Mon, 10/15/2018 - 8:22 pm

The Alt rock /cult favorite rock band Ween brought their “Florida Georgia Line” tour to the Fillmore in Miami Beach on Saturday night, much to the delight of their devoted hard-core fans.

The Fillmore - Miami Beach, FL

This was a rare south Florida appearance for the New Hope, PA quintet. The band, known as much for the multitude of genres that influenced their vast catalogue of songs, as they are for their collective sense of humor, tore thru an extensive 35 song set that spanned their 3-decade long year career.

Ween plays their first show in South Florida in more than 10 years

Dean and company’s 2 ½ set included the perennial favorites “The HIV Song”, “Bananas and Blow” and “Piss up a Rope” to the rarely played “Pink Eye”.  “Dean” lead the group thru a first time cover of the Temptations’ ‘‘Pappa was a Rolling Stone “while Instant Deaths’ “The Enabler” rounded out the covers-excluding “Gene’s” verse of the Jefferson Airplanes “White Rabbit” in El Camino.

Gene Ween | Miami Beach, FL

Ween, comprised of Aaron “Gene Ween” Freeman and Mickey “Dean Ween” Melchiondo guitar and vocals with “Dean” handling the lions share.  Dave Dreiwitz on bass, Claude Coleman Jr on drums and Glenn McCelland on keyboards.

Claude Coleman Jr | Ween

The band will be re-uniting for two shows with the Shit Creek Boys at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville on 10/16 and 10/17 to play songs off their 1995 cult classic album “12 Golden Country Greats.”

SETLIST:

1.   Did You See Me?

2.   The HIV Song

3.   Exactly Where I'm At

4.   Bananas and Blow

5.   The Stallion Pt 1

6.   I Gots a Weasel

7.   Gabrielle

8.   Seconds

9.   Ice Castles

10.        The Final Alarm

11.        Sorry Charlie

12.        Chocolate Town

13.        Pork Roll Egg and Cheese

14.        Tender Situation

15.        Pink Eye (On My Leg)

16.        The Mollusk

17.        Wayne's Pet Youngin

18.        Fat Lenny

19.        Mister Richard Smoker

20.        Transdermal Celebration

21.        Tick

22.        Buckingham Green

23.        Piss Up a Rope

24.        Mister Would You Please Help My Pony?

25.        Zoloft

26.        Poopship Destroyer

27.        The Enabler (Instant Death)

28.        Stroker Ace

29.        Boys Club

30.        Touch My Tooter

ENCORE

31.        Papa Was a Rolling Stone

32.        Fiesta

33.        El Camino

34.        Up on the Hill

35.        Someday

Sun, 10/21/2018 - 1:45 pm

George Thorogood brought his (Delaware) Destroyers and their “Rock Party” to Florida’s Seminole Coconut Creek Casino last Friday night.

Coconut Creek, FL

The 68-year old rocker led the Destroyers thru an energetic, hits-laden set that spanned their 40 years plus career and proved why they are still one of Rocks premier party bands. Their “hopped” up versions of “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” and “I Drink Alone” are not only crowd favorites, but also showcased the bluesy, sax and slide guitar work that has defined the sound of the band.

George Thorogood | Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

Thorogood and the Destroyers cranked up their high-octane brand of classic county, rock, and blues (“Move it on Over, Who Do You Love” and “One Bourbon, One Scotch respectively) and turned it into their own fiery brand of bluesy, house-rockin' & roll. Their classic signature covers not only demonstrate their range of influences (from Hank Williams to John Lee Hooker) but combined with Thorogood’s own timeless compositions “Bad to the Bone” and “I Drink Alone,” are the backbone of their storied career.  Their legendary career was something Thorogood mentioned from the stage “it took me 40 years to get here …I am going to enjoy it!” As well he should as he clearly earned it.  Thorogood interacted with the crowd and worked the sparsely set stage like the consummate professional that he is.

Buddy Leach | The Destroyers

The Destroyers are Jeff Simon on Drums, Billy Blough on bass, Jim Suhler on rhythm guitar and Buddy Leach on sax, and their live shows are legendary.  Thorogood and the Destroyer hit the national stage opening for the Rolling Stones on their 1981 US Tour and also included performances at 1985’s Live Aid concert in Philadelphia as well as repeated performances on Saturday Night Live.

George Thorogood | Coconut Creek, FL

Thorogood mentioned in the show tonight how important mentors are in life and how the Stones were such a huge influence on him.  The band then launched into their song “Get A Haircut” which was a musical nod to the Stones “Honky Tonk Women.”  My only suggestion to an otherwise rippin’ “Rock Party” would be for Thorogood to tell a personal story about his unique experience with the Stones and then launch into a Stones song.  One of their greatest strengths of this band is their ability to cover works by other artists, yet make it their own.  The crowd was clearly ready for Honky Tonk Women and would have gone blissfully down that path had they been led that way and would have gone over like gangbusters with the rock-centric crowd. Otherwise, there are few better ways to spend an evening than with George Thorogood and the Destroys and their “Rock Party.” Here’s hoping they come bbbbback soon!

Tue, 01/15/2019 - 5:03 pm

Toots and The Maytals brought their upbeat brand of Reggae to the Abacoa Amphitheater in Jupiter, Florida on Sunday night. The warm South Florida evening got a little hotter with one of reggae’s most energetic bands taking the stage.

Led by Toots Hiibbert, the 76-year-old Grammy Award winning singer delighted the crowd with his deep soulful voice and exuberant string of hits to both dance and sing along to.

Toots Hibbert

Toots, as he is known, is Reggae Royalty and is the man who actually gave Reggae its namesake with his 1968 hit single “Do the Reggay." He led the band thru his catalogue of hits that spanned his half century career. Hits that earned him a record 31 #! hits on the Jamaican charts. Songs such as Pressure Drop, Country Roads, 54-46 (That’s my number), Monkey Man, Sweet and Dandy, Pressure Drop.

Toots and the Maytals | Jupiter, FL

It was truly great to see and hear Toots back on stage again.  In 2013, at the River Rock Festival in Richmond, Virginia, Toots was hit in the head by an empty 1.75-liter bottle of Vodka that was thrown by a 19- year-old audience member. Toots abruptly left the stage and was taken from venue in an ambulance after suffering a gash on his head and sustaining a concussion. This not only lead to $20 Million-dollar law suit filed against the promoters for negligence, but sidelined the singer for 3 years as he battled depression and post-traumatic stress. The lawsuit was eventually settled with Mr. Hibbert even writing to the judge to ask for leniency prior to young man’s sentencing. Toots took the road again is back doing what he does best. Entertaining crowds with his joyous, soulful blend of country, ska, rock and reggae. All with the biggest smile this side of Kingston.

Toots and the Maytals

Joe Mersa Marley, who opened for Toots and is the eldest son of Stephen Marley (son of Bob Marley) was also joined on stage by brother Yohan Marley.

Tue, 02/05/2019 - 6:44 pm

Lucinda Williams played the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale, Florida on Saturday night with the Drive-By Truckers. It was actually a triple bill with Erika Wennerstrom of the Austin based Heartless Bastards opening the show with a solo acoustic set. Lucinda Williams, backed by her multi-talented touring band Buick 6, followed with Drive-By Truckers closing out the evening.

Patterson Hood | Drive-By Truckers

It was a night of Folk, Southern, Alt-Country, and Rock fueled music that showcased these American songwriters and their southern roots.

Lucinda Williams | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Lucinda Williams 13-song set spanned the 66- year-old Louisiana native's Grammy award-winning career.  In 2018 she commemorated the 20th anniversary of her critically and commercially acclaimed release "Car Wheels on a Gravel Road" with a short tour.  To the joy of her devoted fan base, tonight's performance included selected cuts from that milestone release including "I Lost It" and "Drunken Angel."  The former, as she explained from the stage, was written in response to those 1970's era bumper stickers proclaiming "I Found It"! Other highlights include "Change the Locks" which in a poignant moment, was played in homage to Tom Petty, who covered the song.

Mike Cooley | Drive-By Truckers

Drive-By Truckers, lead by Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley AKA the "Dimmer Twins," closed out the evening with their Stones and Whiskey inspired set. As the clock approached 11:30 pm the band was ready to call it a night. Typically shows at this type of venue would end at this time. To the credit of their sound man, who came on stage and just as the band looked like they were gathering for a final bow clearly informed them "you can keep on playing!" To the band's credit, they continued until just before midnight delighting their passionate fans who reveled in the seeming off the cuff Rock-N- Roll that can seem so rare these days.

Lucinda Williams | Parker Playhouse

Check out more photos from the show.

Sun, 03/17/2019 - 12:48 pm

Texas Blues Guitar slinger Gary Clark Jr. returned to the Fillmore Miami Beach on Saturday March 9th, off the heels of a Saturday Night Live performance in the middle of February.  Clark and his 4- piece backing band, are out on the road promoting his latest release and third studio album “This Land” (Warner Brothers Records).

Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason

Clark, 35, tackles racism and the current administration with the title track “This Land”.  He recently purchased a ranch outside of Austin and a neighbor, to put it mildly, found it hard to believe a man of color could own such a place. It’s a far cry from Neil Young’s “Old Man”, an ode to the elderly caretaker of the California ranch he purchased as a young man.  Clark pulls no punches with lyrics “50 acres and a model A, right in the middle of Trump Country"

Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
Nigga run, nigga run
Go back where you come from
We don't want, we don’t want your kind
We think you’s a dog born
Fuck you, I'm America’s son
This is where I come from

Fitting so, “This Land” is melting pot of genres as demonstrated on the title track with its bottleneck slide opening that segues into a cauldron of techno, hip hop, reggae, funk and rock. 

Gary Clark Jr. | Miami Beach, FL

While this is not a traditional blues album by any means, there is blues guitar infused throughout. Fans of the genre will be delighted to hear “Dirty Dishes Blues” and it’s Robert Johnson finger-style guitar work that is slightly distorted to perfection. “What About Us” features a Rolling Stones sounding rhythm section with some tasty Mick Taylor-ish lead guitar work on top. “Gotta Get Into Something” is Ramones inspired romp while “Feeling Like A Million” features a fast paced reggae beat. Clark’s falsetto work is prevalent throughout the album and maybe none more so that on the power chord ballad “Pearl Cadillac”.

Gary Clark Jr. | Fillmore Miami Beach

As part of the soundtrack to the movie “Justice League”, Clark covered the Beatles “Come Together” and it became a hit as well as his perfect choice to end his shows with in that it seems to give us all a sense of hope, but only after a truthful recognition of society ills, both past and present.

Gary Clark Jr. | Miami Beach

Catch Gary Clark Jr. live if you can. You won’t regret it!

Sat, 03/30/2019 - 6:46 pm

The Third Annual "Suwannee Spring Reunion” bluegrass music festival kicked off on Thursday, March, 21st in Live Oak, Florida. Located on the grounds of "The Spirit Of The Suwannee Music Park" located in Northern Florida, between Tallahassee and Jacksonville, just south of the Georgia border.  The four-day festival featured a stellar line up of artists including Marty Stuart & His Fabulous Superlatives, Donna The Buffalo, Steep Canyon Rangers, Jim Lauderdale, Pigeon Kings, and Billy Strings among others.

Live Oak, Florida

What better way to usher in Spring than to re-connect with nature by taking a canoe ride on the Suwannee River then kicking back in a hammock in the natural confines of the woods lined amphitheater while listening to some down-home bluegrass music?

Joe Craven | Live Oak, FL

While there are no shortages of music festivals these days, one of the things that makes Suwannee so appealing is so many options. There are plenty of choices regarding lodging and entertainment of all kinds for all ages. From renting cabins to pitching a tent in one of the lakeside plots that cater to some late-night jams.  Maybe you would prefer camping out in a field under one of the old picturesque oak trees?  The away from the action location provides a bit of tranquility and a spectacular view of the celestial stars.  There are plenty of RV hookups, a country store, a brick and mortar restaurant/ bar, frisbee golf course, canoe and golf cart rentals, a beach to swim at.  There are also open jams and hands-on workshops for guitar, fiddle, banjo, mandolin as well as songwriting lessons by the likes of Roy Book Binder, Mickey Abraham, and Joe Craven. For music lovers, the festival is a jamboree as featured performers are apt to show up on one of the various four stages to jam with other artists. Performers are also turn up in the campgrounds at night for some late-night picking.

Holly Riley | The Adventures of Annabelle Lyn

The success of this camping and family-friendly musical event is a testament to organizer Beth Judy and her staff who go above and beyond to ensure their guests both feel like family and at home.  That is a big part in why you meet so many people who return year after year.  Artists and audience alike. Upon arrival, I mentioned to one of the staff members that I was a first-time attendee.  I was then asked if I would like a personal escort via golf cart thru the park to help pick a campsite. I don’t recall that last time I experienced such customer service.

Marty Stuart | Live Oak, FL

Marty Stuart was one of the highlights of the festival. He felt right at home as mentioned coming to the area in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s.  As Mr. Stuart strummed a solo version of “Orange Blossom Special” on his legendary mandolin (more on that later!), he regaled the audience with a story of one his longest bus rides ever. Driving from Nova Scotia after a gig to Miami while he was on tour with the legendary Lester Flatt, whose band he joined at the tender age of 13.  Upon reaching the gig in Miami, they came upon Ervin T. Rouse.  I was not familiar with the name, so I was pleased that Mr. Stuart went on to explain that Mr. Rouse was the composer of the "Orange Blossom Special." Steward mentioned how the song had been played 10 million times and that tonight would be 10 million and one times.  I can honestly say, I have heard “The Special” performed live countless times, but none stand out like the one Marty Stewart played on Saturday night. It was as if you were watching the torch of country music being passed right in from of your eyes. If there is such a thing as Country Music Royalty, then Marty Stewart can claim the crown.  For proof, you must look no further than the mandolin he plays with the Johnny Cash's initials visibly carved in. Below that, you can see “Jerry Lee Lewis.”

