One of the most important live recordings of the last fifty years, “Friday Night In San Francisco” (1982) brought together three prodigious guitarists of different legacies to one stage. John McLaughlin, one of the three guitarists, recognized the tour with progressive flamenco master Paco De Lucia and fusion marvel Al Di Meola as an essential collective performance. San Francisco’s Warfield Theatre had many legendary musical performances prior, but after that Friday night of acoustical transcendence on December 5th, 1980, McLaughlin further mystified the storied venue.

It’s one thing to create an understanding of an artist by visiting Spotify, and another entirely to hear them play. Trout Steak Revival is the perfect example. I didn’t have the highest hopes for Trout Steak Revival after visiting Spotify. But by the end of the first song, I could confidently say I am enamored by them. Mixing and mastering all of their talent into an audio file is a job I’d avoid at all costs. Something so authentic as an acoustic show never reflects the true richness that comes from having so much raw talent and mastery on one stage.

The KAABOO music festival opened Friday, September 14th with an estimated 40,000 fans selling out the event for the first time in its 4-year history. The event, which takes place at the upscale Del Mar Racetrack just north of San Diego, took advantage of the last beautifully sunny weekend of summer. The festival grounds back up to the edge of the Pacific Ocean and surfers were actually visible, catching waves on nearby Del Mar beach.

Today,