David Grisman has been a household name in the acoustic and bluegrass world for many years. His innovations in these genres as well as creating his own genre in “Dawg” music, named by Jerry Garcia, has inspired new generations of bluegrass for decades. Dawg music can be best described as the combination of jazz, bluegrass, and acoustic folk music. These are American staples and combining genres is what American music is all about. After quitting piano at around age 10, Grisman picked up the mandolin and never looked back.

While the San Francisco Bay Area might have some mighty fine music venues in the present, there are fewer that remain from the city’s bright musical past.  One of the few that’s stood the test of time is The Warfield. Right off of Market Street, adjacent to downtown’s Tenderloin neighborhood, it’s hard to tell the insides majesty from the somewhat seedy exterior.

Denver was the site of the tour closer for Phish’s quirky bass player’s solo project. The ever evolving creative genius put together his phinest lineup to tour with and flex his creative juices that seem to ooze out of him constantly whether it is making music or film or photography. He is an innovator, and a child of sound. His current lineup features long-time collaborator and guitarist Scott Murawski, who once was part of the jam band Max Creek.

Since the early 2000’s Particle has been breaking down the barriers between the Jam and EDM genres to define new sounds. Out of this effort has come a new genre of music that we know as jamtronica or livetronica.

The Nashville-based Wood Brothers fashioned an alternatively raucous and introspective set last month (1/29) at the McDonald Theatre (Eugene, OR), displaying both their folksy, acoustic-blues roots and some expansive new growth. 

The spotlight shines bright on those for whom it shines, and for some artists, a single misstep or fall can all but extinguish their spirit.

Then there is the phoenix. Born in flames, it lives and dies in flames before a moment of stillness. Where only ash remains, smoke returns and the phoenix is returned, revitalized and ready for another lifetime of experiences.

Terrapin Flyer have long been respected for their Grateful Dead interpretations and their tendency to team up with impressive members of the extended Dead family. The Chicago cover group hit Portland’s Star Theatre February 11 as part of a Mardi Gras Tour, presented by the Grateful Web and day-glo’d by the Merry Pranksters, with old friends Melvin Seals (Jerry Garcia Band), and Mark Karan (The Other Ones, RatDog) helping to hold down two stellar sets of New Orleans-charged tunes.

Thirty minutes before show time on February 9, the musicians had all arrived at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California, but band leader Dan “Lebo” Lebowitz was not finished prepping. Backstage, Lebo, bass player Steve Adams, and a three-piece brass section worked on a special arrangement of “China Cat Sunflower” that sounded like a tie-dyed New Orleans Mardis Gras Brass Band.

Dr. Dog has emerged from The Psychedelic Swamp in the San Francisco Bay Area, and hit the road hard.

Appearing at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz, CA on Sunday January 31 for the third stop on a North American tour that runs through late March, Dr. Dog is giving their freshman recording effort new life.

The members of the Disco Biscuits, Tom Hamilton, and Mike Greenfield have in some way, shape, or form been dominating the music world for the past few years. Without even touring heavily or touring with several different bands, this group of musicians has been drawing a deserved amount of attention nationwide.