Billy Strings & his band | Live Oak, FL

Another highlight was the performance of Billy Strings. While I was not familiar with his work before the festival, he is someone I had read up on him prior to attending and was looking forward to hearing his performance on Saturday. He did not disappoint. He put on a guitar clinic that exceeded my expectations by a country mile. The 26-year old guitar virtuoso and resident of Nashville by way of Michigan, is immensely talented, beyond his years. He is an incredibly skilled guitarist who sees to have mastered the fretboard, or at least he plays as he has mastered it. Strings’ took his early love of metal and not only incorporated it into his bluegrass guitar playing but made it a part of his stage presence as well. Their set was very much enjoyed and appreciated by the loving music crowd. Billy and the band (with guest fiddler John Mailander) were just terrific as they were energetic at times and then were poignant when they needed to be (i.e., Grateful Dead’s China Doll). The crowd fed off the bands energy which in turn seemed to fuel the band.  There is undoubtedly a large amount of traditional bluegrass in both Mr. Strings guitar playing and vocals, but he was also not afraid to experiment and stray from the traditional path. The result is that it can at times sound like a mix of fusion and bluegrass. At times it was straight up old item bluegrass that was a good as anything I have heard. In short, Billy Strings seems to be in immense talent that I look forward to hearing for years to come.

The Steep Canyon Rangers | Live Oak, FL

Suwannee veterans and Grammy Award-winning Steep Canyon Rangers (sans Steve Martin) played sets on Friday and Saturday nights. Guest guitarist Brett Bass sat in with the band on “The Speed We’re Traveling” Saturday night. The North Carolina based sextet led by Graham Sharp and Woody Platt is a perennial festival and Suwannee favorite. Sharp and Platt handle the lion’s share of vocals. Fiddle player Nick Sanders joined the band in 2004 and is a welcomed addition to the band’s roots-based bluegrass sound. The groups 2013 release “Nobody Knows You” won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album.  They are the real deal with or without that Wild and Crazy Guy.

Jim Lauderdale with Donna the Buffalo

Donna the Buffalo is another Suwannee Favorite. They took the 11 PM slot on Saturday night and delighted their legion of fans. The band had the amphitheater rocking late into the night. They were led by Tara Nevins on everything from accordion and washboard to the fiddle and guitar, and by Jeb Puryear on guitar and vocals. The band seemed to be everywhere at times as I spotted them jamming with Jim Lauderdale on the “Porch Stage” earlier in the evening on Saturday. There was a marriage proposal in the audience on Friday for a couple that had met at a DTB show last year at Suwannee. You never know what you might happen at Suwannee, but it is truly a family affair.

Town Mountain with John Mainlander | Live Oak, FL

One pleasure of attending music festivals is that you often come away with a new favorite band. This happened to me again, this time with the band "Town Mountain” who hails from Asheville, NC. They played the amphitheater on Friday, but I stumbled across them as they played on the “Porch Stage” Saturday.  Whether they were playing one of their "homemade" songs or covering Bruce Springsteen’s I’m on Fire,” their honky-tonk style of bluegrass immediately appealed to my senses. John Mailander (Bruce Hornsby & the Range) on fiddle joined the band on stage.  I will not only keep them on my radar, but I will look forward to seeing and hearing them again in the near future. They seem destined for bigger things.

The Mammals | Suwannee Spring Reunion

The Suwannee Spring Reunion is a terrific event for folks of any age. I saw groups kids having the type of outdoor fun I didn’t think still existed. That is, they were not glued to some sort of screen. There are adult-oriented activities as well, but everyone clearly enjoyed this truly one of kind venue that fuses Bluegrass music with mother nature. I am only hesitant to tell everyone about this festival for selfish reasons; you want to keep it for getting overexposed.  I certainly have told my music loving friends that it is a must attend event and do not make the same mistake I made, which was waiting too long to see and hear it for myself!

Jim Lauderdale | Live Oak, FL

What would the Suwannee Festival be without Jim Lauderdale?! If you are not familiar with him, he is easy to spot in his custom shirts. The 61-year-old singer/ songwriter and longtime Nashville resident is a bluegrass treasure. He is the heart and soul of this festival and his 40-year career and heartfelt songs of bluegrass and country western make the not so elder statesmen.  Perhaps Marty Stuart summed it all up best from the stage as he told the crowd on Saturday evening, "I love this place ...any place that will let Jim Lauderdale walk around unsupervised is my kind of place!”

The Steep Canyon Rangers bid adieu to Suwannee

I could not agree more.

Mon, 04/01/2019 - 4:38 pm

Bob Weir and The Wolf Brothers, along with their pack of fans, rolled into the Fillmore Miami Beach in Miami Beach last Tuesday night at the tail end of their 20 dates Spring Tour.

The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater

Wolf Brothers, consisting of Weir on guitar and vocals, Don Was on standup bass and Jay Lane on Drums,  played a 1st set consisting of a mix of classic Grateful Dead songs including "Friend of the Devil” and “Althea" along with covers of Bob Dylan’s "When I Paint My Masterpiece" and Daniel Lanois' “The Maker” as well as a pair of Weir's solo and sideband (RatDog) in “Gonesville” and "Bombs Away” respectively.  The first set ended with Barlow/Weir’s "Lost Sailor” segueing into “Saint of Circumstance.”

Weir and Wolf Bros with special guest, Page McConnell

The trio was then joined on stage at the Jackie Gleason Theater by Phish keyboardist Page McConnell on grand piano for the first two songs of the second set. McConnell’s playing energized the band (and the crowd) as he added some jazzy fills and rollicking piano to both "Hell In A Bucket” as well as “Scarlet Begonias,” where he also added some fine vocals.  His piano playing style seemed like a natural fit for the band as he was neither overbearing nor underwhelming.  McConnell blended perfectly with the band. It was as if he had been a permanent member all along.  The Wolf Brothers sounded much fuller as a quartet, so I hope they consider bringing Page back for future guest spots or adding a keyboard player, or guest keyboard player, on any future tours. Paging Bruce Hornsby! The second set continued sans McConnell with some nice slide guitar work by Weir on “Odessa.” Next up was a cover of Dylan’s’ "All Along the Watchtower” that flowed into the Dead’s “Weather Report Suite” and then into "Standing on the Moon.”  “Throwing Stones” followed and the band then left the stage, returning for an encore of "US Blues."

Bob Weir | Miami Beach

The Wolf Brothers are an interesting band in that there are few in any, single note "guitar solos" that are prevalent in most rock bands. They continue the Grateful Dead style of “Rock N Roll Dixieland” only as a trio. In short, Don Was holds down the bottom end, Jay Lane keeps the time, and Bob Weir plays on top. To Weir’s credit, he then took on the role of rhythm guitarist with the goal of both adding color to the music and staying out of Garcia’s way, musically speaking. Weir sought out other rhythm guitarists for influence.  After exhausting his efforts, he ended up looking at jazz piano players and has specifically credited John Coltrane’s piano player McCoy Tyner as a significant influence on his playing. The end result is a unique rhythm style of guitar that served Weir well in his 50+ year career and helped make him the iconic guitar player he is. While the tempos might be slower in both the Wolf Brothers and Dead and Company compared to that of the Grateful Dead years, Bob Weir is still a monster musician, singer, and songwriter. It is a treat to watch and listen to, no doubt one the best in the business.  I am reminded of Michael Jordan when he was with the Chicago Bulls basketball team. While Jordan was not as fast as he once was in his youth, in his later years he played smarter, was still always interesting to watch and you never knew what he might do!  Sounds familiar.

Fri, 05/10/2019 - 12:50 pm

Voodoo Dead continued their tradition of playing late night shows during the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, with a two-night run at Republic NOLA on Saturday, May 4th and Sunday, May 5th. Special guest Brandon "Taz” Niederauer joined the all-star band on guitar Saturday as fans enjoyed a rockin’ two-set show that kept the music going well into Sunday morning.

Brandon "Taz" Niederauer & John Kimock

Conceived out of the late-night New Orleans music scene that explodes during the two weeks of Jazz Fest, Voodoo Dead delivers a musical gumbo with hearty portions of Grateful Dead songs and styles along with a nod to the Crescent City, both in song and band personnel.

Jeff Chimenti | Voodoo Dead

While the band lineup can vary slightly from year to year or even night to night, their essence remains the same. Saturday night’s lineup included Jeff Chimenti (Dead & Co.) on keyboards with Steve Kimock (Zero, Other Ones, RatDog) and Al Schnier (moe.) sharing guitar duty.  New Orleans’ own legendary George Porter Jr. (Meters) on bass with Wally Ingram (Timbuk 3) on percussion and Steve’s son John Kimock, on drums. “Taz” Niederauer joined the fray adding soaring guitar solos during a rousing “Sugaree.” The 16-year old guitar phenom was no stranger to the crowd as they greeted him with chants of “Taz!...Taz!...Taz!”.

Kimock, Neiderauer, and George Porter Jr.

Neiderauer sat in with New Orleans’ own Dumpstaphunk on Thursday out at the Fairgrounds covering the Rolling Stones “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking.”  Sunday Night’s lineup also included special guest Oteil Burbridge.

Al Schnier | Republic NOLA

Voodoo Dead has now become a mainstay and must see in New Orleans during Jazz Fest. If the band ever ventures out to a town near you be sure to catch them and If you ever find yourself in the Big Easy during Jazz Fest …be sure to check them out and tell everyone you caught VD in New Orleans!

Steve Kimock | Voodoo Dead

Check out more photos from the show.

1st set

Big Railroad Blues

Bertha

Smokestack Lightning

Walk on Guilded Splinters

Good Lovin’

2nd set

Tangled Up in Blue

Sugaree

Deal

They Love Each Other

Scarlet>Fiyo on the Bayou

Many Rivers

Sun, 05/12/2019 - 12:10 pm

Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats brought their vintage rock and neo-soul show to the Saenger Theatre in New Orleans on May 3rd and 4th for a pair of spectacular double bill shows that coincided with the second weekend of city’s famed Jazz Fest.  Each night featured a different group of legendary Crescent City musicians opening the show.  Friday night featured the Foundations of Funk while Saturday's show started with the esteemed Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Ivan Neville | Foundation of Funk

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats wasted no time in getting the crowd up and dancing. Both their shows kicked off with “Shoe Boot” from their 2018 release “Tearing at the Seams” on the Stax label. The Denver based quintet proved why they are perennial festival circuit favorites. Playing over 200 shows a year on worldwide tours will undoubtedly take its toll in various forms, but it will also produce results that were evident both on stage and in song.  The band is clearly hitting on all cylinders and the more collaborative efforts in writing and recording “Tearing at the Seams” seems to have paid dividends on record and on stage.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats | Saenger Theatre

The bands highly energetic performance and overall soulful sound combined with Rateliff’s soothing vocals that lend itself to his interpersonal style of songwriting, have endeared them to an ever-growing legion of fans. When you mix in Otis Redding to Van Morrison influences and combine that with The Night Sweats driving rhythm and horn sections, the result is one of the most soulful and exciting bands that has deservedly garnished worldwide attention.  Also endearing to fans is the band's commitment to social issues. From Rateliff’s own Marigold Project to multiple Farm Aid performances that enable this extremely hard-working band to capitalize on their success by giving back to those in need. The Night Sweats are Joseph Pope III on bass, Mark Shusterman on keys, Patrick Meese on drums, Luke Mossman on guitar. Andy Wild on tenor saxophone with Scott Frock on trumpet and Jeff Dazy on alto sax.

Ziggy Modeliste | Foundation of Funk

The Foundations of Funk kicked off the Friday night show with an hour-long set.  The lineup consisted of The Meters’ rhythm section of Joseph "Ziggy" Modeliste on drums and George Porter Jr. on bass along with special guests Ivan Neville on keyboards. Dumstaphunk’s Tony Hall joined hometown hero Anders Osborne on guitar, rounding out the quintet.  Modeliste and Porter Jr’s work with The Meters is often credited as the innovators of the New Orleans funk sound.

Anders Osborne & Tony Hall | Saenger Theatre

The Preservation Hall Jazz band featured on the Night Sweats 2017 “Live From Red Rocks” fired the crowd up on night two of the festivities.

The Saenger Theatre | New Orleans, LA

The PHJB has dedicated itself for over 50 years in preserving and performing the cultural mix that is New Orleans. The recently renovated Saenger Theatre with it Greek and Roman statues and an utterly spectacular replica of the Florence sky at night complete with twinkling stars proved to be a reminder of the history of the Big Easy and its resolve after Hurricane Katrina in 2005.  Seeing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band grace the stage of the Saeger that was once submerged in over a foot of Katrina’s floodwaters, was proof how far the city has come and that the (Florentine) sky is the limit.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats | New Orleans, LA

Check out more photos from Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats & Foundation of Funk.

Tue, 05/14/2019 - 4:05 pm

Tyler Childers & The Food Stamps brought their brand of Appalachian Country Music to the Plaza Live in Orlando, Florida on Monday, May 6th, 2019. Mr. Childers delighted the sold-out crowd as he performed numerous tracks from his 2017 break thru album “Purgatory.”  Childers, the 27-year old native of Lawrence County, Kentucky seems to have solidified his role as a Country Music star as the crowd passionately sang along to a number of their favorite songs.

Tyler Childers & The Food Stamps

Childers’ raw voice and modern, straightforward lyrics regarding life in the Hollow has created a mix as potent as moonshine that has resonated with an ever-increasing number of fans. His songs may focus on the hollows of Kentucky or West Virginia, but his sentiments are universal. Childers autobiographical lyrics lets you peek into his country upbringing complete with vibrant characters. As if Tom Sawyer was set to music. Perhaps another Country Music star put it best when Margo Price told Rolling Stone Magazine “Tyler Childers is one hell of a songwriter. He’s a down-to-earth dude who doesn’t care about anything but writing well crafted, honest songs. The world needs more musicians like him.”

Tyler Childers | Orlando, FL

His star appears more in line with the singer and songwriters such as Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash, and John Prine than in the modern sense of cowboy hats and image-conscious artists. For Childers, the song is paramount. Whether being backed by the Food Stamps while strumming his acoustic guitar (as he always does), playing solo or as in the case on Monday evening, with just fiddle accompaniment in a mid-concert mini-set, Childers heartfelt delivery allows him to present his songs in various forms without losing the sentiment being conveyed.

