Show Reviews

Christine Owman/Sarah Jaffe: The Living Room, New York, NY 3/2/11

Concertgoers were mesmerized Wednesday night when sultry, Swedish singer Christine Owman graced the stage at the Living Room on the Lower East Side. Clad in a blue silk blouse, black shorts and fishnet garters, the ravishing redhead performed tracks from her album Throwing Knives, which will be released in the U.S. in May 2011.

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Chromeo: Fox Theater, Oakland, CA 2/18/11

For a DJ act, the Fox was a massive venue for Chromeo to play, and they succeeded in turning the regal, palace-like confines of the venue into a freaky, throwback dance party.  The lack of dynamics which the pre-recorded tracks afforded didn't bother the crowd one bit, which was clearly there to get down long and hard.

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Stone Temple Pilots: Hard Rock Live, Biloxi, MS, 2/20/11

When notorious front man Scott Weiland sang, “Pleased to meet you, nice to know me. What’s the message? Will ya show me?” near the end of their set in Biloxi, Mississippi, you knew you had just been eaten alive by a band that had been dead only a few years back

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Jay Brannan: Bottom of the Hill San Francisco, CA 1/21/11

Jay Brannan’s performance in San Francisco proved his worthiness among his folk contemporaries. He’s able to craft songs that engage the audience while still retaining a poetry that comes from a maturing artistry. Each of his shows in the city continue to sell out, indicating Brannan’s growing fanbase. With some careful editing and restraint on his new album, he could really rocket from low visibility to sought-after folk singer. T

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Public Enemy, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe: Ogden Theater, Denver, CO 2/19/11

Karl Denson and Public Enemy crushed the the 94 year old Ogden Theater with hours of thumpin' bass, funk and hip hop that forced even the most introverted members of the audience to shake a leg.It's just not that often you'll see a classic, dare I say iconic hip hop group on a double bill with a funk and jazz saxophonist/flutist and his band. 

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The Pink Floyd Experience: Hard Rock Live, Biloxi, MS, 2/12/11

It is not easy being Pink Floyd. David Gilmour is a guitarist of unequaled expertise and trying to duplicate intricate machinations with the fingers is not to be taken lightly. You have to feel the music to be the music. And the Pink Floyd Experience has done a spritely job of weaving you into its British hallucinogenic lair … for a few hours, at least.

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Apex Manor: Noise Pop Festival Cafe du Nord San Francisco CA 2/24/11

pex Manor performed a solid set for the Noise Pop Festival. Their sound is unfussy and sincere, and Flournoy’s singing is candid, heartfelt and mature. He’s a captivating frontman with an impressive grasp of crowd dynamics, knowing how to play to their energy and still lead them to want more. If Apex Manor keeps up this momentum, they will definitely be a must-see act on their subsequent tours.  

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Wanda Jackson feat. Jack White and the Third Man House Band : El Rey Theatre, Los Angeles, CA 1/27/11

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.

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Galactic / Trombone Shorty: Terminal 5, NYC, NY 2.26.11

Cases of Abita and Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane mixed were shipped in to turn the sold out Westside club into the closest approximation of a French Quarter haunt as two New Orleans acts (and friends) brought the jambalaya flavor north.  The night was ‘hosted’ by “The Rent Is 2 Damn High” guy himself, Jimmy McMillian who launched into his catch phrase multiple times to the delight of the fans in attendance.

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