Posts by Andrew Quist

Sheather Fest is unlike any festival in the country. Held this coming September 9 and 10, 2017, in Knights Ferry, California, the idea for this musical gathering was born out of  love and appreciation for one dude in England, David Sheather, and his wife, Sue. Arguably one of the finest music fans in the modern […]

Community is a word we are fortunate to hear a lot about in live music. There are communities of fans that gather around their favorite musicians, music festival communities, communities of tapers, and the list goes on. That word is bandied about a lot in music today but last night those in attendance at Don […]

It was a solid line-up on Sunday at The Santa Cruz American Music Festival at Aptos Park in Aptos, California. The weather around Santa Cruz had been a little spotty in days prior so everyone was happy to wake up to early morning sun and “no jacket necessary” temperatures. Festival logistics were super smooth, a […]

The Mother Hips have been together for over twenty-five years. That’s something. That’s impressive as hell. When the Grateful Dead hit twenty-five years they were celebrating in stadiums filled to the brim with adoring fans. The Hips have “The Hipnic.” It was conceived by the band and founder of (((folkYEAH!))) productions, Britt Govea, nine years […]

There is a prevailing vibe that blows around the Manzanita, Oaks and Coastal Redwoods on the top of a mountain at a place called Camp Krem in a town called Boulder Creek on the central coast of California. At a festival called DIO (Do It Ourselves) Fest, that vibe is rad. It’s not just that […]

There was snow on the summit of Highway 17 as the mercury dropped from a fairly balmy California Spring day and threw the central coast back into Winter. Inside the warm and brightly lit Rio Theater in Santa Cruz on March 5th , staff scurried to wrap up last minute details. It was a Sunday […]

A residency is a wonderful thing for a live music lover. A residency is that rare, regular occurrence that gives a musician and his audience something to look forward to, knowing that once a week for, in this case, a whole month, you each get to go back to the same local bar and sip […]

Greg Loiacono is a twenty-five year veteran musician most known for his long and storied career as co-front man and songwriter for vaunted Bay Area band, The Mother Hips. In late September Loiacono released a stunning solo record, Songs From A Golden Dream, that has both long time fans and newcomers to his sound buzzing. […]

As a regular thing, live music in Santa Cruz, California is a thriving art. Even mid-week it is not hard to find a night to sit in front of an artist or artists and wile away the hours in the company of good songs and enthusiastic fellow audience members. The usual offerings were augmented this […]

This is probably the most important piece that, as a music writer, I have yet written.  These are probably the most important images that, as a music photographer, I have yet taken.  This is not just a show review. It is one part review, one part personal retrospective and, I guess, if you’re just going […]

Live music is a victory. Live music renews spirit. Live music is the musician feeding the audience member’s soul. It is hands thrown up in simultaneous rejoicing and surrender. Live music is the shout of reality given an artistic spin. Sometimes it is sad and sometimes it is fun. Live music is a reaffirmation, it […]

“Let’s get one thing straight: Bob Dylan never played here Joni Mitchell never sang here Dr. King never preached here This is a new stage This is a new space And even if they had What would it matter anyway? ‘Cause the ghosts of the past cannot bring you any luck All that matters is […]

I was fourteen when Bob Dylan joined forces with The Grateful Dead for a short six show bi-coastal tour. Suffice it to say, not only did I not attend these shows, but these juggernauts of music were, sadly, not yet on my musical radar. I was sixteen when I “got” the Grateful Dead and it […]