Show Reviews

Massive Nights, The Hold Steady’s annual run of shows at their adopted home, the Brooklyn Bowl in Williamsburg, once again brought a sold-out crowd to multiple joyous peaks on Friday night, December 6th. The third show (of four scheduled) found the band clicking on all cylinders. 2024 has been a busy year for the band. […]

The unofficial Mayor of the East Village, Jesse Malin has not played a show in a few years as he has put all of his efforts into recovering from a spinal stroke he suffered back in May 2023. By his own account the days have been dark, the recovery long, and painful, however tonight was […]

Over the last fifteen years, Australian indie bands have gradually clawed their way up to the top of the rock and roll food chain. Currently, the Melbourne scene dominates with the success of King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard and their prolific output, not to mention their touring schedule, and punk outfit Amyl and the […]

On November 24th, Sturgill Simpson brought the US leg of his Why Not? Tour to a triumphant conclusion at Boston’s MGM Music Hall, delivering a sonic experience that left the audience breathless. The sold-out show was a testament to Simpson’s unwavering dedication to his craft and ability to connect with audiences profoundly. Gifting his fans […]

There’s a spotlight over Bob Weir and his silver mane. He stands in front of dozens of Chicago Philharmonic Orchestra members and the Wolf Bros, but he’s in a space of his own as he looks out into the Auditorium Theater on November 18th, 2024, and sings: There were days, and there were days/ And […]

Earlier this month, New York pop-punk outfit State Champs released their new, self-titled album, with single “Silver Cloud” asking the question: “So can we get back to basics, somehow?” In a pop-punk context – with standout support from Daisy Grenade, Meet Me at the Altar, and Knuckle Puck – the answer was a resounding “yes,” […]

On an abnormally warm November night in Providence on Friday the 15th, Lucinda Williams, the revered Queen of Americana, treated her loyal fans to an intimate and endearing musical trip down memory lane at Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Accompanied by her seasoned band Buick 6, which now features veteran rock guitarist Marc Ford, Williams embarked on […]

In the heart of Downtown Boston’s Theater District, Adrianne Lenker sparkled for a sold-out concert at the Boch Shubert Theater on Tuesday night, November 12th. The folk singer-songwriter fondly returned to her college town for a two-night stint as the “Bright Future” tour draws to a close, bringing a performance of sincerity that emulates her […]

If you were lucky enough to catch Lucero in their hard-partying early years, you might’ve thought to yourself, ‘Gee, these guys completely kick ass, but they won’t last.’ Would the Memphis band be the alt-country Replacements and burn out just when it was getting great? But the opposite happened, and they managed to put out […]

Sierra Hull has been wowing audiences with her mandolin playing capabilities since before her age reached the double digits. Today, she’s not only known for her virtuosity and ability to sit in and play with just about anyone; she’s also become a confident and engaging band leader. On Wednesday, November 13th, Hull brought her instrumental […]

Nearly twenty-five years have passed since the world was introduced to a scrappy garage-punk band from Atlanta called the Black Lips. The lineup has changed over the years, and the band has had its ups and downs as they’ve graduated to larger venues only to eventually land back into the smaller venues and dives where […]

On a crisp November night, The Anthem in Washington, D.C., was packed to the brim for a sold-out performance by Leon Bridges, with Hermanos Gutiérrez opening. The venue nestled along the water, which set the perfect scene for an evening of inspiring and soulful music. By the night’s end, an intimate memory was sure to […]

Iron Maiden, the legendary British heavy metal titans, once again proved their enduring power when their Future Past Tour stopped in Worcester, MA, on November 6th, With a captivating blend of classic tracks from their iconic albums, including Somewhere in Time, Fear of the Dark, and the more recent masterpiece Senjutsu, the show was a […]

Duff McKagan, the legendary bassist of Guns N’ Roses, has been steadily carving out an impressive career outside of G N’R that’s as diverse as it is impressive. Whether it’s his efforts with Loaded, Velvet Revolver, or going solo for his last two tours, the latest of which supporting his 2023 album Lighthouse, sees him […]

It’s been a healthy twenty-four years since we since the world was last given a proper album from The The, the long-running project of multi-faceted British musician Matt Johnson. Yet, in that two-decade-plus gap, Johnson’s creative juices have clearly been flowing, evidenced by the release of Ensoulment in September. The album is a welcome return […]

Gogol Bordello, the American punk rock band from the Lower East Side of Manhattan, was formed in 1999 by musicians worldwide and is known for theatrical stage shows and persistent touring hit Boston’s Roadrunner this past weekend. Inspired by Romani and Ukrainian music mixed with punk and dub, the eclectic band features lead vocalist Eugene Hutz, Sergey Ryabtsev on violin, guitarist Leo […]

All Hallows’ Eve descended upon Baltimore, Maryland, on Thursday night. Men and women walked along the streets in their striped, prison-style jumpsuits, headed for CFG Bank Arena to celebrate Billyween. The night was warm under a new moon, and this time of year, the veil is thin. The backstage walls of the Arena were decorated […]

The classic rock fans of Southern California have recently been blessed with shows by aging but still “got it” guitar-god frontmen. First, Eric Clapton came to town on October 12, barely a year after his probable last-ever Crossroads Festival hit Los Angeles in September 2023. Now iconic axe wielder David Gilmour is blasting his way […]

The last time Stevie Wonder performed in Minnesota was in 2016 after Prince had passed. He played a four-hour Prince tribute jam with multiple guest artists. It was a historic event, however much somber that the show performed at The Target Center in Minneapolis on October 27th. Stevie’s current 10-date tour is called “Sing Your […]

The semi-annual Exit Zero Jazz Festival, held October 25-27, 2024, in the nation’s oldest ocean resort, Cape May, NJ, featured the usual loyal, enthusiastic jazz audiences and its famed eclectic lineup. The mild temperatures made it conducive to taking in acts on the sunny deck or at the nearby clubs, which were overflowing the entire weekend. We attended […]