Reviews

All musicians start somewhere. Simply put, tomorrow’s superstars are playing in coffee houses and dive bars today. So why not give them a helping hand on their way up? Enter Racheal Reinholtz and Seth Bernard. Racheal is the talent agent at Bell’s Brewery (positioned as the premier music destination in Southwest Michigan), and Seth is the founder of the Earthworks Harvest Festival at his family farm.

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue returned to The Capitol Theatre on March 8, 2025, as part of his Shorty Gras 2025 Tour. This show was the second night of a two-night stand. The band uniquely blended jazz, R&B, hip-hop, and rock, along with plenty of Big Easy swagger, to create a fun sound that resonated throughout the iconic venue.

In today’s emotionally overcharged world, where we don’t speak for fear of saying the wrong thing, hide who we are for fear of rejection, and worry about looking in the wrong direction, we need a larger-than-life preacher to help us through. Enter the giant with a never-ending smile, Reverend Peyton, and his Big Damn Band. Together, they proclaim the simple truths we all need to hear.

On March 11th, 2025, the halls of the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre resonated with the enchanting tones of Trey Anastasio's acoustic guitar, marking an evening that was nothing short of magical. This wasn't merely another tour stop—it was a masterclass in musicianship, intimacy, and the sheer joy of live performance.

The rowdy, piano-playing front man Andy Frasco, along with his skilled band known as the UN, graduated to Irving Plaza on February 28, 2025. After multiple stints at the smaller Brooklyn Bowl, Frasco and the UN sold out this well-known venue near Union Square in New York, New York, with a 1,200-person capacity. There was no shortage of guests on this stop of Frasco's Try Not To Die 2025 tour.

In the Bleak Midwinter, snow has fallen—snow on snow—and the sun hides behind the grey clouds for days at a time. The mind wanders to tropical coasts with warm sunshine and green vegetation, preferably with calm waves lapping on the shore. Bands have been putting on winter concerts in the sunnier climes for years, but what about the rest of us? We forlorn fans who do not possess the time or considerable funds to attend such a show—are we destined to trudge through the snow wanting for spring? And what of our favorite bands confined to cramped indoor venues till the sun returns to the sky?

Fresh off their recent album release, Circle of Giants, moe. returned to the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, NJ, on February 27, 2025. Prior to this show, they wrapped up a two-week West Coast and Colorado run on their appropriately titled Circle of Giants Tour. The show included a pair of rarely played tunes, a fun cover on this Thursday night gem, and a tasty “Rebubula” sandwich in set two.

That love is palpable. It starts on stage and radiates out to the audience. Founding members Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz (guitar and vocals), Zach Gill (keyboards, accordion, ukulele, and vocals), and Steve Adams (bass, vocals) began their lifelong friendship in elementary school. They formed their first band in junior high and then launched Animal Liberation Orchestra as college kids attending UC Santa Barbara. That lifelong bond, now decades in the forging, casts a wide shadow, enveloping a legion of diehard fans who call themselves Shapeshifters (named for one of the band’s early songs).

The F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, became a pulsating hub of "Trance-Fusion" on Thursday night, as The Disco Biscuits brought their Bubble Tour to town. The pioneers of genre-bending musical exploration launched into a sonic journey that drew devotees from far and wide, eager to witness their unique blend of electronic dance music and jam rock mastery.

Marco Benevento ended a short but sweet four-night tour in the Northeast on Saturday, February 22, 2025, at the Levon Helm Studios in Woodstock, NY. The Berklee alum has a great solo catalog that is ripe with audience participation. This time, it was just him and a baby grand, and he did not disappoint. His performance also included plenty of fun banter, along with noteworthy sit-ins by local musicians and a frequent cohort.

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