The Greyboy Allstars' set was a definite improvement on the smooth jazz-plagued 2006 Nokia performance, and had the added bonus of the pairing with Soulive, who, as usual, ripped open the jazz/funk/soul template and found new life.
Gov’t Mule began their annual New Year's run at the Beacon Theater on Friday December, 28th. Opening with “Brighter Days,” one of their High & Mighty tunes that usually appears much later in the show, they immediately threw their fans an even bigger curveball with Robert Johnson's “32/20 Blues.”
A gorgeous 77-year old palace of a theater and 62-year old enigmatic rocker combined forces Sunday night, churning out a 25-song set that showcased the majesty both still emanate.
Tori Amos has a knack for picking male singer/songwriters with looper pedals types to open for her. Thing is, she does a good job of it. In a recent show at Seattle’s Paramount Theatre, singer Yoav (who has yet to release a full-length, and yet is somehow opening for Tori Amos) put on an excellent set.
I’ve been to my fair share of Neil Young shows over the last 10 years. I’ve seen him on the HORDE tour with Crazy Horse. Twice on his solo acoustic jaunt in ’99. Twice again with his Friends and Relatives band in 2000. Three Greendale shows with the Horse in 2001. Five times with Crosby, Stills, and Nash. A little bit of everything, with each show being good, mixed with a little bit of great. Young’s performance at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis was a whole lot of great, and not much else.
It was just about a year ago that Los Lobos nearly tore the roof off of Higher Ground. This year’s appearance at the South Burlington venue was slightly shorter and slightly less ambitious, but no less satisfying in its own way.
Fort Nightly, the White Rabbits first full length album, keeps popping up on the endless stream of “Best of 2007” lists and it is fairly easy to see why, particularly with the genre-hopping sound and stout song writing. This six piece (Keys, bass, 2 guitars, 2 drummers) have been earning rave reviews around the country with their energetic live show. Tonight they headlined a bill in their adopted home town of NYC.
The Duo should not be judged by their album outputs, they are first and foremost a live act. Their performance at Higher Ground, although not one of their “epic” shows, was surely another whirlwind of unclassifiable rock and jazz that proved they are one of today’s elite instrumental rock units going.
Regina Spektor is pretty damn special. Special enough that for this trip to the Gateway City, she sold out The Pageant, which holds around 2,000. On a Monday night. With Thanksgiving and Christmas just around the corner.
The recent show by Maximo Park and Travis at Seattle’s historic Moore Theatre was one to remember – high-energy, with great music and even better performances. Opener Maximo Park, already big in Europe, is relatively unknown in the States, despite regular recent airplay on KEXP (90.3fm/KEXP.org) and other college stations; if the show they put on opening for Travis is any indication, they will soon be much better known.
