Reviews

Metallica wrapped up the U.S. dates of their 2023/2024 M72 World Tour at Lumen Field in Seattle. This tour features a unique concept: Metallica doesn't just play in a town—they take over. The band performs two distinct shows on Friday and Sunday, with no songs repeated between them. Each show features a different pair of opening acts—Pantera and Mammoth WVH on Friday, and Five Finger Death Punch and Ice Nine Kills on Sunday.

Styx and Foreigner’s Renegades & Juke Box Heroes tour made a stop at Cincinnati’s Riverbend Music Center last week. This tour marks the first time the two bands have played together since 2014, and they brought along special guest John Waite to open the show.

The Lagunitas Brewing Company hosted the Robert Randolph Band for an evening of sacred steel Tuesday evening. The spirit was mighty, and the heavens smiled—along with a reverent audience.

On Saturday evening, it was announced that Phish's performance the following day had been moved to 1:00 PM in an attempt to avoid potentially dangerous weather. Fans deconstructed the cardboard City Hall structure, while others began breaking down their campsites. Although this wasn't an ideal scenario for the final day of Mondegreen, everyone on hand made the best of the scorching heat during the Sunday fun day set

The third night of a four-day festival is always the sweetest. Everyone has learned the ropes, such as where the dope burrito vendor is hawking sustenance and when the nearest porta-potties are being cleaned. Night three at Mondegreen brought a very large Saturday night crowd, along with a level of comfort in these new surroundings. This comfort extended all the way to Phish themselves, who delivered two sets of profound jams to 40,000+ fans.

When Primus announces a tour across the great American landscape, faces light up with excitement, urgency, and anticipation as fans scramble to secure tickets—often for multiple shows. Primus fans are a loyal, enthusiastic bunch, especially in Colorado, where Primus is considered a member of the Rocky Mountain community. This connection is partly because they contributed to Colorado's comedic culture by writing the theme song for the immensely successful animated series South Park.

Phish festivals are known for a few key details: remote locations, stunning art displays, and the signature Ferris wheel. They almost always play an unannounced set during the festival, and Mondegreen was no exception. Day two at this Dover, DE-based encampment featured not two but three sets of jams. The third set was an extended, free-flowing jam with no songs or structure. Some of the best things in life are unplanned, and this secret set was no exception.

Celebrating the 65th anniversary of Kind of Blue, it’s impossible not to marvel at the timeless brilliance of this album. Released on August 17, 1959, this record not only altered the landscape of jazz but also became a beacon of innovation for generations of musicians across genres. The genius of Kind of Blue lies in its radical simplicity — a deep dive into modal jazz that allowed its players to explore a more spacious, minimalist approach, focusing on melodic freedom over complex chord progressions.

Phish opened Mondegreen, their first festival in nine years, on Thursday, August 15, 2024. The event took place at The Woodlands, a well-known festival venue in Dover, Delaware, adjacent to Dover Motor Speedway. The band delivered two sets of blissful joy in this lush, green setting, much to the delight of fans.

"It’s strange for me sometimes because I was born in 1992... but I really like the old music." That’s a quote from Billy Strings at his Greek Theatre performance Saturday night. And that’s Billy Strings through and through. But he must also like the “new music” – or perhaps we could call it the “slightly less-old” music of the psychedelic jam world.