Reviews

Fifty years is a long time to participate in anything. So long, in fact, that gold is the appropriate anniversary gift. The multi-cultural, mixed genre Shakti brought their Fiftieth Anniversary Tour to the famed Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY on August 19, 2023. The band's unique mix of blues with North and South Indian rhythmic and melodic perspectives captivated the crowd and exemplified how exceptionally gifted these musicians are.

It seemed like Deja Vu at the Arlington Theatre in Santa Barbara, California, on August 16th, 2023, as 73-year-old Peter Frampton hobbled onto the stage with a cane and swiftly took a seat for the remainder of his concert. Last year, the 83-year-old legendary singer Tom Jones took the stage in the ornate Spanish-themed theater in much the same way.

Bluegrass may have its roots in Appalachia, but it has sown its seeds far and wide. Northern California in particular has been fertile ground for country pickin' for decades, with legends Peter Rowan and David Grisman among the many genre luminaries who have made their home among the Bay Area's redwoods.

Chris Isaak and his fabulous band were scheduled to play a 90-minute set just after sunset with no opening band at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles, CA on Saturday, August 12th. But that didn’t stop many devoted fans from showing up at the venue several hours before the doors opened.

On the 48th anniversary of the Grateful Dead’s legendary visit to San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall (8/13/75), Dead Heads recently returned to see an all-star lineup of jam band stars recreate the show – and more – to benefit the Grateful Guitars Foundation. Not only were there star players, but also star instruments. It took a spreadsheet for musical director Alex Jordan (Cubensis, Midnight North) to keep things straight—check it out.

San Francisco, CA's ALO returned to New York City for the first time in three years, per guitarist Dan "Lebo" Lebowitz, and entertained multiple sit-ins at the iconic Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY. The special guests included bassist Reed Mathis, guitarist Daniel Donato and the opening band, the Honey Island Swamp Band.

The Billy and the Kids “Dead on the Water: Pier to Pier” concert series wrapped up on Friday night with their appearance at the rooftop venue Pier 17 in New York City.  Overlooking the Brooklyn Bridge, Pier 17’s location has a rich history dating back to the Dutch West India Company in 1625, the venue and surrounding area underwent major reconstruction in the 2010s and reopened to the public in 2018.

Willie Nelson’s Outlaw Music Festival rolled through Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, last weekend on August 13. An array of country and classic rock legends handpicked to join Willie on this stretch of the tour delivered an incredible show that took the audience on a journey through decades of music.

In March, fans got the exciting news that Gov’t Mule would be hitting the road in July to perform a run of thirteen shows that would incorporate some of the most iconic music in pop culture. Born from an incredibly special Halloween show in 2008 and only performed a select number of times since Warren Haynes and his fearsome foursome would once again give their constituents a satisfying ride on The Mule before presenting their reinterpretation of Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon.

The groove is alive and kicking on "Departures," the first full-length album from Canadian instrumental group Apollo Suns. With an expected release date on Do Right! Music in late September, this 12-song compilation delivers soulful jazz-rock with influences stemming from funk, prog rock and psychedelia. Listening to Apollo Suns is revelatory – your feet will move, and your heart will follow.

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