Tyler Childers & The Food Stamps

The Food Stamps, with Rod Elkins on drums, James Barker on pedal steel, Craig Burletic on bass and Jesse Wells on guitar and fiddle, are a perfect match for Mr. Childers as his backing band. The group has a retro country sound then blends easily with Mr. Childers voice and acoustic guitar. They can easily follow “Tyler “as he calls out the next song and has even use hand signals like a baseball coach to signal the next tune.  The fact that Childers does not adhere to a set list is another indication that he is far from the calculated concert scene where everything from costumes and lighting to the song list is meticulously planned. What comes across is a sense of spontaneity that is refreshing to see and hear.  

Tyler Childers | Orlando, FL

Childers seems to also have an appreciation for a variety of genres and for the history of Country Music. As evident in his choice of covering songs from Shel Silverstein’s “I Got Stoned, and I Missed it” to Kenny Rogers’ version of “Tulsa Turnaround” or Utah Phillips' “Rock, Salt and Nails.”  Childers makes these songs sound as if he had not only written them but lived them as well.

Tyler Chiders & The Food Stamps | Plaza Live

Country Music fans are known to be passionate and devoted. Childers’ fans are no exception with many traveling to multiple shows of his here in the Sunshine State. With a full slate of summer festivals on his tour itinerary, you can look for the good word to continue to spread, Tyler Childers and the Food Stamps are for real. Do not get Stoned and miss them!

Blackfoot Gypsies | Plaza Live

Opening the show was the Nashville based trio Blackfoot Gypsies. Their upbeat mix of country rock, blues with some Stones and punk rock swagger was a delight to hear. They got the crowd fired up with their loud, energetic set that included songs such as “Back to New Orleans” and Potatoes and Whiskey.” The sum certainly does not equal the parts here as their sound is fuller that what you may expect from a trio. Credit can undoubtedly be given to the impressive sound of Dylan Whitlow on bass. The band seems like they are having the time of their lives and are inviting you along for the ride.  The Blackfoot Gypsies are Matthew Paige on guitar and vocals, Dylan Whitlow on Bass and Zack Murphy on drums.

Blackfoot Gypsies | Orlando, FL

Check out more photos from the show.

Tue, 07/09/2019 - 12:25 pm

The Tedeschi Trucks Band rolled into the Mizner Park Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida on Saturday, June 29th as the headliner for their own “Wheels of Soul” tour. The Boca Raton show was the second stop of the tour after opening Friday night in their hometown of Jacksonville, FL. This is the 5th year of the “Wheels of Soul” Tour and the 2019 version features two other southern bands in Atlanta’s “Blackberry Smoke” and the Charleston-based husband and wife duo “Shovels & Rope.” The Tedeschi Trucks Band has become a mainstay at Mizner Park where they first appeared in 2007 and have performed every year since 2013 as part of the Sunshine Music Festival.

Tedeschi Trucks Band | Boca Raton, FL

The TTB is hitting the road this summer with a new lineup compared to that of years past. After the passing of their beloved keyboardist and flutist, Kofi Burbridge from heart-related issues last February, the band has enlisted Gabe Dixon to fulfill keyboard duties. Atlanta’s Brandon Boone has taken over on bass after Tim Lefebvre’s departed in December of last year to pursue other musical ambitions. 

Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi

It certainly wasn’t by design, but ‘Signs,’ the latest and fourth overall album from the Tedeschi Trucks Band, may go down as a lasting tribute Burbridge. The album was coincidently released on February 15, the day he passed.  Burbridge was known as a monster musician among his peers and was a 2-time Grammy award winner who at ten years old once played flute alongside Duke Ellington. He created the charts the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra used on four of the tracks on “Signs.”  Kofi co-founded the band in 2010 which also featured his brother, Oteil Burbridge (now with Dead & Company) on bass from 2010-2012. “Signs” also feature guest appearances from the likes of Warren Haynes, Doyle Bramhall II, and Oliver Wood.

Susan Tedeschi | Boca Raton, FL

Saturday’s show featured numerous tracks from “Signs.”  Their set kicked off with the track “Signs, High Times” and also featured “When Will I Begin” and “Hard Case.”  Derek Trucks fingerstyle slide guitar work is still soulful beyond his youthful looking 40 years of age. His decade and a half work with the Allman Brothers Band only sharpened his already impressive guitar skills. His wife Susan’s vocals mix country, blues, and soul that has earned her the praises of fans and musicians alike. As Woodstock celebrates its 50th Anniversary this year, the Tedeschi Trucks band tipped their collective hats to Carlos Santana with the crowd-pleasing version of ‘Soul Sacrifice”.

Derek Trucks | Mizner Park Amphitheatre

The Wheels Of Soul tour continues with a show in Raleigh, North Carolina on 7/9 before heading Northeast with shows in Gilford, New Hampshire on July 13, Saratoga Springs on July 14 and Canandaigua, New York on July 16. Additional dates include stops in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana.  Their annual run at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado is slated for July 26 and 27.   St. Louis is scheduled for July 30 followed by Brandon, Mississippi on July 31 before wrapping up with two night stand at Atlanta’s Fox Theatre on August 2nd and 3rd.

Tedeschi Trucks Band | Boca Raton, FL

Check out more photos from the show.

Mizner Park Set List:

1)    Signs, High Times

2)    Laugh About It

3)    When Will I Begin

4)    Keep on Growing

5)    Life Is Crazy

6)    Part of Me

7)    Let Me Get By

8)    Somebody Pick Up My Pieces

9)    Hard Case

10)    Broder Song

11)    Get What You Deserve

12)    Strangers In a Strange Land

13)    I Want More

14)    Soul Sacrifice

Encore:

15)    Statesboro Blues

16)    Space Captain

Wed, 07/10/2019 - 1:18 pm

Dead & Company brought their Summer Tour 2019 to the Dos Equis Pavilion in Dallas on Tuesday, July 2nd for a lone stop in the Lone Star State. The band previously played the American Airlines Arena in 2017, but before that, it had been a long strange, three-decade wait since the Grateful Dead Played Reunion Arena on 10/21/88.  The band did not disappoint their legions of fans on this hot summer evening, as they tipped their musical cowboy hat to Texas with four songs in the first set.

Billy, Bobby, & Mickey | Dallas, TX

The band, unofficially led by the 71- year old guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter, Bob Weir, kicked off the show with a rollicking “Bertha,” with John Mayer handing the lead vocals. The first song of the Texas-set, “New Minglewood Blues” followed, with the “T for Texas” lyric that was met with a joyous roar from the heat-drenched crowd. The mid-tempo “Row Jimmy” was up next with Mayer again on vocals. Bob Weir switched to acoustic guitar for the next three songs including “Deep Elem Blues,” an ode to the former local red-light district. “Friend of the Devil” featured Weir and Mayer sharing vocals on the Marty Robbins’ classic “El Paso,” rounding out the acoustic portion. Meyer demonstrated his impressive lead guitar skills during “Sugaree” before closing out the set with a patiently paced “Jack Straw.”  The “Leaving Texas Fourth Day of July” lyric garnered one of the loudest crowd reactions of the night.

Dead & Company  | Dos Equis Pavilion

The jam laden second set kicked off with a lively “Shakedown Street” followed by a lengthy “Uncle John’s Band” and always welcomed “St Stephen” > “The Eleven.”  The “Drums and Space” section got a little extra help from bassist Oteil Burbridge, who joined Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann on percussion while Mayer added some fancy guitar work during Space.  Weir was back on vocals for “Black Peter” before segwaying into “Good Lovin’.”  The latter had the crowd back up and dancing.  Mayer led the band and crowd home with the poignant “Black Muddy River.”

Jeff Chimenti & John Mayer | Dos Equis Pavilion

Here’s hoping Dead and Company will return Texas in the near future.  As Mr. Weir has included cowboys songs throughout his illustrious career, including his 2016 solo album “Blue Mountain,” inspired by his youthful experience as a ranch hand.

Dead & Company | Dallas, Texas

Texas certainly has a rich musical history (Mayer donned a t-shirt of local legend Stevie Ray Vaughn), and while the state may not have been one of the Grateful Dead’s regular stomping grounds,  Dead & Company tapped into that history tonight,  and that, in part, helped make this an extraordinary evening.

Shakedown Street in Dallas

Check out more photos from the show.

Thu, 09/05/2019 - 5:27 pm

Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe blew into the Boca Raton’s Funky Biscuit for a pair of shows on Thursday and Friday, August 29th and 30th.  Denson’s shows were scheduled around The Rolling Stones concert at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium that was slated for Saturday, August 31st. That show was initially scheduled for April 30th and moved to Saturday, August 31 after Mick Jagger’s heart surgery. Denson took over saxophone duties with the Stones in 2014 after the passing of their longtime sax player, Bobby Keys.  With Hurricane Dorian approaching Florida’s east coast, the Stones concert was bumped to Friday night with an earlier than usual start time of 8 PM. The opening act Juanes was also canceled. The latest schedule change would seemingly allow Denson to play the with the ‘World’s Greatest Rock N’ Roll Band” and still make it to the Funky Biscuit on Friday night for a post-Stones show. Even with all the rescheduling, Denson, the professional that he is, kept his schedule and delighted fans on Thursday with what amounted to as a day before the pre-Stones show and then treated fans on Friday to an (abbreviated) post-Stones show.

Karl Denson | Boca Raton, FL

Thursday’s show featured Denson on saxophone and flute as well handling the lion’s share of vocals. The septet had the crowd dancing to their brand of groove-based funk, steeped in soul. The smattering of Stones shirts in the crowd was proof that this show was kicking off a Stones infused holiday weekend. The dual guitar attack of D.J. Williams and Seth Freeman as they complimented each other with Littlefield providing funky licks on his Fender Thinline Telecaster while Freeman showcased some terrific slide work on both electric guitar and lap steel. Chris Littlefield added some excellent trumpet the highlight of which was on a soulfully jazzed up version of “Under My Thumb.” Drummer Zak Najor was a treat to watch and listen to as he never stopped smiling the entire show. His drum solo during “Under My Thumb” gave the band a brief breather but was also one the highlights of the night in that it was one of the most tasteful and sophisticated sound drums solos I can recall.  The audience was ready for more, and the band delivered picking up “UMT” where they left off at the end of which everyone felt gratified as well anxious for things to come. Chris Stillwell and David Veith on bass and keyboards rounded out the group.

Chris Littlefield | Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe

This reviewer was late in attending Friday show at the Funky Biscuit as heavy rain delayed both the start of the Stones show in Miami until after 9:30 PM and again on then again on the drive from Miami to Boca. I did manage to catch their version of a Stevie Wonder styled “Tumbling Dice” that was just sensational. If Karl Denison’s Tiny Universe makes his way to your town, do yourself a favor and venture out as this man and that band can flat out play. They will have you dancing up a storm!

Thursday's setlist:

New Ammo

Boogaloo

Satisfied

What If You Knew

Gossip

Time to Pray

Just Got Paid

Rich Man’s Welfare

No Where to Run

Under My Thumb

Millvale

Biggest Fan

Can We Trade

Dance Lesson #2

Fri, 09/27/2019 - 2:52 pm
Sat, 09/28/2019 - 12:24 pm

Willie Nelson, Neil Young, John Mellencamp, and Dave Matthews brought the 34th annual Farm Aid concert to the Alpine Valley Music Theatre in East Troy, Wisconsin on Saturday, September, 21st.  The 11 plus hours concert featured sets by each of the four-core board members as well as other artists including Tanya Tucker, Bonnie Raitt, Luke Combs, Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats, Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, Jamey Johnson, Margo Price, Jamestown Revival, Yolo, Particle Kid, and Ian Mellencamp.  The rain-soaked event did not dampen the mood of the over 37,000 plus attendees.  Music Highlights included:

Alpine Valley | East Troy, WI

Willie Nelson, flanked by son’s Micah and Lukas, was the “headliner” as his ten-song set closed out the festivities and featured hits “Whiskey River” “Still is Still Moving to Me” and “Mamma Don’t Let Your Babies Grow up to Be Cowboys” among others. Neil Young was among the many who joined the Red Headed Stranger on “Roll Me Up & Smoke Me When I Die,” “Will the Circle Be Unbroken, “I Saw the Light” and “I’ll Fly Away.”

Neil Young | Farm Aid 2019

Neil Young kicked off his own eight-song set seated at his old upright piano for a rollicking “Are You Ready for the Country followed by acoustic versions of “Harvest Moon” and “Heart of Gold.”  “Homegrown” was played on the electric guitar as was a fiery version of “Rockin’ in the Free World.” He encored with “Roll Another Number.”  Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real backed his entire set.

John Mellencamp | Farm Aid

John Mellencamp delighted the crowd with a string of his sing-along hits. Mellencamp may have borrowed a page for the Neil Young/ Bob Dylan playbook in not giving the audience exactly what it wants, when and how they want it.  After enduring hours of on-and-off-again rain, the crowd was ready to cut loose.  Mellencamp led things off with 2014’s “Lawless Times” before he segued into “Small Town.” He then had the crowd in the palm of his hand, singing along to a solo acoustic version of “Jack & Diane.” Other hits followed including “Check it Out,” “Crumblin’ Down,” “The Authority Song” and “Pink Houses” but none were more apropos than the rockin’ “Rain on the Scarecrow,” his 1985 ode to the financial burden that plagued family farmers. 

Dave Matthews | Farm Aid

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds played an acoustic-only set the highlight of which was Reynolds’ virtuoso fretboard work which featured some masterful slide guitar.  Matthews simultaneously enjoyed, appreciated and was in awe of Reynolds’ guitar clinic.  Mr. Matthews also delighted his legion of fans with his vocal acrobat skills as the duo performed “Come Tomorrow,” “So Damn Lucky” and the classic the “Ants Marching,” among others.

Tim Reynolds | Farm Aid

Bonnie Raitt, fresh from a previous night set at Eric Clapton’s Crossroads festival in Dallas, dedicated a solo acoustic version of Skip James’ “Devil Got My Woman” to Stevie Ray Vaughan (SRV perished in post-Alpine Valley show helicopter crash in August, 1990).  She also played her version of John Prine’s “Angel from Montgomery” as well as the Talking Head’s “Burning Down the House.” Her stellar backing band featured Ivan Neville on keyboard and James “Hutch” Hutchinson on bass.

