Show Reviews

It was one, two, three nights you’re out at the ole Innings Fest. Taking place at Tempe Beach Park in Tempe, AZ, from February 20-23, 2026, the grand slam line-up drew in people from all walks of life, offering a mix of performances across genres such as rock, alternative, punk, and folk. Known for mixing […]

Among the crop of indie albums that defined what many critics and fans now refer to as the “blog era” of music, Cat Power’s aptly titled 2006 effort, The Greatest, is indeed one of the standouts. While Chan Marshall released several exceptional albums before and after The Greatest, it was this collection of inventive folk, soul, […]

In 2016, Meshell Ndegeocello debuted one of the most ambitious and compelling works of her storied career at the historic Harlem Stage Gatehouse in New York City. Styled as a church service, the performance intertwined spoken-word pieces, poetry, instrumental music, and choir-like vocals and was a tribute to the famed writer/activist James Baldwin, titled Can […]

For fans of Canada’s most underrated rock and roll export next to the Tragically Hip, the last few years have been tumultuous yet uplifting. With the untimely passing of Dallas Good in 2022 – who led the band with his brother Travis – lovers of The Sadies wondered if, and how, they would continue. Yet […]

Eight-time Grammy winner Jon Batiste graced the stage for the Umbrella Concert Series in partnership with Salt Lick Sessions this past Wednesday, February 11 – headlining a sold-out concert that shimmered with his star power while celebrating the future of music. The event, presented in partnership with the Salt Lick Incubator, wasn’t just about Batiste; […]

Utilizing her signature electric and electro-accoustic violins alongside a keyboard and an electronic drum kit, Sudan Archives’ one-woman show turned Denver’s (or more accurately Englewood’s) Gothic Theatre into a robotic rave. A set of straight, horizontal, bright green lights “loaded” the violin-wielding virtuoso (real name Brittney Denise Parks) into the venue, following a spectacular performance […]

Hayes Carll has always been a songwriter’s songwriter. For over two decades, the Texas troubadour has worked tirelessly to continue the lineage of true artists like Guy Clark, Townes Van Zandt, and Ray Wylie Hubbard, writing songs that are deep and thoughtful, resonating with people who love to pick apart the meaning of the lyrics. […]

Grateful Shred has been on quite the ride over the past several years, since a video of the Los Angeles-based band playing in the Hollywood Bowl parking lot got them a lot of well-deserved attention. The group, anchored by singer/guitarist Austin McCutchen and bassist Dan Horne, and featuring keyboardist Adam MacDougall, guitarist John Lee Shannon, […]

On February 5th, a rare sight was seen in Boston: the Jazz Mandolin Project was on the road beyond Burlington, Vermont, for their first tour in over 20 years. The quartet, with Jamie Masefield on mandolin, Danton Boller on upright bass, Michael “Mad Dog” Mavridoglou on keyboards and trumpet, and Phish’s own Jon Fishman on […]

With the recent passing of the Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir at 78, there are fewer legends who dedicated their life completely to music. George Porter Jr. is absolutely one of those legends and, lucky for us, is still going strong at the same age of 78. The Meters member is a lifelong collaborator and bringer […]

Friday, January 30th marked the release of JoyRide (REVIEW), Steve Poltz’s 14th solo album. On the night before the release, Poltz hosted a celebration of this new music and life in general with a show at Portland, Oregon’s Mission Theater. Starting with the album’s last track, “Hairlift,” Poltz delivered two hours of his unique delivery […]

When the lights dimmed at the House of Blues in Boston on January 19th, the air was thick with a specific kind of anticipation, the kind that only follows a cultural icon like Bill Murray. The 75-year-old living legend didn’t burst onto the stage with a monologue or a “Ghostbusters” catchphrase; instead, he slipped quietly […]

Anticipation had been building for two days when fans got word through social media and the Philadelphia Inquirer that Don Was and The Pan Detroit Ensemble (PDE) were going to play the Graterful Dead’s Blues for Allah in its entirety in tribute to the late Bob Weir at Ardmore Hall. The sold-out audience however got […]

There is a specific brand of chaotic energy that only South London seems to produce, and SHAME brought every ounce of it to Boston’s Brighton Music Hall this past Monday, January 19. Currently tearing through North America in support of their visceral latest release, CUTTHROAT, the quintet didn’t just take the stage, they seized it. […]

On January 16th, 2026, indie-folk songwriter Gregory Alan Isakov performed at the gorgeous Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama. He delivered a soft yet powerful performance that felt more like an intimate conversation than a concert. This was the third stop on his intimate acoustic winter tour. As soon as he took the stage with just […]

Philadelphia is a city that prides itself on family, a sentiment that was turned up to 11 last night at a packed house Johnny Brenda’s. The “Hardcore Friends Show,” presented by Matt DiMaio for his 9th annual birthday benefit, was every bit a living retrospective of a twenty-year friendship with some of the artists who […]

King’s Day on January 6th marks the start of Carnival season, a special time in New Orleans featuring parades, revelry, and more. On January 8th, the Take Me To The River All-Stars traveled north to spread some Mardi Gras infused love in New York City at the gorgeous City Winery.   The sold-out show featured a […]

Not a few folks’ first NYE rock show happened with the Grateful Dead, a memorable gathering with a chosen tribe to revel to a beloved score. GD Music resonates with history and emotion on this holiday, and Santa Cruz’s The China Cats understand that and honored this tradition with an evening that’s hard to imagine […]

On December 30th, Gov’t Mule returned to New York City’s Beacon Theater to close out the year. Unlike in 2024, the upper deck was sold as seats rather than left empty. That’s a good sign, since these shows aren’t for everyone, but will hopefully continue. Q104.3’s Ken Dashow suggested as much when he came out […]

Few events in Portland, Oregon feel like as much of a holiday tradition as Jerry Joseph’s annual New Year’s Eve run. Typically taking place at two venues over four nights, the run finds this venerable rocker and his band the Jackmormons giving the Rose City a running party during a time when concerts slow down. […]