It's a fucked up world out there, and lately it seems to be getting worse by the day. The economy is crashing, the war seems never-ending, and Washington D.C. seems as silly and out of touch as ever. Maybe I'm more obsessive than most, more indignant too perhaps, but if you're like me, I recommend a heavy dose of lighthearted tunes to put you in a better state of mind. Everybody needs to escape occasionally, and music has always been a means to do so.

When Phish broke up the first and second time, there was a large void left in my life. Yours too, otherwise you probably wouldn't be reading this article. As I've eluded to in past reviews, the nomadic nature instilled in me by that foursome from the north lead me on many a fruitless, and sometimes fruitful quest to find new, interesting, dynamic and hypnotic sounds like those that I still long for.

When I woke up on Sunday morning, it was raining.  I was bummed.  Rain at Red Rocks is only fun if the band is playing a song like Red Rain, Have You Ever Seen the Rain, Looks Like Rain, the Rain Song, Rain Fall Down, or Louisiana Rain.  It also seems to work for Under a Blood Red Sky (aka New Years Day), but for different reasons.  When I got to Red Rocks, however, the rain had ceased, the clouds had thinned, and the sun was poking through in places.

As long as festival season is still going strong, summer isn't over. In the final calendar weeks of the hot season, Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, Colorado hosted the Monolith Music Festival, an Indie Rock extravaganza so epic that only a legendary venue like Red Rocks could hold it. Over seventy bands played in a mere two days, spread out over five stages and about ten thousand stairs.

The second annual WEST BEACH MUSIC & ARTS FESTIVAL in Santa Barbara, CA wrapped earlier this month as a huge success.  The three-day festival, which took place Friday, September 12, Saturday, September 13 and Sunday, September 14, drew over 20,000 attendees and featured stellar performances from Ziggy Marley, Jason Mraz, Natasha Bedingfield, George Clinton featuring Lili Haydn, Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Jackie Greene, The Expendables and more.  Presented by Twiin Productions in association with Jacalyn Kane Productions and s

Grateful Web's Sam Holloway had a chance to catch up with Boots Factor, drummer/mandolin/banjo for Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers who answered a few questions during their recent stop at the Fox Theater in Boulder, Colorado.

Recently Grateful Web's Alex Borosody had the opportunity to talk with Matt Butler, the musician and conductor behind the Everyone Orchestra, who we also discovered can add, "great orator" to his list of talents. Never one to shy away from leadership, you could say Matt conducted the interview, as he energetically and expressively weaved eloquent science and philosophy.

ITS EASY: To purchase tickets simply click HERE.  You will be directed to the campaign contribution page.  Simply enter all required information and then click on the red PROCESS CONTRIBUTION button at the bottom.  In order to purchase multiple tickets simultaneously, just click on 'other' and enter the total dollar amount.  Then include a note stating the number/kind of tickets desired in the designated 'send a note...' box below, just above the red