginia. Arriving early to set up audio taping gear, we noted that the pre-show… Continue reading Michael Jackson & Mr. Miyagi: Umphrey's McGee at Ginter Botanical Gardens
On Sunday, the Boulder Theater simmered with genuine blues bravado, the kind that clings to the air with an intoxicating presence. The source of this beautifully hazy down-home sound came in the form of guitarist and vocalist Robert Cray. This velvet-voiced musician has earned the approval and praise of Eric Clapton, Diana Ross and Tina… Continue reading Robert Cray at the Boulder Theater
Going back to my high school days growing up in Iowa, I specifically remember the first time I heard Phish. I was with a group of friends (guys I am still in touch with today) riding around on a hot summer day on our way to what had become almost a daily sand volleyball session. A buddy popped in… Continue reading Phish Close Tour at Alpine Valley
Truly integrating two disparate musical genres into a third doesn’t occur all that often. And when it does, it’s often lopsided in favor of one genre – over another. It’s unbalanced, and noticeably so. But when an organic musical marriage does happen, it can be like dynamite. Happily, such is the case for Asheville, North… Continue reading Toubab Krewe | Brown’s Island | 6/26/2009