Luke Combs | Farm Aid

Luke Combs joined the party as he shotgunned a beer onstage. Par for the course as part of his “Beer Never Broke My Heart” tour.  Make no mistake, the Ashville, NC native has a terrific voice and is a prolific songwriter who is breaking all kinds of records on the Billboard charts.  His 2017 release “This One’s for You” is still the top-selling country album. His single “Beer Never Broke My Heart” had a record-setting 11 million streams in the first week of being released. Combs played Willie Nelson’s 4th of July picnic in Austin this year, and his songs resonate with a large contingent of country fans who sang, drank and danced along to his songs on Saturday including “Beautiful Crazy” “She Got the Best of Me” and “Hurricane.”

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats wasted no time in getting the place up and dancing. Their retro-soul blistering set started with their monster hit “S.O.B.”  and continued with the up-tempo “Look at Here.”   “Say it Louder” is just a gem that shines, powered by the driving three-piece horn section and Rateliff’s passionate plea.  Rateliff gave out shouts out to his and bassist Joseph Pope III’s “Mama,” who were both in the audience before the soulfully-sentimental acoustic “Hey Mama.” Willie Nelson’s longtime harmonica played Mickey Raphael sat in briefly before the band closed the set with their 2016’s smash “I Need Never Get Old” with its instantly recognizable guitar intro.

Lukas Nelson | Farm Aid

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real rocked the crowd with their cover of CSN&Y’s “Carry On.” Margo Price, Micah Nelson, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Yola were invited to assist with “Find Yourself.” The true highlight of their set may have been percussionist Tato Melgar’s young son Leon, who joined the band onstage and delighted both the crowd and band as he “played” his black Stratocaster while showing off some natural-looking rock star poses. At one point he seemed to upstage Lukas and it was hard to tell who was having more fun.

Jamey Johnson | Farm Aid

Jamey Johnson was joined by special guest Randy Houser and covered “This Land is Your” and “Workin’ Man Blues” as well as Houser’s “Evangeline” and “Lead Me Home,” a terrific combination of vocal and guitar firepower.

Margo Price | Farm Aid

Margo Price seems to be on her way to be a Farm Aid board member. She not only handled the opening introduction that was previously handled by Willie Nelson but also sat in with Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real, performed her own set including Janis Joplin’s “Move Over.”    She then returned to the stage with three-month-old baby girl Ramona Lynn Ivey in hand to join Willie for his encore. In 1985 Price’s family lost their farm in Aledo, Il. Farm Aid would be hard-pressed to find a more suitable ambassador.

Yola | Farm Aid

British breakout singing sensation Yola wowed the audience with a cover of Elton John’s “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” as well performing a few selected tracks from debut release “Walk Thru Fire.” She later joined Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real. She seemed to make a new fan of Nathaniel Rateliff who took in her set from the wings.

Tanya Tucker | Farm Aid

Tanya Tucker’s returned to Farm Aid and she delighted the crowd with a four-song set that included the first live performance in 30 years of “Bidding America Goodbye” before closing with her 1972 hit “Delta Dawn.”  She appeared in Champaign Il at the first Farm Aid in 1985.

Jamestown Revival was a musical treat. They were a late addition, filling in for the Brothers Osborne band who canceled for “personal issues.”  Austin based Zack Chance and Johnathan Clay will ideally be invited back as their blend acoustic and Southern folk-rock made endeared them to the Farm Aid faithful.

Particle Kid | Farm Aid

Particle Kid featuring Micah Nelson were joined by brother Lukas for “Everything is Bullshit.” The Crazy Horse sounding electric guitar romp is sometimes included in their Neil Young sets.

Ian Mellencamp | Farm Aid

Ian Mellencamp, the model, and nephew of John Mellencamp kicked off the music portion of the festivities with a solo acoustic donning a retro-inspired Nudie suit.

Farm Aid 2019

Farm Aid stemmed from Bob Dylan’s on-stage banter at 1985’s Live Aid concert, to divert a small portion of the funds being raised for Ethiopian famine relief and use them to pay mortgages for some US farmers that were behind on their mortgages. Over $57 million has been raised to help support family farms and to eradicate the current system of industrial agriculture.  Perhaps the day was best summed up by a t-shirt worn by a local farmer that simply stated ... “What is your farmers' name?”

Farm Aid 2019

Check out more photos from Farm Aid 2019.

Sat, 10/19/2019 - 11:57 am

The Suwannee Roots Revival music festival held its fourth annual concert at the Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak, FL. The four-day festival ran from Thursday, October 10th through Sunday, October 13th, and featured a variety of top-rated musical acts. The family-friendly event is situated in northern Florida where concertgoers and campers can relax amidst the Spanish covered Oaks, a lake, a river, or a beach.

beautiful Live Oak, FL

Longtime promoters Beth and Randy Judy have created cultivated an atmosphere and environment that offers plenty of entertainment for all ages. From dancing, yoga, Kayaking, and frisbee golf to hands-on music workshops and a kid’s talent show. Not to mention plenty of campground jam sessions. Where else can you enjoy one of your favorite bands while relaxing in a hammock set up in a natural outdoor amphitheater?

Highlights from Saturday:

Sam Bush | Suwannee Roots Revival

Sam Bush- Jam-grass legend Sam Bush thrilled the Suwannee amphitheater crowd Saturday evening with an energetic star-studded set.  Mr. Bush welcomed Del McCoury and The Travelin' McCourys on stage for a big-league bluegrass jam. Bush, a musical pioneer and founding member of the legendary bluegrass band 'New Grass Revival,' was in fine form all night as he entertained the crowd with his ferocious style of mandolin playing. Del McCoury dueted w/ Mr. Bush on Merle Travis' 'How Can I Roll When The Wheels Won't Go' and 'Midnight On The Stormy Deep.'

Keller & The Keels

Keller & The Keels-The acoustic trio formed in 2014 consisting of Keller Williams along with husband & wife Larry and Jenny Keel. This Appalachian Psychedelic Bluegrass 'side project' band now has three albums under their belt. Jenny Keels upright bass compliments Larry Keels's ferocious flatpicking. They cover a wide range of songs from 'Another Brick in the Wall’ and 'Loser' to Amy Winehouse's 'Rehab". Their 12:30-2:00 AM slot kept the party going late into the night. Their set included ‘Peaches' and 'Breath' that segued into 'Seven Bridges Road.'

Peter Rowan | Suwannee Roots Revival

Peter Rowan-Played a 'Songs & Stories" set in the Music Hall than an early evening set in the Amphitheater. Rowan was the lead vocalist and guitarist with Bill Monroe's Bluegrass Boys and later teamed up with David Grisman to form two bands, Earth Opera followed by ‘Old & In the Way.' The latter featuring Richard Greene, John Kahn and Jerry Garcia. Rowan entertained the crowd with songs intertwined with tales, including how he came to choose the guitar he was playing after years of the instrument lying dormant. The guitar had finally aged to perfection. The indoor set included a solo version of Buddy Holly's 'That’ll Be the Day". Rowan was joined by Ronnie McCoury on mandolin for a version of Bill Monroe's 'In the Pines. Rowan's set later in the evening at the amphitheater included another Holly cover 'Peggy Sue'.

David Gans with Melody Walker & Hattie Craven

David Gans-The musician, author, and radio host played a solo set at the outdoor amphitheater, including a touching 'Brokedown Palace.' He then led an all-star band tribute to Dylan & The Dead featuring Joe Craven on fiddle, Melody Walker (Front Country) & Hattie Craven on backup vocals, Jeff Mosier on banjo, Billy Gilmore of The Grass is Dead on banjo & 'Pickled Holler', the husband & wife team of Jessica & Matthew Williams. Jacob Groopman of Front Country added some lovely acoustic dobro and Bruce MacMillan from Joe Craven's Sometimers band, shined on slide & lap steel guitar, as well adding some terrific vocals. The set included 'Scarlet Begonias,' 'All the Watchtower,’ and 'Ripple.'

The Travelin' McCourys

The Travelin' McCourys-Ronnie & Rob McCoury are the sons of bluegrass royalty. Their tenure with Dad Del McCoury served them well as they carry on the sounds of traditional bluegrass. Ronnie and his mandolin kept busy sitting in with both Peter Rowan then Sam Bush.

Verlon Thompson

Verlon Thompson- The Oklahoma native and Guy Clark sidekick delighted the Porch Stage crowd with a solo acoustic performance including 'The Guitar Man" the segwayed in and out of a poignant 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'.

Donna The Buffalo

Donna The Buffalo-The Trumansburg, NY quintet rocked the intimate 'Dance Tent' Saturday afternoon. A perennial Suwuannee fan favorite with devoted following known as "The Herd". The group is led by Tara Nevins (vocals, accordion, fiddle, Washboard) and Jeb Puryear on (vocals, electric guitar). The band had the tent jumping with their swamp infused 'Hot Tamale Baby.' Both Nevins & Puryearon are top-notch songwriters, and the band positively locks in the groove. Drummer Mark Raudabaugh later sat in with the Jeff Mosier Ensemble in the Music Hall.

Joe Craven

Joe Craven & The Sometimers -Craven & Company’s, band motto is "No genre left behind." Perhaps the busiest of all the festival artists, Craven could be found on any number of the festival stages-from teaching a 'rhythm boot camp' to the Dylan/Dead All-Star tribute. His World/folk sound features daughter Hattie on vocals with guitarist Bruce MacMillion displaying some terrific slide guitar on his b-bender telecaster.

Jeff Mosier sits in during the Dylan & Dead tribute

Jeff Mosier Ensemble-'The Rev' was busy on Saturday with an early set at the indoor Music Hall Stage and a late set on the Porch Stage. In between, he sat in as part of the David Gans Dylan/Dead tribute. Mosier combines his Scruggs style banjo with the spirit of Rock N' Roll. He is the founder of the jamgrass band, Blueground Undergrass. Donna, the Buffalo drummer Mark Raudabaugh sat in during the Music Hall set, which included a lively version of Guy Clark's 'Dublin Blues'.

Suwannee Roots Revival

Ralph Roddenbery-This was a pleasant surprise as I stumbled across Roddenbery in the 'Dance Tent.' At first glance, this seemed like a pickup bar band. But upon further listening, you get a real appreciation for Roddenberry's songwriting and energetic performance. I could hear shades of Neil Young and John Mellencamp. Roddenberry seemed like a contraction that worked as he appeared to be pretty wild as he sang of the tenderness of his infant son. I look forward to hearing more him.

Dread Clampitt

Dread Clampitt-The hipbilly duo hailing from Florida's panhandle, delighted their fans with a set on the intimate 'Porch Stage.'

Thu, 11/28/2019 - 3:59 pm

The final show of 'The Last Waltz Tour' was held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville on Saturday, November 23rd, 2019 and featured special guest Robbie Robertson sans Turkey dinner for all. The 2019 tour honored The Band's iconic 1976 Thanksgiving Day farewell concert at the Winterland Ballroom in San Francisco. Robertson, the lead guitarist for The Band, was also the organizer of the original concert. Legendary promoter Bill Graham served Thanksgiving Dinner for the entire audience prior to that concert which featured Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters, Neil Young, and Van Morrison among others.

The Last Waltz | Bridgestone Arena

The Blackbird Presents "Last Waltz Nashville" was a star-studded event as well and included ’76 veterans Emmylou Harris and Bob Margolin (Muddy Waters Band). Saturday night’s concert format was the ’house band' consisting of Don Was, Lukas Nelson, John Medeski, Jamey Johnson, Terrence Higgins with Mark Mullins & The Levee Horns with guest artists Michael McDonald, Vince Gill, Cyril Neville, Nathaniel Rateliff, Margo Price, Dave Malone, and Darius Rucker.

Robbie Robertson | Nashville, TN

Mr. Robertson, revered as a legendary guitarist and songwriter, has played few live shows over the years. The crowd was anticipative as the vast majority of the audience and artists, had never seen him perform live in concert before. The crowd was appreciative of his presence alone, as demonstrated by the joyous reception he received after being introduced prior to giving a short speech about the inception of the 'Last Waltz. He then went on to introduce Emmylou Harris, promising to return later to "sit-in".

The Last Waltz | Bridgestone Arena

Certainly, one of the highlights of the evening, and there were more than a few, were Robbie's trademark fiery staccato lead guitar unleashed during "Don't Do It" and the iconic guitar intro to "The Weight".  Other highlights included:

Emmylou Harris | The Last Waltz

Emmylou Harris performing the southern country ballad "Evangeline" which was part of the original Last Waltz Film.

Dave Malone, Nathaniel Rateliff, and Lukas Nelson

Nathaniel Rateliff rocking the rafters with his take on "Caravan" as he not only honored the original Van Morrison version complete with scissor kicks but left his own vocal mark on it as well. No small feat as the original version rocked the Winterland rafters.

Dave Malone of The Radiator's fame fired off some terrific guitar work and vocals along with a joyous temperament that was infectious. Cyril Nevil joined Malone on percussion and along with New Orleans native and drummer, Terrence Higgins, created a Crescent City trifecta.  Their celebratory version of "Such a Night" was a tribute to the fallen Last Waltz and New Orleans legend Dr. John. Malone's guitar solo on "Mystery Train" garnered a loud curtain call response from the crowd. 

Margo Price's stunning a cappella version "Tears of Rage".

Bob Margolin | The Last Waltz

Bob Margolin showcasing some terrific slide guitar work on Muddy Waters " Mannish Boy" in honor of his former boss. 

Warren, John Medeski and Jamey Johnson

John Medeski's keyboard work throughout the night, especially during "Chest Fever".

The Last Waltz | Nashville, TN

Lukas Nelson’s vibrato and passion-infused vocal take on “Forever Young” along with soaring lead guitar carried the song to new heights. A falsetto verse on “I Shall Be Released” ala Richard Manuel was impressive.

The Last Waltz | Nashville, TN

Nashville certainly lived up to its nickname on Saturday night as the Bridgestone Arena certainly felt like Music City USA with the plethora of celebrated musicians.  Perhaps the evening can best be summed up by a few words Robbie Robertson used in his speech ..."Mindblowing, truly Mindblowing".

