Whenever anybody puts the word “jazz” in front of the word “guitar”, certain universal indicators will emerge regardless of whom or what is being talked about. Generally “jazz” and “guitar” as a pairing will conjure another indicatory-laced meaning: “solo”. Inevitably, whenever somebody is playing jazz guitar, they are playing solo-oriented music. But what is the status quo of jazz anyways? Is there one? Not anymore. Too many purists, progressives, and modernists will have different ideas or definitions on what the quintessential essence of jazz is exactly.

When I entered the staggering Greek Theatre at UC Berkeley on Friday night, I was instantly impressed by the crowd. For an Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros concert, I was expecting bare feet, hoop skirts, and flower children.

The last time I saw Lotus was in April 2010 at the Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO where my friend – who I treated to the show - had the unfortunate experience of a bicycle accident on his way home afterwards. I’ll never forget the phone call I received the next day when he described the accident; it still makes me laugh.

The electronic and instrumental duo, BoomBox, played a vibrant, sold-out show at the Boulder Theater on Friday September 7, 2012. Known for being spontaneous and eclectic, BoomBox tailors each show to the crowd, the venue, and the evening. Their music is indeed impromptu and limber, yet they still produce a polished and thoughtful sound.

On September 25^th, 2012, Ben Sollee will release his fourth studio album, titled Half-Made Man.  Sollee is known for his innovative cello playing, which he skillfully uses to highlight his songs and grab your attention, and this album is no exception.  Half-Made Man consists of ten well-balanced tracks, including the single “Unfinished.”  The album’s tracks stand strongly alone, as individual pieces of music, and also operate cohesively when pieced together as an album.  Methodical in

In 2002, Dispatch unknowingly made one of the smartest moves out there. After four full-length albums and countless fans (their free farewell show drew well over 100,000 fans from all over the world), one of the original “indie” bands announced a hiatus. Although they reunited every few years for a show or two, fans kept their fingers tightly crossed for a full-on reunion. Nine years after their hiatus began, Dispatch officially reformed.

It gets old considering music and classifying it within the created boundaries of genre. Certain sounds and flavors that make music can’t help but call to mind those among the long history of music which precedes that of the modern era, however. For New York band Donna the Buffalo, it is within the realm of country that the group’s tenth studio album, Silverlined, seems to be most deeply rooted. Yet the thirteen track record is not so easy to classify solely within those parameters.

Steamy keys, gritty six string, soul drenched stomp. Black Cadillac music, back ally marque blue. Greasy chops deep-fried in fatback. Kick drum with fist on the pulpit thuds, and a cymbal’s smooth splash…riding it…smoky with a hairy funk. That almost covers the sound of the Alan Evans Trio.

In celebration of the Rolling Stones’ 50^th anniversary, the eBook People are publishing a 2-part, 2000-page electronic publication, providing the most thorough fans with the most thorough documentation of this iconic band’s dense history.  It is entitled The Rolling Stones: Views from the Inside, Views from the Outside; currently, the first part is available, and the second part will be released later in the fall.  Each part fo

This year marked 25th Anniversary of the Reggae on the Rocks and you couldn't ask for a better day for it to be held on. The weather was a comfortable 70 degrees during the afternoon and cooled down perfectly that night.