During the middle of his headlining set at the Genesee Theatre in Waukegan on Thursday night, Dave Davies dedicated a song to "My brother Raymond" which included the lyrics "In my heart I'm just a boy, just a boy, just a boy."  This is from his latest release, last year's "Open Road," a collaboration with Dave's son Russ Davies.

Fresh off the release of their Shapeshifter 1: Construct EP and riding a train hell-bent on metamorphosis, New York’s mesmerizing instrumental quartet TAUK took over Denver’s Ogden Theatre this past weekend, showcasing their unique ability to blend elements of jazz, rock, and funk to captivate the minds of audiences across the country.

Delivering a compelling foot-stomping performance that was equal parts hootenanny and joyful revival, The Avett Brothers again conquered Sacramento on March 30. The sold-out crowd of 2,400 at the downtown Community Center Theatre was on its feet most of the night, reveling in the experience, singing along with myriad lyric phrases that resonated personally with fans.

About two years ago, I heard my first BIG Something song. It was an unforgettable moment when the song “Undertow” played on the radio station “Jam On,” on Sirius XM. I remember thinking they were going to become something big. From then on, my obsession with this unique funk, rock, jam group grew tremendously.

The show wasn’t billed as “An Evening with Larry Campbell & Teresa Williams," but that’s exactly what Saturday’s show at Boston’s City Winery was – no opening act and an intimate show full of stories, explanations of how songs came about, and of course wonderful music.

The Infamous Stringdusters—mid-stride a strong driving, country-wide, Grammy inspired tour—came rolling through Portland’s Crystal Ballroom breathing fire March 9th, and smoked the house.  With the Stringdusters receiving well-deserved coverage from news media, music magazines, professional writers and PR firms, Grateful Web looked to the fan for the “real story.”  I recently contacted Gail Lordi, whom attended the show with her husband, Kliff Hopson, an

As you entered the theater, you were given a postcard which had instructions for the “cue” for when to sing happy birthday to the birthday boy. Some of my fellow attendees were already wearing birthday hats and even giving them out to their friends. The theater was hoppin’, and the vibe was that of a celebration. It was a sold-out crowd (GA/LOGE/BALCONY). Of course, it really didn’t matter if you had a seat anyway when I looked around, people were standing and dancing everywhere.

There’s something irresistible about the Infamous Stringdusters. Their ebullient enthusiasm and riveting musicianship completely overwhelmed the packed house at Eugene’s (Ore.) HiFi Lounge on March 8.  The Stringdusters performed two invigorating sets of their distinctively expansive, new grass music and beguiled the enthusiastic crowd. They produced a bona fide ball, flooding the small venue with ecstatic musical energy that felt bigger than the room.

Backed by a varying procession of Bay Area players, Paige Clem led an epic CD-release party for her outstanding new album, “Firefly,” at Terrapin Crossroads in San Rafael, California, on March 9. Clem, an engaging and talented San Francisco-based songwriter, singer, and guitar player, had plenty of prominent Bay Area musicians on hand to make this a special two-set show.

There are three key fundamental elements to a superior live music experience. The band, the crowd, and the space. Sure, there are factors from the outside like weather, parking, a potential Shakedown Street, and maybe even lame small-town cops. But it’s the first three that bring it all together. Two veteran acts co-billed a doubleheader at San Francisco’s legendary Great American Music Hall last Thursday and Friday.