Sat, 01/04/2020 - 1:21 pm

Hot Tuna brought the final show of their 50th Anniversary Tour to the Parker Playhouse in Ft Lauderdale, Florida for a special New Year’s Eve concert. The power-trio featured founding members Jorma Kaukonen on guitar and vocals, Jack Casady on bass as well as Justin Guip on drums. The veteran rockers delivered a two-set show of blues, traditional and psychedelic music.

Jorma Kaukonen | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Mr. Kaukonen’s legendary finger-picking style was on full display Tuesday evening as he switched between acoustic-electric and solid body electric guitars throughout the night on such crowd favorites as ‘Hesitation Blues’ and the second set opener, ‘Candyman’. Casady’s iconic thunderous driving bass shined on the delta blues standard ‘Walkin’ Blues’. The band really seemed to be enjoying themselves and the holiday occasion as demonstrated by the loose banter among themselves between songs, as if they were just choosing songs on the fly.  Indeed, ‘Death Don’t Have No Mercy’ was played in the second set yet not listed on the band setlist.

Jack & Jorma | Parker Playhouse

Formed in San Francisco in 1969 by Kaukonen and Casady, Washington DC childhood friends who went on to become members of the legendary 60’s group Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna has been thrilling crowds well, for 50 years! While there have been various incarnations of the band through the decades, one of the trademarks has been the expert musicianship of the group. From Blues violinist Papa John Creach to vocalist Marty Balin and guitarists Paul Katner and Michael Falzarano.

Hot Tuna | Parker Playhouse

Kaukonen, who just turned 79 years-old on December 23rd, joked onstage that getting old is like a roll of toilet paper, the closer you get to the end the faster it goes. He also noted the “carnival atmosphere” as Midnight approached. Jorma then counted down the remaining seconds of 2019 before ringing in the New Year, then getting back to the music, launching into ‘Funky #7”.  There are not many better ways to celebrate the ending of 2019 and ushering in a new decade than enjoying an evening out with an extraordinary band celebrating five decades of making music together.

Jack Casady | Parker Playhouse

Check out more photos from the show.

Setlist:

Been So Long

Day to Day Out of the Window Blues

Keep Your Lamps Trimmed and Burning

Hesitation Blues

Can’t Get Satisfied

Ode to Billy Dean

Sea Child

Trial by Fire

Bowlegged Women

Rock Me Baby

Roads and Roads

Baby What  You Want Me to Do

 II Set:

 Candy Man

That’ll Never Happen No More

Walkin’ Blues

Easy Now

Living Just for You

Wolves & Lambs

Hit Single #1

3rd Week In Chelsea

Watch the North Wind Rise

Sleep Song

Good Shepard

Talkin’ About You

Funky # 7

Wed, 01/22/2020 - 4:28 pm

Ana Popovic rocked the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Ft Lauderdale, FL, on Saturday night. The 43- year-old Belgrade, Serbia born blues guitarist, led her five-piece band through an evening blues-infused funk, soul, and jazzed up Rock 'n' Roll music.  Highlights included the soulful, bluesy ballad ‘Slow Dance” and a rowdy version Hendrix’s "Crosstown Traffic.”  This show was the final stop on a short Florida tour before Popovic, and her quintet hit the high seas for a week-long Blue Cruise, followed by a few shows in Jamaica.  Mrs. Popovic and her band were in fine form Saturday night as they performed selected cuts from her 2018 release "Like It On Top."  The years of road tours and playing festivals through Europe and the United States have paid dividends for Ana Popovic.

Ana Popovic | Fort Lauderdale, FL

The band was in solid form and soared when called upon, but for the most part, they allowed Popovic to showcase her guitar virtuoso skills, including some nifty slide guitar work.  Her skills were enhanced not only by the influences of her favorite blues guitar players such as Stevie Ray Vaughn, Elmore James, and Albert King but also from the sounds of Memphis, Nashville, and New Orleans.  Musical meccas that Popovic has either visited, lived, and or recorded in. 

Ana Popovic | Fort Lauderdale, Fl

While extraordinary female blues artists (Etta James, Koko Taylor, Janis Joplin ) and guitarists (Bonnie Raitt, Sue Foley, and Susan Tedeschi) are not new and are becoming more common (Samantha Fish), what help sets Popovic apart (aside from her easy on the eyes looks) is her modern message of not only female empowerment but acceptance of all that comes with it. “Honey I’m Home” is the perfect complement to the title track “Like it on Top” as Popovic lovingly sings a women’s point of view of the strong man she sees in her stay at home husband while the double entendre laced "Like it on Top” speaks of a women who has it all with lyrics " I like it on top, every day of the week" along with with ” You and I, we all have the power, it's up to us." 

Ana Popovic | Broward Center for the Performing Arts

In short, Ana Popovic is a modern blues artist gem that is clearly ‘On Top’ of her game.

Wed, 01/29/2020 - 7:23 pm

The legendary Robert Cray brought his Blues, R&B and Soul show to the Parker Playhouse in Ft Lauderdale on Saturday, January 25th, 2020, and we were thrilled to catch the show.

Parker Playhouse | Fort Lauderdale, FL

The five-time Grammy winner led the quartet through an evening of blues laced soul and R&B songs that spanned Cray’s four decade-plus careers, including multiple cuts from 2017’s release and Steve Jordan produced, “Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm." Highlights included the upbeat “Bouncing Back,” a blues and jazz version of “Sittin’ on top of the World,” “Right Next Door,” AKA “Strong Persuader” with a bluesy “Sunshine of Your Love” tacked on the end. Other highlights included the soulful “Poor Johnny” and “You Had My Heart” with its diminuendo coda. Cray even tackled politics on “Just How Low” with it’s “Hail to the Chief” intro.  

Robert Cray | Fort Lauderdale, FL

The Robert Cray Band, consisting of Mr. Cray on guitar and vocals, Dover Weinberg on keyboards, Richard Cousins on bass, and Terence Clark on drums, were like a relaxed and well-oiled machine. They were loose enough to take in the moment as there seemed to be no strict setlist so Mr. Cray could draw on selections from his vast catalog. He appreciated the comedic heckle regarding their guitar tech (Saq) after a fan yelled …” who keeps stealing your guitars?!”.  Replying, “We found him on the street,” just as Cray earlier joked about his bass player. Mr. Cray is clearly an artist comfortable in his own shoes.

Robert Cray & Richard Cousins

Robert Cray was to the 1980s, and 90’s what Gary Clark Jr. is to today. That is, the face of modern blues. Their styles might be a different shade of blue as Cray is known for his distinct clean tone solos that earned him his own Fender Stratocaster model. Mr. Cray’s legendary status was cultivated by touring with Eric Clapton, sitting in with the Rolling Stones, recorded with John Lee Hooker, and was part of the house band for the Keith Richards produced Chuck Berry documentary “Hail, Hail Rock N’ Roll. He also had a small part as a bass player in the comedy classic film “Animal House” and was on the bill in Alpine Valley, Wisconsin, in August of 1990 with Stevie Ray Vaughn, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, and Jimmie Vaughn. Stevie Ray Vaughn perished that evening in a post-concert helicopter crash. 

Robert Cray | Parker Playhouse

While Cray’s overall sound may be more of a Sam Cook meets Otis Redding than Robert Johnson, at the end of the day, Robert Cray left this blues fan and the crowd on Saturday evening, Sittin’ on Top of the World!

Rachelle Coba | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Opening artist Rachelle Coba kicked the evening off with a terrific set. She captivated the audience immediately with her blues-infused finger-style electric guitar, soulful voice, and self-penned blues songs sounded like classics. The University of Miami music grad was a big hit with the blues-loving crowd. She shined on ‘Blame in on the Blues” from her 2018 release “Blink.”

Tue, 02/04/2020 - 5:54 pm

Taj Mahal and his quartet played the Parker Playhouse in Ft Lauderdale, FL, on January 27th, 2020. The 78-year old three-time Grammy winner treated the audience to an evening of African, Caribbean, Hawaiian, and blues music that was upbeat, infectious and captivating. Mahal is a musicologist who celebrates and honors African music as being the cornerstone of all modern music.  In 1981 he moved to Kauai, Hawaii and shortly after formed the Hula Blues Band, thus resurrecting a stalled career.    

Taj Mahal | Parker Playhouse

Taj Mahal, whose stage name came to him in a dream about Gandhi, India, and social compassion has captivated audiences for over sixty years in his storied career. He has played and recorded with the likes of blues legends Howlin’ Wolf, Lightnin’ Hopkins and Muddy Waters. Not to mention Eric Clapton and the Rolling Stones, appearing in the Stones 1968 film, Rock and Roll Circus. In his youth in rural Massachusetts, Mahal developed an interest in agriculture that has led to numerous appearances at the annual Farm Aid concerts.

Taj Mahal | Parker Playhouse

The Taj Mahal Quartet is Bill Rich on Bass, Kester Smith on drums, Bobby Ingano on guitar and Hawaiian lap steel.  Highlights of Monday’s set included blues chestnuts ‘See See Rider’ and Stagger Lee,’ the reggae-tinged ‘Wild About My Lovin’ as well perennial favorites ‘Corrina’ and Lovin’ in My Baby’s Eyes”.

Trey Hensley & Rob Ickes | Parker Playhouse

Mega-talented Tennessee based Bluegrass duo Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley open the show with Grateful Dead filled acoustic set. Hensley is a dobro master who plays off Hensley’s vocals and guitar.  Their set included some of Henley’s own songs as well as Dead classics “Brown Eyed Women” and “Friend of the Devil.” Look for their “Brown Eyed Women” video with special guest Vince Gill.

Taj Mahal | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Check out more photos from the show.

Sat, 02/08/2020 - 8:14 pm

The 43rd Ann Arbor Folk Festival took place at Hill Auditorium last Friday and Saturday night. The two-day event was a benefit for legendary local music venue The Ark and featured national and local artists from Iron & Wine + Calexico to Molly Tuttle, Cold Tone Harvest, Bettye Lavette, and Nathaniel Rateliff. Willie Porter emceed the festival. A recap from Saturday:

Nathaniel Rateliff

Nathaniel Rateliff | Ann Arbor Music Festival

Rateliff mesmerized the crowd with a career-spanning solo acoustic set that included selected cuts from his upcoming release, 'And It's Still Alright (Feb 14/Stax Records). Initially, that project centered around Rateliff's divorce, but it turned into an homage to his late friend and Producer, Richard Swift. Rateliff's performance was absolutely stunning as he bared his soul with his minimalistic acoustic guitar approach and passionate, powerful baritone vocals, that ranged from the soothing to mournful wailing. He took the audience on an intimate emotional journey that left Rateliff himself choked up at times. There were tender light-hearted moments as he described how cathartic the recording process was and then added playfully …"but so fuckin' heavy!"

Set List:

Tonight #2

All or Nothing

Expecting to Lose

Shroud

And It's Still Alright

This

Whimper

Right on Still out There Running

Still Trying

Time Stands

Rush On

Mandolin Orange

Mandolin Orange | Ann Arbor, MI

The Chapel Hill, NC based husband and wife duo of Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin delighted the crowd with their intimate style of Folk, Bluegrass, and Country music. Mr. Marlin (guitar and Mandolin) is their talented and prolific songwriter who shared lead vocals with Mrs. Frantz (acoustic guitar & fiddle). Together, their gentle harmonies calm and soothe the soul. It was as if they take you in a musical time machine to a bygone era.  The group is known for tranquil shows leaving audiences with intimate musical experience. They truly exemplify the musical adage of not only knowing what to play, but what not to play.  Marlin jokingly thanked the audience for not coughing, as if that would create a ruckus.  While the band may be referred to as a duo, one can't underestimate the value of the three other musicians who make up this ensemble, Clint Mullican on bass, Joe Westerlund on drums and Josh Oliver on acoustic & electric guitars. Josh Oliver took an unplugged acoustic lead guitar solo on Neil Young’s ’Unknown Legend' that demonstrated what a key ingredient he is in the overall sound of Mandolin Orange. That is said with all due respect to both Marlin's fine mandolin and Frantz's fiddle playing. Their set included their gem "Wildfire" as well as:

Echo

Golden Embers

When She's Feeling Blue

There Was a Time

Old Times and Companions

Time We Made Time

The Hawk is a Mule

Bettye Lavette

Bettye Lavette | Ann Arbor Music Festival

Local and legendary soul singer Bettye Lavette showed the audience that she too is the Queen of Detroit Soul. Her upbeat set showcased her gritty vocal style and wide-ranging musical influences, from Blues, Gospel, Soul, R&B, and Jazz to Country and Rock.  Lavette, a Detroit native, is a seasoned pro who made her first record at the age of sixteen and has toured with the likes of Otis Redding and James Brown.  Highlights included her powerful and pleading take on Bob Dylan's "It Ain't Me Babe" and a cover of her friend Lucinda Williams's 'Joy'.

Molly Tuttle

Molly Tuttle | Ann Arbor Music Festival

The 27-year-old Bay Area native and Bluegrass guitar virtuoso's set included a haunting and very apropos "Cold Rain and Snow" as well as "Take The Journey" off her 2019 release, "When You're Ready."  Tuttle, who in 2017 became the first female to win the International Bluegrass Music Association's Guitar Player of the Year award, also came out for the evenings' encore joining Mandolin Orange and others on Neil Young's 'Unknown Legend. She added poignant, heartfelt vocals and a tasteful lead guitar solo. 

John Moreland

John Calvin Abney & John Moreland

John Moreland's acoustic performance with guitarist John Calvin Abney was one of the evenings highlights that left the audience completely mesmerized and craving for more, as demonstrated by the thunderous ovation after their set.  Mooreland's heartfelt and pensive songs (think part Springsteen, Townes Van Zandt & Steve Earl) were enhanced by Calvin Abney's exquisite tasteful lead guitar licks.  His setlist included 'Old Wounds,' 'Cherokee', and 'I need You to Tell Me Who I Am.'

Cold Tone Harvest

Ozzie Andres | Cold Tone Harvest

The Michigan quartet kicked things off with rousing set. Their fiery brand of upbeat Bluegrass instantly warmed the hearts of all. Ozzie Andres pulsating upright bass drove home the point.

