Posts by Joe Raniere

They were hard to come by, but if you were able to score a ticket to Trey Anastasio’s intimate show at the Music Box on March 4th, consider yourself lucky. The rare west coast appearance proved to be an ebullient occasion that featured two stellar sets, one (mostly) acoustic, the other electric. Trey himself looked healthy, happy and focused, the darker days now seeming to be behind him, and his band sounded as tight as can be and as vibrant as ever.

On this fine evening, they would be playing the Viper Room in West Hollywood, not too far from their home base in Venice Beach. We met up following their sound check to discuss the band’s history, their dynamics and their self titled new album.

While it’s great that people have come around to acknowledge Jackson’s past achievements, Wanda Jackson's January 23rd show at Los Angeles’ El Rey Theatre confirmed that she is still breaking new ground and making a big sound, with a little help from her friends. For 75 minutes, the Queen of Rockabilly and company captured the spirit of early rock n’ roll, but added elements of gospel, western swing, blues and as you’d expect from any band that features Jack White on guitar, a heaviness and bite that could take music of yesterday’s past and make it feel like anything but oldies.

Exactly 31 years later, Roger Waters arrived at the Staples Center in Los Angeles to perform a re-imagined version of “The Wall,” as part of a worldwide tour celebrating this monumental concept piece. Although there was no involvement of anybody else from Pink Floyd, this was the ultimate staging of the masterpiece, packed with over-the-top visuals, soul-stirring musical bliss, and powerful statements. For the 20,000 people in attendance, it may have been a pricy ticket, but in return they received an unparalleled live experience for the eyes, ears, and mind.

For a band to hold it together for twenty years is monumental, but for the Black Crowes it’s a miracle. After all of the head-butting with record labels, falling-outs with numerous band members, and notorious feuding between brothers Chris and Rich Robinson; one has to wonder how they made it this far. Nevertheless they survived, dignity and greatness intact, and on December 11th the touring anniversary celebration arrived at the Hollywood Palladium. As a thank-you to the fans, the band dropped two 80-minute sets of beloved favorites, tasteful covers and rare gems; a show that those in attendance will be talking about for some time.

To those who get a glimpse of Hollywood and some of its residents through reality shows and supermarket tabloids, the place must seem like a bottomless pit of shallowness. While there is plenty to validate such thoughts, it’s a big town that also caters to those looking for something with substance. Many of these types could be found at the Music Box on November 5th, where Gov’t Mule brought their annual west coast run to a spectacular close.

7 Walker's chemistry was magical, both the old and new material came alive, and the intimate setting put the audience right in the middle of it. For Papa Mali, this band might be the greatest project he had been a part of. For Matt Hubbard, it’s a great opportunity to showcase the music scene his talents. For George Porter Jr., it’s a chance to explore a whole new sound. For Bill Kruetzmann, it has already proven that there is surely life after The Dead.

It was chilly air and cloudy skies during the day, but Widespread Panic was sure to warm everybody up and make it a beautiful night. The up-tempo and loose “Wondering” soared like a sports car going 90 miles an hour on an open highway, while the heavy thunder of “Imitation Leather Shoes” hit like a Mack truck crashing 90 miles an hour into a brick wall.

Furthur, the new vehicle for music exploration featuring Phil Lesh and Bob Weir of the Grateful Dead, just recently brought summer to a close with a swing of dates up and down the Pacific coast. After two nights in Oregon and another in Washington, the band  headed to Southern California, playing the Santa Barbara Bowl and Los Angeles’ Greek Theatre on September 20th and 21st. For those who showed up for the band’s SoCal gigs, it was two nights of fantastic musicianship celebrating the Grateful Dead’s legacy, as well as a beautiful present and promising future.

When addressing the musical heritage of New Orleans, one cannot go without mentioning “Mac” Rebennack, famously known as Dr. John. Since hitting it big in the late 60's and 70's with his combination of traditional blues, jazz,  zydeco, psychedelia, funk, and rock and roll, the legendary performer has remained an integral figure in the New Orleans music scene.

It took awhile, but the Levon Helm Band finally made it to California soil. Ever since the iconic drummer of the Band returned to performing after a nearly career-ending bout with throat cancer about a decade ago, he’s rarely played beyond the northeast. In fact, he’s rarely even left the grounds of his property in the Catskill Mountains of Woodstock, New York

On July 23rd the mighty middle-finger to-the-establishment collective known as Rage Against the Machine delivered a volcanic set at their first Los Angeles show in ten years, at the Hollywood Palladium. The show’s purpose was to raise funds for Arizona organizations fighting the state’s new immigration law SB-1070. The benefiting organizations include community organizing group Puente, Arizona, as well the Florence Project, providing legal counsel and social services to immigrant communities. By the end of the night, the show raised consciousness of the issue, upward of $300,000, and a few thousand clenched fists.

It was a beautiful way to end the weekend; The Steve Miller Band, Los Lobos, both on the same stage, at one of Los Angeles’ most beautiful venues. Both bands captivated their audiences with their own takes on pop and roots music.