Show Reviews

On a day that was only mildly hot by past Bonnaroo standards, the festival once again proved that it’s full of surprises. Early in the day, soul singer Andra Day rounded out her set by inviting saxophone giant Kamasi Washington to blow on her own showstopper “City Burns”. A few hours later, and just a […]

When the 15th Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival lineup was released in January, opinions were as mixed as they’ve ever been.  The festival’s devotees have been magnificently spoiled over the years, but there was validity to their complaints. The schedule was released a few weeks ago, it became clear that no more acts were going […]

Free Press Summer Fest has officially become the Houston Texans of music festivals. Each year begins with promise that the event will become a top-tier festival, but any expectations one might cling too quickly devolves into an avalanche of disappointment by the first Saturday in June. FPSF might have finally hit rock bottom as the […]

If Jason Bonham ever decided to give up rock & roll, he’s a shoo-in as a stand-up comedian. He won over the sold out crowd in Biloxi this weekend with witticisms about his late father, Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, and the ages of those who worshipped at the Zeppelin altar when the band was […]

Moderat puts on a killer live show. For most of this tour, concertgoers will be treated to a laser show and beautiful-looking backdrop lighting and video. Unfortunately, the setup of the Showbox doesn’t allow for some of what Moderat appears to be doing on this tour – but otherwise, as expected, they were fantastic in their […]

Friday – Governor’s Ball 2016 kicks off.  Doors at 11:45 am; music starts on two of the four stages at 12:15 pm and then the stages alternate all day with a wide variety of quality acts til the closing bands shut the festival down about 11 pm.  While the larger acts get the two bigger […]

Herb Alpert promised a “very informal” show Tuesday night at New York’s Café Carlyle, and spent the next 90 minutes delivering a funky, freewheeling set with his wife, the singer Lani Hall, and the couple’s longtime jazz trio. The show opened the band’s fourth Carlyle residency, which runs through June 11, and unfolded as an […]

Although most of Sunday at Mountain Jam was cancelled due to hostile weather, Saturday at Hunter Mountain had its share of memorable moments. After Gary Clark Jr. was a late cancellation due to a family emergency, Warren Haynes filled in with an impromptu acoustic set on Saturday afternoon.  Last year, Gov’t Mule played in the afternoon after […]

The Mountain Jam Festival taking place this weekend in Hunter, NY seems to almost be running itself.  The twelfth annual camping music fest put on by Warren Haynes and Radio Woodstock is providing top-notch experiences for everyone.  The gigantic Mountain stage is an imposing presence, and the disparity between the Valley stage is quite curious. […]

You have to give Sam Beam credit for not being a one-trick pony. The South Carolina singer/songwriter likes variety in his life and is not afraid to take it on the road. His band Iron & Wine – which sometimes includes actual band members and other times includes just him – have released several well-received […]

Expectations ran high for Saturday night’s Capitol Theatre show in Port Chester as this was the first time former Jerry Garcia Band keyboardist Melvin Seals sat in with Phil Lesh and Friends. Unfortunately, this was not the show to be at. Before assuming that the following review is overly harsh, I urge you to check […]

This year marks twenty years since New York-based Nada Surf released their debut album High/Low with its spoken-word rocker “Popular” blasting onto airwaves. However, unlike many other rock bands from the 90’s, Nada Surf is not touring with a twentieth anniversary play through of their debut album. Instead, Matthew Caws and co. are currently promoting […]

Unlike previous years, 2016’s version of the Black N Blue Bowl was scaled down to one day instead of two as the hardcore/punk/metal scene focused once again on Webster Hall with a full card of bands and almost as many bro hugs as tattoos. Early groups were the New Jersey based Blind Justice who played […]

It was only last November when terrorist gunmen opened fire at the Bataclan rock club in Paris where the Eagles of Death Metal were playing. Nearly one hundred people lost their lives in the club that night, and members of the band, like many other survivors, were deeply traumatized by the events. It was therefore […]

An army of bonafide rock stars descended on the Fonda Theatre in Hollywood, Thursday, May 12th, for a benefit concert and auction to raise money for the Adopt The Arts organization. The group co-founded by ex Guns N Roses drummer and philanthropist Matt Sorum and Abby Berman, is a Los Angeles-based charity. The organization works […]

This reviewer last covered Dark Star Orchestra in 2011 when they covered the Grateful Dead’s final Fillmore East show from 1971. Since that time, Furthur disbanded after Bob Weir’s back problems forced him off the road and then last summer’s “Fare Thee Well,” shows commemorating the band’s 50th anniversary, which led to Weir and Phil […]

The Cure are part of an elite class of bands that can play epic, three-hour shows without boring their fans. It helps to have a catalogue of songs – including tons of hits – that dates back forty years. Following a Cure tour is akin to a sporting event, as the setlists change every single […]

Those who were lucky enough to get into Thursday’s taping of Austin City Limits were treated to something special with an intimate performance from Paul Simon. Somehow over the course of his long and illustrious career and the television show’s 42 years, Simon has never made an appearance. But he more than made up for […]

Sunday night, post JazzFest, a sold out crowd of weary music lovers geared up at One Eyed Jack’s for one more show.  Three, sometimes four guitars, bass, a keyboard with some weird apparatus on it, a drum kit, two sets of bushy ‘burns, a tambourine, maracas, and Anton Newcombe and his seemingly endless cache of […]

Last week when Def Leppard played the Cajundome in Lafayette, Louisiana, it was to a virtually sold out arena full of happy fans, glad that the band kept good on their promise to reschedule the date they’d cancelled after doctors advised Joe Elliott to take a rest earlier this year. “He would have carried on […]