Willy Porter

Willy Porter | Ann Arbor Folk Festival

Porter did yeoman's work as the event's Emcee. He was informative, insightful and entertaining as he regaled the audience with songs and stories throughout the evening. The audiences' hushed sing-along during 'Akasha Wind' was special.

Hats off to Mr. Porter and the Ann Arbor Folk Festival benefit for The Ark. It was an evening of truly great music for a truly great cause.  See ya' next year!

Ann Arbor Folk Festival

Check out more photos from Ann Arbor Folk Festival.

Wed, 02/12/2020 - 11:23 am

Three-time Grammy Award winner Lucinda Williams played a passionate and potent show at the Parker Playhouse in Ft Lauderdale last Thursday evening. Fresh off the Outlaw Country Cruise, Williams seemed at ease as she led her band (Buick 6) thru a set that included songs from her upcoming release Good Souls Better Angels (April 24 Highway 20/Thirty Tiger) as well as cuts from her 1998 blockbuster Car Wheels on a Gravel Road.  'Good Souls' reunited Williams with producer Ray Kennedy, an engineer on 'Car Wheels.'  Lucinda & Buick 6 took on the Commander in Chief in the wistful "Man Without a Soul." The soul-tinged "Good Souls" was played as part of her encore; both songs are off her upcoming release in which her husband Tom Overby also produced. The queen of alt-country treated fans to other hits such as “Side of the Road,” “Concrete and Barbed Wire,” and “Joy.”

Lucinda Williams | Fort Lauderdale, FL

A seemingly relaxed Williams provided some insight into some of her signature songs, explaining that in “Car Wheels” she was being driven and that in “Ghosts of Highway 20” she was the one driving, and of a former boyfriend from Texas who identified with Louisiana, in "Lake Charles." The quartet playfully segued briefly into Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" during "Righteously."  Buick 6, consisting of drummer Butch Norton, guitarist Stuart Mathis, and bassist David Sutton, were firing on all cylinders, or as Lucinda put it, "Three guys with power of six." They hit their stride on the hypnotic "Are You Down." 

Lucinda Williams | Parker Playhouse

Whatever ‘Joy’ was taken from Lucinda Williams ...she found a way to give that back to audiences in spades.

Jesse Malin and Derek Cruz

Jesse Malin and Derek Cruz kicked things off with rockin’ acoustic opening set. The highlight was Malin's Stones infused "Meet Me at the Endo of the World."

Mon, 10/25/2021 - 5:47 pm

Some of the Nation's top jam, funk, and improv bands are headed to Miami for the North Beach Music Festival at the intimate seaside Bandshell Park on Friday and Saturday, December 10th and 11th. The inaugural event will feature Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and a "Spafford & Friends" set with special guests Eric Krasno and Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, keyboardists Alric “A.C.” Carter (TAUK) and Marco Benevento (JRAD), and percussionist Nate Werth (Snarky Puppy, Ghost-Note), among others. Local favorites, The Heavy Pets have also been added.  Here is a quick preview of what we are most looking forward to seeing at North Beach Music Festival:

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong

Pigeons Playing Ping Pong- The Baltimore-based quartet brings their mix of high energy psychedelic, funk, and all-around good vibes to party with their headlining set on Friday night.

Spafford- Known for their extended and off-the-cuff jams, Spafford takes audiences on a sonic journey. They are veteran festival favorites and will perform two sets Saturday. Their second set is billed as "Spafford & Friends" and will feature special guests Eric Krasno, Marco Benevento,  Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, TAUK keyboardist Alric Carter and percussionist Nate Werth of Snarky Puppy and Ghost-Note. Spafford's first set will be completely improv. 

Spafford | Photo by June Jameson

The Motet- An infusion of funk, jazz, soul, rock, and World Music, the Denver/Boulder-based band has headlined Red Rocks numerous times and is known for their energetic music and their annual Halloween show where they play covers of a favorite band and dress the part as well ...from the Grateful Dead and the Talking Heads to  Madonna and Michael Jackson. 

The Heavy Pets- Local favorites and festival circuit favorites with over a thousand shows under their belt,  were added to the bill and bring their blend of reggae, disco, funk, jazz-tinged rock n roll with a set on Friday night. Newcomer Chris Patiswill has taken over on bass as former bassist Tony D'Amato left the group to pursue other musical interests.   

Marco Benevento- The 1995 Berklee College of Music grad and member of Joe Russo's Almost Dead, Benevento toured with Trey Anastasio, Mike Gordon, and Joe Russo in 2006. Look for this keyboard wizard to experiment with any number of instruments or toys including an acoustic piano, drum machine, synthesizer, Speak & Spell or a  glockenspiel.  He will also join Spafford for their second set. 

Marco Benevento | Photo by June Jameson

Tauk-The instrumental prog-rock and fusion quartet play a set on Friday night, 12/10. The absence of a vocalist has allowed the band to focus on creating a unique soundscape.

Brandon "Taz" Niederauer- Don't let his 18-year-old youthful looks fool you. This guitar phenom has performed with the likes of Greg Allman, Buddy Guy, Lady Gaga, Slash, Dr. John, and Gary Clarke Jr., among others. Look for his set and his special guest spot with Spafford, both on Saturday 12/11.

Holly Bowling-The classically trained Bowling is perhaps best known for performing Phish and Dead solos on piano. She is very much admired on the jam band circuit. Check out her videos of Grateful Dead classics 'Brokedown Palace 'and  'Eyes of the World,' no wonder she is a frequent guest of Phil Lesh & Friends. 

For further details including ticket information visit 
https://northbeachmusicfestival.com

Wed, 02/09/2022 - 2:30 pm

Hot Tuna played an intimate acoustic set at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale on Monday evening, delighting the faithful crowd with their intricate brand of blues, jazz, folk and rock. Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame (class of ’96) members, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady treated the audience to two sets of classic Hot Tuna, showcasing Kaukonen’s Piedmont blues fingerstyle guitar with Casady’s lead guitar style bass runs that have entertained fans for over half a century.

Jack & Jorma | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Born out of the legendary 60‘s band the Jefferson Airplane, Hot Tuna provided an outlet for Jack and Jorma to play traditional blues from artists they admired such as Reverend Gary Davis, Jelly Roll Morton and Blind Blake. These blues classics were not ideally suited for ‘The Airplane’, but became Hot Tuna staples. Kaukonen will have his 80th birthday celebration (belated) on April 22 at Carnegie Hall in New York. The event will also mark the 50th anniversary of the release of their 1972 release “Burgers” which they will play in its entirety with special guests Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams.

Acoustic Hot Tuna | The Parker

Monday night’s eleven song first set kicked off with “Dime For Beer” followed by the Kaukonen penned “Trouble in Mind”. The set concluded with Blind Blakes “That’ll Never Happen No More”.

Jack & Jorma | February 7th, 2022

The twelve song second set kicked off with “Nobody Knows when you Down and Out” and included perennial fan favorites “Good Shepard”, ‘Highway Song’ and Mortons’ “Whining Boy Blues. The set concluded with “I Know You Rider” sending everyone home on a high note.

The Parker | Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Formally the Parker Playhouse, The Parker received a massive makeover after the Broward Performing Arts Foundation let a $30 Million fundraising campaign. Patrons will be greeted by a spacious new entryway and wider seating among other upgrades.  There is also an option to purchase a $35 per person ticket to a premium lounge that includes open bar, hors d‘oeuvres and desserts.

Jack & Jorma | The Parker

Jorma commented from the stage on the pristine sound of the venue stating …“We could get used to this!”.  Indeed, this reviewer is looking forward to getting used to more music in this gem of a setting.

Acoustic Hot Tuna | February 7th, 2022

Tue, 09/27/2022 - 9:12 am

Farm Aid's annual benefit concert took place at the Coastal Credit Union Music Park at Walnut Creek in Raleigh, NC on September 24th.  The sold-out crowd was treated to sets by headliner Willie Nelson and co-founder John Mellencamp, board members Dave Matthews and Margo Price, and featured artists Sheryl Crow and Chris Stapleton, among others. One significant absence at this year's event was co-founder Neil Young.

Willie, John, Margo and Dave - Farm Aid 2022

Margo with the Wisdom Indian Dancers - Farm Aid - 2022

Founded by Nelson in 1985 after Bob Dylan made an on-stage comment at Live Aid that "maybe some of the money raised could be used to help the family farmers." Thirty-seven years later. Farm Aid has raised more than $60 million to assist family farms. At the concert on Saturday night, Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, a noted music memorabilia collector, owns Jerry Garcia's "Tiger" guitar as well as guitars previously owned by Elvis Presley, John Lennon, George Harrison, Paul McCartney, and Les Paul.

John Mellencamp | Farm Aid 2022

Wisdom Indian Dancers - Farm Aid - 2022

Farm Aid announced at their Saturday morning press conference, a major rally is planned for the week of March of 2023 in Washington DC. The event, tentatively called "Farmers for climate, a rally for resilience" to obtain federal support for climate resilient based agriculture. Mellencamp quipped ..."We'll get a school bus, and we'll all go down together".

Allison Russell & Lukas Nelson | Farm Aid 2022

As we noted earlier, this year's festival was sans co-founder and board member Neil Young, who last performed at the event in 2019. Mr. Young has cited Covid concerns for not performing live in recent years. Also, Nathaniel Rateliff and The Night Sweats canceled at the last minute as per the band "Unfortunately, COVID has found us on the road."

Particle Kid | Farm Aid 2022

Wisdom Indian Dancers - Farm Aid - 2022

After a land acknowledgment by the Red Clay singers and a dance performance by the Native American group Wisdom Indian Dancers, Particle Kid (aka Mica Nelson) kicked things off with a short acoustic set. Performing as a duo with Gabe Burdulis, their set included a cover of Neil Young's "Angry World."

Here is a recap of the remaining festivities

Willie Nelson & Family

Willie Nelson | Farm Aid 2022

Willie Nelson with Morgane & Chris Stapleton + Particle Kid

This was truly a family event with sons Lukas and Mica Nelson joining Willie Nelson & Family for their set. Willie was seated center stage and bookend by his sons for their set that included the traditional Whiskey River opener and other Nelson gems such as Angel Flying to Close to the Ground, On the Road Again, and Always on My Mind.  Lukas covered "Texas Flood" and the self-penned Forget About Georgia. Mica chose Everything Is Bullshit from his Particle Kid catalog. They closed out the set with an all-star-studded version of "I Saw the Light."

Willie Nelson and Friends | Farm Aid 2022

Anytime you get to hear the eighty-nine- year Willie Nelson and his legendary sidekick guitar, Trigger, it is a treat, and both were literally music to my ears.

John Mellencamp

One Million donation to Farm Aid!

John Mellencamp | Farm Aid 2022

After receiving the $1 Million check from Colt's owner Jim Irsay, Mellencamp led his band through a string of his hits including Rain On The Scarecrow, Paper In Fire, Small Town, and Check It Out. After a solo acoustic performance of Jack & Diane, Mellencamp closed out the set with Crumblin' Down and Pink Houses.

Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds

Tim Reynolds | Farm Aid 2022

Dave Matthews | Farm Aid 2022

Farm Aid Favorites Matthews and Reynolds took center stage for an eight-song set that features Mr. Reynolds displaying some sophisticated guitar work including some nifty slide guitar. Mr. Matthew's passionate vocal style and guitar prowess delighted his legion of fans with a set that included Don't Drink The Water, Lie In Our Graves, and DMB fav Crush. They closed out their set with Grey Street.

Margo Price

Margo was active all day long in Raleigh

Margo Price | Farm Aid 2022

Price had a busy day as a Farm Aid board member, she participated in the Saturday morning press conference as well as the opening ceremonies, sat in with Allison Russell during her set, and joined the encore with Willie Nelson. She also introduced Dave Matthews and remarked how she used to be in the audience at his shows earlier in his career. Her fantastic set with her own band included Hands of Time, Letting Me Down, County Road, Tennessee Song, and Heartless Mind.

Chris Stapleton

Chris Stapleton | Farm Aid 2022

Morgane Stapleton | Farm Aid 2022

Eight-time Grammy award winner Chris Stapleton and his band (including wife Morgane) delighted the crowd with his ten-song set. But it was his mega-hit cover of Tennessee Whiskey that whipped the crowd into a frenzy and may have been the musical highlight of the day. Other songs included Parachute, Starting Over and You Should Probably Leave.

Sheryl Crow

Sheryl Crow loves bass! | Farm Aid 2022

Sheryl Crow | Farm Aid 2022

Due to scheduling conflicts, Sheryl Crow volunteered to take the stage earlier in the day to allow Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real to take the later slot as they were arriving late. Crow joined Allison Russell during her set before taking the stage with her own band that includes guitarists Audley Freed, Peter Stroud, and bassist Robert Kearns, all North Carolina natives with the latter donning a NC State Wolfpack shirt during the set. Crow's set included a rockin' version of the Rolling Stones' Live With Me as well as a cross-section of her own hits including that featured Crow on guitar, bass, and harmonica. Her set included her hits Everyday Is A Winding Road, If It Makes You Happy, My Favorite Mistake, and Soak Up The Sun.   

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real

Lukas Nelson | Farm Aid 2022

Lukas Nelson | Farm Aid 2022

It is no wonder Neil Young picked Lukas Nelson and POTR as his backing band. The band's set included a mix of songs that ranged from Country Rock with soaring guitar solos (Fool Me Once) to the poignant acoustic Just Outside Of Austin, that harkens back to days gone by. Nelson's songwriting more than stands on its own while his beautiful vibrato vocals evoke emotions that remind us that the apple has not fallen too far from the Willie Nelson tree. The band invited Brittney Spencer, Allison Russell with her band, along with Tim Reynolds for a Robert Johnson tribute, and also covering Delaney and Bonnie's Poor Elijah.

Allison Russell

Allison Russell | Farm Aid 2022

Allison Russell | Farm Aid 2022

Allison Russell, Sheryl Crow, Brittney Spencer, and Margo Price

Russel delivered the most passionate set of the day. She channels her issues as a victim of abuse and turned them into a musical crusade, inviting everyone along for the ride, all while imploring other victims that they are not alone. Her enthusiasm and joy are infectious to all.  Her set included a new song Georgia Rise about the impending political situation in that state. She was joined by Tift Merritt, Sheryl Crow, Tressie McMillan Cottom, Brittney Spencer, Tim Reynolds, and others.

