Galactic is not just a band. They are a community. They are a party. They are a movement and a force that comes to town to bring an awakening or awareness that is deeply entrenched in a carnival type New Orleans experience. With Mardi Gras at our heels, Denver was still feeling the holiday spirit, and the circus was in town. I call Galactic a community because I have never really seen a band with more of an open family type jam spirit that welcomes so many different types of musicians depending on their latest albums or motives.

The greatest thing about The Travelin' McCourys, or Del’s Boys, is that they are so open to collaboration. They were bread in a family of musical versatility that never limited any possibility if they could do something interesting.

It’s felt like eons since David “Dawg” Grisman has played in Boulder. Not that is really been all too long, but since then residents have all sorts of jammy and traditional grass growing underneath them. Theater performances and community picks become increasingly popular and plentiful. A sort of roots resurgence has blossomed and a generation of newgrass players is inheriting while reinventing this tradition. Purists need to a look back a few generations to what Dawg music did for what was then current in bluegrass.

After a great interview on Valentine’s Day with probably the best blues Americana musician alive, it was my pleasure to see him perform at the Boulder Theater. As I approached the theater, I noticed that there were a lot of people looking for extra tickets. I should not have been surprised, but the show was very sold out.

Loyal fans of Nederland, Colorado’s Mountain Standard Time must be thrilled at the feats accomplished since their recalibration and return to touring in 2012. Long time members Nick Dunbar (mandolin), Stan Sutton (guitar) and Zach Scott (drums) welcomed Otis Lande on bass and Ryan Ebarb on keys.

Though jazz connotes many meanings to many different people something most can agree upon is that jazz necessitates devotion to an instrument. How that layout translates is wide spanning. Jazz can also be narrowed down stylistically by place of origin. Chicago and New York jazz will have signature qualities and different style. Modern day, the city of New Orleans is host to the hardest working jazz community and even broader live performance in general.

After hearing about how much fun J2G’s previous super jam shows (The Dance Party Time Machine) turned out without being there, I was not going to miss this one. Even with Zappa Plays Zappa playing across town, I chose to take my ladies to sushi and then to the Love Shack.

I've been a die hard Phish fan for years. After the New Year's show, I had high expectations for the band members' side projects this year. If you have been following Trey Anastasio this winter, you too will know he has been an incredible act and displays the most incredible musicianship and shows his raw talent no matter who he is playing with. The ability to compose masterpieces and perform them with body moving jams.

I had the pleasure of catching up with guitarist and bandleader Dweezil Zappa, who is in his eighth year of leading Zappa Plays Zappa, the tour de Frank.

Living up to its self title, Robby Hecht’s third album is chocked full of personal sentiment that’s immediately relatable, backed up by simple-sounding, perfectly timed acoustic melodies.

Hecht’s hazy sound draws a lot of James Taylor comparisons, and rightfully so. It hit my ear like a warm blanket with tracks that feel like reuniting with an old friend who lost touch. It’s the kind of music that will make you smile at sad thoughts.