Charley Crockett

Charley Crockett | Farm Aid 2022

Charlie Crockett | Farm Aid 2022

This Texas-born troubadour delivered this reviewers' favorite set of the day. Crocket and his band, The Blues Drifters, served the audience a musical gumbo. A bit of New Orleans jazz, Deep Elm blues, and Soul, complete with a saloon-style upright piano, or as he calls his sound ...Gulf and Western. Visually he appears like a cross between modern-day Hank Williams and Dwight Yoakam. Crocket has finally been enjoying recent success after years of perfecting his craft in places such as New York, San Francisco, Paris, Spain, and Morocco. While his back story is impressive, it is the songs and music that have audiences flocking to his shows. Props to The Blue Drifters as they sound like the perfect vehicle to showcase Mr. Crockett's Texas Hill Country twang and soul-infused songs. His cover of Bobby Borchers and Mack Vickery's Jamestown Ferry was a set highlight.

Brittney Spencer

Brittney Spencer | Farm Aid 2022

Allison, Sheryl, Brittney and Margo | Farm Aid 2022

The Baltimore native and vocal powerhouse is the current darling of the alt-country music scene. Her gospel-tinged vocal style caught the attention of Bob Weir as she sat in on his Radio City show in New York in April. Her Farm Aid set highlights included Sober & Skinny and her cover of These Boots Are Made for Walkin'.

Farm Aid 2022 | Raleigh, NC

Willie Nelson | Farm Aid 2022

...While Mr. Young and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats were missed, we wish them well and hope to see them back on stage shortly. The event still proved to be successful in continuing to not only raise funds but also awareness for the plight of the family farmer, including the struggles of farmers of color. Climate change was a big topic at this year's event as well and it no doubt it will be the focus for years to come. The concert itself was a wonderful mix of iconic and well-established artists mixed with some of the next generation's best artists. This in and of itself should sustain the concert event for years to come.

See you next year at Farm Aid!

Check out more photos from Farm Aid 2022.

Allison Russell | Farm Aid 2022

Chris Stapleton | Farm Aid 2022

Tue, 01/31/2023 - 3:07 pm

The Tedeschi Trucks Band rolled into Boca Raton’s Mizner Amphitheater last Friday, bringing their brand of blues and soul, to a festive capacity crowd. The 12-piece ensemble consisting of the husband- and-wife team Susan Tedeschi and Derek Trucks, played two sets that drew heavily from their 2022 release, I Am the Moon and included a barn burning cover of Santana’s ‘Soul Sacrifice’.

Mizner Park Amphitheater | Boca Raton, FL

Fresh of the heals of a ‘Star Bangled Banner’ performance at the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL playoff game in mid-January, the Jacksonville based band played a handful of Florida dates before heading north for multiple nights in Washington DC and Nashville’s fabled Ryman Auditorium.

Tedeschi Trucks Band | Mizner Amphitheater

Formed in 2007, The Grammy Award winning Tedeschi Trucks Band was created after Tedeschi and Trucks combined forces. The couple met in 1999 while Tedeschi was an opening act for The Allman Brothers Band. Derek’s uncle (Butch Trucks) was the drummer. They were married in 2001 toured as Derek Trucks & Susan Tedeschi's Soul Stew Revival until 2007, when they formed the TTB.
Set List:

SET 1
Hear My Dear
Fall In
I Am The Moon
Ain’t That Something
Yes We Will
Circles ‘Round the Sun
Pasaquan
I Can’t Make You Love Me

SET 2

Anyhow
Do I Look Worried
Stand Back
- Mr Clean
Part of Me
Emmaline
Gravity
Just Won’t Burn
Midnight in Harlem
I Walk on Guilded Splinters
I Want More / Soul Sacrifice

Encore: Space Captain

BAND MEMBERS:
Tedeschi Trucks Band is Susan Tedeschi (guitar, vocals), Derek Trucks (guitar), Gabe Dixon (keyboards, vocals), Brandon Boone (bass), Tyler “Falcon” Greenwell (drums, percussion) Isaac Eady (drums, percussion), Mike Mattison (vocals, guitar), Mark Rivers (vocals), Alecia Chakour (vocals), Kebbi Williams (saxophone), Ephraim Owens (trumpet) and Elizabeth Lea (trombone).

Tue, 05/09/2023 - 3:22 pm

Dead & Company kicked off their Final Tour Saturday with a headlining single set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Lightning and torrential rains delayed the festivities, with gates opening over an hour past the 11:00 am schedule, causing some of the earlier slated bands to be scrapped. The rain held off for most of Dead & Co’s electric-only set. The sun even managed to make a late-set appearance. Earlier sets on the main Festival Stage by George Porter Jr., Anders Osborne, and the Preservation Hall Jazz Band endured torrents of rain. As expected, Jay Lane joined Mickey Hart on drums as founding member Bill Kreutzmann recently announced that he was leaving the group for creative reasons.  Lane has previously filled in for Kruetzmann for health reasons.

NOLA Jazz Fest - 2023

Some Highlights from Saturday at NOLA include:

Dead & Company

Jay Lane, Bobby Weir, and Mickey Hart | New Orleans, LA

A Truckin’ opener had that crowd up and dancing right out of the gates on this Kentucky Derby Saturday.  Always a crowd favorite, Truckin’ hit home with its Crescent City references.

Dead & Company | New Orleans, LA

A New Orleans-tinged Shakedown Street and upbeat Cumberland Blues showcased the bands' vocal versatility.  

Jeff Chimenti & John Mayer | NOLA Jazz Fest

Guitarist John Mayer and keyboardist Jeff Chimenti locked into jams that propelled the ensemble forward, to the delight of the crowd.  

Big Chief “Sunpie” Barnes and the North Side Skull and Bone Gang with Mickey and Jay Lane

Perhaps the biggest highlight of the afternoon was the addition of Big Chief “Sunpie” Barnes and the North Side Skull and Bone Gang, to the Drums portion of the set. Decked out in skeletal costumes, masks, and stilts, chanting ‘Getting your life together’, as a reminder to live well before death. The ensemble dates back to 1819, in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans, with roots in Africa.

The sun came out for Dead & Company

Jay Lane kicked off a post drum ‘Not Fade Away’, a perennial Dead crowd favorite, complete with audience sing-along participation.

Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Preservation Hall Jazz Band | NOLA Jazz Fest

Preservation Hall Jazz Band | NOLA Jazz Fest

Hard to believe this was that this was the first time the PHJB played the main stage at Jazz Fest. They did not disappoint. A mainstay of all things musical in New Orleans, they are a huge part of the soundtrack of the city and never fail to entertain.  They had the crowd up and dancing from the get-go.   

Anders Osborne

Anders Osborne | NOLA Jazz Fest

Anders Osborne | New Orleans, LA

A Crescent City native, Osborne kicked things up a notch with an energetic set with the apropos ‘Louisiana Rain’ opener. Seemingly not part of his set plans, he improvised the opener due to the surrounding circumstances. He instantly won the crowd over.   

George Porter Jr.

George Porter Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners

George Porter Jr. & The Runnin' Pardners | NOLA

Legendary bassist Porter, and his band the Runnin' Pardners, kicked the day off with a rain-soaked set. The inclement weather kept some folks away early in the day, but local legend Porter delivered a spirited set to faithful fans who endured heavy rains. Porter first played Jazz Fest with his legendary funk band, the Meters in 1970. 

Tue, 09/26/2023 - 10:39 am

In an unforeseen rendezvous of legends, the inimitable Bob Dylan ambushed the atmosphere at this year’s Farm Aid, held at the pulsating Ruoff Music Center in Noblesville, Indiana, on a Saturday night that now glimmers as a golden note in music's ever-evolving tapestry. His spectral appearance was an unexpected gift, brilliantly gilding an already illustrious lineup featuring the likes of Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Bob Weir, among other musical titans.

Bob Dylan with members of the Heartbreakers | Farm Aid

The crowd, a sea of over 20,000 ardent souls, rippled with surprise and fervor as Dylan emerged from the shadows, armed with an electric guitar—a companion he hadn’t publicly serenaded with in over a decade, having been seemingly inseparable from his keyboards in recent years. With no introduction, no heralding fanfare, the man simply let his presence and the first chords of "Maggie's Farm" speak for themselves, commencing a three-song set that would send reverberations through the adoring mass.

Bob Dylan | Noblesville, IN

The sonic backdrop to this impromptu spectacle was provided by none other than the majority of Tom Petty's venerable backing band, the Heartbreakers, setting the stage for a harmonious convergence of musical prowess. Under the canopy of the Indiana night sky, Dylan segued into "Positively 4th Street," before capping off his short yet immensely potent set with the haunting strains of "Ballad of a Thin Man." All three songs, timeless anthems from the vault of 1965, were rendered with an electrifying finesse that belied the years.

Noblesville, IN | 9/23/23

Farm Aid 2023

Farm Aid 2023

But, the poetic justice of this performance was not merely in the music. Farm Aid itself was birthed from the seeds of compassion sown by Bob Dylan during 1985’s Live Aid. It was his impassioned on-stage appeal for assistance to American farmers in financial crisis, while the world's gaze was fixed on famine-stricken Ethiopia, that inspired Willie Nelson to initiate this philanthropic endeavor. Closing the circle, Dylan’s surprise return to the Farm Aid stage was a resonant reminder of the spirit of unity and advocacy that the event embodies, leaving the audience with a melody of hope and a chorus of change that lingered long after the last note had faded into the Indiana night.

Farm Aid 2023 | Noblesville, IN

Eclipsing an already starry night were other electrifying moments:

Bobby and Sturgill Simpson | Farm Aid 2023

Bob Weir, flanked by the Wolf Bros and backed by the resonating Wolfpack, curated a symphony of brilliance, and the stage was further lit with the incandescent presences of Sturgill Simpson, Lukas Nelson, and the soulful Margo Price. The ensemble, with Nelson and Simpson leading the charge, dove headfirst into the iconic "Truckin'", before weaving through the ethereal strains of "Dark Star". As the night reached its crescendo, Price lent her vocals to a thunderous rendition of "Not Fade Away".

Bobby, Sturgill, Margo & Wolf Bros | Farm Aid 2023

But, the tale doesn’t end here. Mark your calendars, for Simpson and Price will reunite with Weir come January, under the balmy Cancun skies in Mexico, for the much-anticipated "Dead Ahead" series of performances. A musical tryst not to be missed!

Neil Young | Farm Aid 2023

Neil Young: After lighting up the iconic Roxy Club in LA with The Stray Gators just days earlier, the air was thick with anticipation: Who would accompany the legend tonight? With Micah Nelson having graced those recent shows and Promise of the Real (a familiar backing band for Neil at past Farm Aid events) in the wings, speculation was rife.

Neil Young | Noblesville, IN

However, Neil chose intimacy over ensemble. A lone guitar stood stark against an empty stage, setting the tone for a raw, stripped-back performance. Neil, ever the enigmatic performer, dove straight into "Comes a Time", serenading the crowd. The lesser-heard gem, "Are There Any More Real Cowboys", echoed next. And then, evoking the spirit of a '60s hootenanny, Neil beckoned the audience to lend their voices for "Love Earth". But in a magnanimous nod to the evening's ethos and to accommodate Dylan's unscheduled act, Neil abbreviated his performance, wrapping up with the timeless heartstring-tugger, "Heart of Gold". An evening of nostalgia, echoing with memories and melodies of yesteryears.

Willie Nelson | Farm AId 2023

Willie Nelson & Family: In a fitting crescendo to the night, it was Willie Nelson who took the reins to close the evening's musical tapestry. As Neil Young rightly christened him for the audience: "The Man who started the whole thing!" With the spirited Lukas and Michah Nelson (fondly known as Particle Kid) by his side, Willie's set was a delightful melange of his timeless hits and iconic covers. Launching with the evergreen "Whiskey River," he navigated through his illustrious catalog, serenading with classics like "Always On My Mind", "On the Road Again", "Mamma Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys", and the heartrending "Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground", among others.

Lukas Nelson, Willie Nelson, and Micah Nelson

But it wasn’t just a Willie show. The 'Family' stepped into the limelight, with Lukas particularly stealing the show with a soulful rendition of "Texas Flood", showcasing his prodigious blues guitar skills, and a touching performance of "Just Outside of Austin".

Willie Nelson | Farm Aid 2023

However, a glaring absence was felt by many, including this reviewer. The harmonica's haunting strains, traditionally provided by the legendary Mickey Raphael, were noticeably missing. In past Farm Aids, Raphael’s collaborations, like with Chris Stapleton in 2018 and Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats in 2019, added a depth and dimension, making his absence even more pronounced.

Kevin Smith | Farm Aid

Willie Nelson | Farm Aid 2023

But the Nelson family ensemble didn't stop at the immediate clan. The stage saw the addition of Waylon Payne (recognizable for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in 'Walk the Line'), Kevin Smith on the resonant upright bass, Billy English's infectious drum rhythms, and Logan Metz from 'Promise of the Real' twinkling the piano keys. Together, they wove a musical tapestry that was nothing short of mesmerizing.

Nathaniel Rateliff & Lukas Nelson | Farm Aid 2023

Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats: Per usual, the electrifying magnetism of NR&TNS is irresistible, turning any gathering into an impromptu dance floor. Launching with their foot-tapping anthem, "I Need Never Get Old", they swiftly carried the crowd into the infectious rhythm of "Trying so Hard Not to Know". Their rendition of Bruce Springsteen's classic, "Dancing in the Dark", was nothing short of spellbinding, converting any uninitiated listeners into ardent fans on the spot. Wrapping up, they unleashed "Love Don't" from their 2021 Stax Records gem "The Future", a testament to the band's uncanny ability to always dial up the intensity, igniting the audience's fervor with every note.

Margo Price & Nathaniel Rateliff | Farm Aid 2023

Jim Irsay Band featuring Ann Wilson of Heart: In a grand gesture, after handing over a $1 million check to Farm Aid onstage, Irsay pivoted to lead his band in a spirited rendition of Warren Zevon's "Lawyers, Guns and Money". While Irsay's gritty vocals might not rival Robert Plant's legendary pipes, they brought an unexpected charm to the stage, resulting in a crowd-pleasing spectacle.

Kenny Aronoff | Farm Aid 2023

Anchoring this eclectic ensemble was an all-star lineup of musicians: R.E.M.'s Mike Mills deftly handling bass duties, the dynamic Kenny Aronoff (who's kept beat for icons like Paul McCartney, Mellencamp, and The Rolling Stones) on drums, and the dexterous guitar duo of Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Tom Bukovac—the latter having recently graced the stage for Willie's 90th birthday celebrations in LA.

Tom Bukovac & Ann Wilson | Farm Aid 2023

A standout moment unfolded as the band delved into Pink Floyd's haunting "Comfortably Numb". Shepherd's mesmerizing solo on David Gilmour's iconic black Stratocaster was nothing short of electric. However, the crowning glory occurred when Irsay graciously passed the vocal baton to the incomparable Ann Wilson. The energy in the room was palpable as they plunged into The Who's anthemic "Love, Reign O'er Me", and reached a fever pitch with Heart's adrenaline-pumping classic, "Barracuda". This extraordinary rendition was a testament to the timeless magic of rock and roll.

Dave Matthews | Farm Aid

Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds have long been celebrated for their magnetic synergy on stage. This illustrious duo never fails to mesmerize, attracting both their loyal fan base and newcomers with their riveting performances. Matthews, with his evocative storytelling through acoustic strums and unique vocal tones, perfectly complements Reynolds, who, with remarkable dexterity, masterfully commands the lead guitar.

Tim Reynolds | Farm Aid 2023

Their synergy is undeniable: between Matthews' vocal flights and meticulous guitar craftsmanship, and Reynolds' often ethereal slide guitar solos, especially in the higher octaves, they create an experience that's nothing short of exhilarating for their audience. Kicking off with the spirited "Rye Whiskey", they quickly set an upbeat tone, transporting the crowd into revelry. The reflective "Virginia in the Rain" was particularly touching, with Dave's heartfelt introduction about dancing in the rain with his young daughters, lending it an added layer of sentiment. Culminating their sonic journey, they treated the audience to the Dave Matthews Band anthem, "Crush", leaving an indelible mark on all who listened.

John Mellencamp and Neil Young | Farm Aid 2023

John Mellencamp: For Mellencamp, stepping onto the stage felt like a heartfelt reunion. After all, as he shared during the pre-show press briefing, it marked his return to the Indiana stage after nearly two decades. And what a homecoming it was! He dished out a melodic spread of his iconic tracks, opening up with an intimate, solo acoustic rendition of "Jack & Diane". The energy only escalated from there with crowd-favorites like "Paper in Fire", "Lonely Ol' Night", and the evocative "Pink Houses". His performance of "Small Town" was particularly resonant, as he seamlessly woven in improvised lines, proclaiming, "I was born a Hoosier... right here in this state", much to the delight of the home crowd.

John Mellencamp

In between musical interludes, Mellencamp wore other hats as well – graciously accepting Irsay's generous $1 million check on behalf of Farm Aid and then ushering in the formidable Neil Young, adding yet another feather to his cap on this memorable day.

Margo Price | Farm Aid 2023

Margo Price: Despite the minor hiccup of her tour bus issues causing a miss on the pre-show press conference, Margo Price, who proudly joined Farm Aid's board in 2021, more than made amends on stage. She stormed the limelight alongside Weir & Co with a rousing rendition of "Not Fade Away." But the surprises didn't end there. In a delightful twist, the talented Sturgill Simpson graced her eight-song set, collaborating on a poignant cover of Tom Petty's "Mary Jane's Last Dance" – its lyric "Indiana Boys on an Indiana Night" resonating deeply with the crowd.

Farm Aid 2023

Beyond her vocal prowess, Price showcased her multi-instrumentalist talent, seamlessly transitioning between guitar, the rhythm-invoking cowbell, and drums, solidifying her standing as a true musical powerhouse.

Michael Kang & Jason Hann | The String Cheese Incident

The String Cheese Incident: Hailing from Grateful Web's home in Colorado, The String Cheese Incident, a seasoned sextet with three decades of jam sessions to their name, made a memorable debut at Farm Aid this year. Their five-song set reverberated seamlessly with the audience, particularly the rhythmic charm of "Lend Me a Hand." Given the electric reception, it wouldn’t be a stretch to anticipate (and fervently hope for) their return to future Farm Aid stages!

Billy Nershi & Kyle Hollingsworth | The String Cheese Incident

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real: Oozing energy and prowess, LN&POTR set the stage ablaze with their seven-song ensemble. Kicking off with "Sticks and Stones" and wrapping up with the dynamic "Find Yourself", the spotlight particularly shone on Lukas's masterful lead guitar solos. The quintet's harmonious blend of country, blues, and rock electrified the atmosphere, sending waves of appreciation through the crowd.

Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real | Farm Aid

Lukas, the dynamo that he is, was everywhere – jamming with Bob Weir, and then sharing the spotlight with his legendary father, Willie, as the night culminated. A particular moment of serenity was when we found him gracefully serenading from an upright piano.

Lukas Nelson | Farm Aid 2023

POTR, over time, has woven itself into the fabric of Farm Aid, acting as a versatile musical nexus. They've transformed into a Farm Aid mainstay, with individual members enriching performances of other renowned artists like Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and Allison Russell. The band has truly become an emblematic heart, beating in rhythm with the Farm Aid spirit.

Tylar Bryant | Farm Aid 2023

The Black Opry featuring Lori Rayne, Tylar Bryant, and Kyshona: This trio burst onto the scene like a breath of fresh air, proving to be a captivating addition to the Farm Aid lineup. Their unique round-robin approach spotlighted each singer-songwriter, creating a seamless tapestry of talent as they exchanged songs. Undoubtedly, they left a lingering note of anticipation, and one can't help but eagerly await more musical endeavors from these artists, both within the Farm Aid realm and beyond.

Lori Rayne | Farm Aid 2023

This year’s Farm Aid unfolded as a symphony of legends, harmonious collaborations, and captivating surprises, etching its name as one of the most illustrious chapters in the festival’s storied history. With a tapestry of genres and a mosaic of talents – from the iconic strains of Bob Dylan's guitar to the vibrant energy of The String Cheese Incident, and the multilayered harmonies of The Black Opry – the event was a testament to the diversity and unity of music. The vibrant echoes of Lukas Nelson’s guitar and Margo Price’s versatile notes resonated with the crowd, while the nostalgic chords of John Mellencamp and Neil Young brought waves of reminiscence. Each performance, a unique note in this musical composition, contributed to the festival’s mission of supporting American farmers, symbolizing hope and solidarity.

Willie Nelson and Neil Young | Farm Aid 2023

As we look forward to the next rendition of this iconic festival, the bar has been set extraordinarily high. The upcoming host city will embrace the challenge to not only match but aim to surpass the vibrancy, unity, and sheer musical ecstasy witnessed in Indiana. Here’s to another year of celebrating music, fostering communities, and championing the noble cause of Farm Aid!

Fri, 10/06/2023 - 2:33 pm

A palpable aura of nostalgic reverence enveloped The Parker Theater in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday night, as the venerable rock-blues trio Hot Tuna took to the stage, embarking on the Fort Lauderdale leg of their "Going Fishing 2023 Tour." Jorma Kaukonen (guitar/vocals), Jack Casady (bass), and Justin Guip (drums) didn’t just play a concert. They orchestrated a journey, intertwining over 50 years of music history into a night of emotional, electrifying performances.

Jack & Jorma | Parker Playhouse

Celebrating Half a Century of Sonic Brilliance

Hot Tuna | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Hot Tuna, birthed over five decades ago as a side project while Jack and Jorma were vital components of the iconic Jefferson Airplane, rapidly garnered a devoted following, becoming an entity and phenomenon in their own right. Their deep dive into traditional blues, paying homage to legends like Reverend Gary Davis and Jelly Roll Morton, has always been executed with a passion and precision that made them stand out in the vibrant tapestry of the music scene.

Jorma Kaukonen | Parker Playhouse

Hot Tuna | Parker Playhouse

Their music - a vibrant amalgamation of Jack Casady's virtuosic bass work, Kaukonen's adept fingerstyle guitar technique, and in later years, Guip’s percussive expertise - has propelled them into the annals of music history. They're not just musicians; they are narrators of a sonic tale that spans generations, with jams and solos that have become legendary in the music world.

A Night Drenched in Musical Mastery

Parker Playhouse | Fort Lauderdale, FL

Last night, the trio didn’t simply perform two sets of music; they invited the audience into a space where every strum, beat, and vocal carried the weight of their illustrious journey. Notable moments included a stirring bass solo during "Bow Legged Woman," Jorma's emotive fingerstyle guitar on "Sea Child," and a symbiotic musical conversation during the crowd favorite, "Good Shepard."

Jack and Jorma | Parker Playhouse

Set highlights such as 'Hesitation Blues', 'Good Shepard', 'Funky #7', and the encore 'Water Song' weren’t just performances. They were echoes of a bygone era, a sweet reminiscence for those who’ve walked alongside their journey from the turbulent ‘60s to the present day.

An Ode to Endurance and Evolution

Hot Tuna | Fort Lauderdale, FL

While this tour is touted as their final electric endeavor, the acoustic realm awaits their mastery in 2024. It's not just a continuation but a testament to their unwavering commitment to their craft and their fans. Hot Tuna isn’t merely a band; it's a legacy, a story of endurance, evolution, and an undying love for the purity of music.

Lots of love for Tuna in Florida

We tip our hats to Hot Tuna, not just for an enchanting evening but for providing the soundtrack to the lives of many, across decades of change, challenge, and celebration. Whatever incarnation of Hot Tuna we witness in the future, Jack and Jorma will forever resonate in the hearts of those who’ve sailed along on their musical voyage.

The Electric Trio

Jorma Kaukonen, Jack Casady, and Justin Guip

Set List

First Set:

    Second Chance
    Letter to the North Star
    Ice Age
    Come Back Baby
    Bowlegged Women
    Sea Child
    Trial By Fire
    I Don't Wanna Go

Second Set:

    I See the Light
    Hesitation Blues
    Great Divide Revisited
    Ode To Billy Dean
    Invitation
    Sleep Song
    In The Kingdom
    Good Shepard
    Funky #7

Encore:

    Water Song

Tue, 01/02/2024 - 8:37 am

Bob Weir & Wolf Bros, accompanied by the vibrant Wolfpack, delivered a spectacular New Year's Eve performance at Ft Lauderdale's Au-Rene Theater on Sunday evening. This grand finale of a three-night extravaganza was not only a musical journey through Grateful Dead classics but also a visual feast featuring dancing dragons, elegant ballet dancers, and whimsical portrayals of Father Time and Baby New Year.

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Broward Center for the Performing Arts

Getting ready for Weir & Wolf Bros on New Year's in Florida

Bob Weir | Au-Rene Theater

Weir & Wolf Bros | Au-Rene Theater

The evening commenced with Weir's solo acoustic renditions of 'Loose Lucy' and 'The Winners', setting a warm, intimate tone. The energy swiftly escalated as he transitioned to electric mode, delving into Grateful Dead favorites like 'Samson & Delilah' and 'Hell in a Bucket'. Each song saw more band members join, enriching the sound. The first set meandered through a mix of tunes including 'Silvio' and 'Tequila' (the former a collaboration between Bob Dylan and Grateful Dead lyricist Robert Hunter), culminating in the haunting 'Black Throated Wind' and a mesmerizing 'Birdsong'.

Bob Weir | Au-Rene Theater at Broward Center For The Performing Arts

Weir and Wolf Bros featuring the WolfPack | Au-Rene Theater

Bob Weir | Ft. Lauderdale, FL

The second set soared with 'Cassidy', showcasing the Wolfpack's exceptional horn and violin contributions. A seamless medley of 'Eyes of the World', Marvin Gaye's 'What's Going On', and a reprise of 'Eyes of the World' followed, each enhanced by the Wolfpack's superb horn arrangements. The set crescendoed with a dynamic rendition of 'The Wheel' and a crowd-energizing cover of Dylan's 'All Along the Watchtower'. A shift in tempo allowed for a poignant performance of Hunter/Garcia's beloved 'Stella Blue', before the set closed with a raucous version of Chuck Berry's 'Around & Around', sending the audience into a dancing frenzy.

Weir & Wolf Bros | Broward Center For The Performing Arts

The third set opened with an electrifying 'Year of the Dragon' celebration led by drummer Jay Lane. The audience was enthralled as two dragons danced through the crowd, eventually joining Father Time (portrayed by Matt Bush in tribute to the late Bill Graham) and an ensemble of modern dancers and family members on stage for a dazzling countdown to 2024. The year kicked off with a rockin' 'Sugar Magnolia' segueing into 'Scarlet Begonias', both elevated by the Wolfpack's brilliant horn sections. 'Help on the Way', 'Slipknot', and 'Franklin's Tower' kept the celebratory mood alive. A rip-roaring 'Sunshine Daydream', peppered with Weir's classic vocal stylings, brought the main set to a close, followed by an evocatively performed encore of 'Brokedown Palace'.

Much love to Bobby for another wonderful year of music

Bob Weir's next venture is with his latest project, Dead Ahead, set to captivate audiences in Cancún, México on January 12.

Band Members:

    The Wolf Bros: Don Was (bass), Jay Lane (drums), Jeff Chimenti (keyboards).
    The Wolfpack: Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling, Sheldon Brown.
    Special mention: Barry Sless on Pedal Steel.

Setlist Overview:
Set 1: Loose Lucy, The Winners, Samson and Delilah, Hell in a Bucket, Silvio > Tequila > Silvio, Black-Throated Wind, Bird Song.
Set 2: Cassidy, Estimated Prophet, Eyes of the World, What's Going On, Eyes of the World, The Wheel, All Along the Watchtower, Stella Blue, Around and Around.
Set 3: Sugar Magnolia, Scarlet Begonias, Help on the Way, Slipknot, Franklin's Tower, Sunshine Daydream.
Encore: Brokedown Palace.