Over the Labor Day weekend, I was treated to a special concert at the Creede, CO, Ruth Humphries Brown Theatre. Musician and owner of Big River Music, Courtney La Zier invited me up. I couldn’t resist his enthusiasm.

TAUK, arguably the hottest instrumental prog-fusion quartet out of New York City, know how to close the summer parties right. After spending the summer hitting the festival circuit and playing some of the countries largest venues, including the opening spot at the sold out Umphrey’s McGee appearance at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Morrison, CO in July.

I’ve recently had the pleasure of listening to TAUK’s new double live album “HEADROOM”.  You can find it September 3^rd on as an exclusive 24-hour pre-release on 1320 records. As its namesake evokes, “HEADROOM” is a visceral and introspective album. Teeming with emotion and all expressed without the use of lyrics I found myself really “feeling” this album.

This is a very big year for the Josh Abbott Band. The “Where’s the Party” tour is its largest to date, attracting new fans at every stop. The day after premiering the new single “Amnesia” on Sirius XM radio, the Texas band returned to Joe’s Bar in Chicago. The warehouse- sized venue, named the 2015 “Nightclub of the Year” by the Academy of Country Music, was packed to the rafters with country, Americana, and rock fans ready for a good time.

Bettye LaVette is worthy and so is her brand new record. The “Great Lady of Soul” earned her nickname the hard way, staying true to herself and her dream for decades before the world finally listened. She was on the verge of stardom at 16, but had to wait 43 years until the 2005 release I’ve Got My Own Hell to Raise for her career breakthrough.

On the south side of Omaha, off the beaten path, lies Sokol Park.  This "campitheater" is home to multiple local and regional festivals, and also a concert idea of which I've never encountered elsewhere.  Camping is included with purchase of a concert ticket, giving all concerts a heavy music festival atmosphere, even if it is only for one night.  The reggae-tronic dub band from Minneapolis, Jon Wayne and the Pain, is the true definition of road w

Boston, MA bred band Lake Street Dive delivered a high energy 21-song set to a sold out crowd at the Outdoor Beer Garden behind Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, MI on Sunday evening, August 23.

Originally formed in 2004 while studying at Boston’s New England Conservatory of Music, they are named after a popular strip of bars in trumpet/guitarist Mike “McDuck” Olsen’s hometown of Minneapolis, MN.

Natalie Cressman is a beautiful trombone player, composer, and vocal prodigy that has a long history already in her short life. As a longtime Phish fan, I started seeing her perform with Trey Anastasio Band many years ago. From that, I discovered her individual talents, and learned about her rich music history. Both her mother and her father have successful careers in music.

It’s a little bit strange that in 2015, almost twenty years since drummer Dave Watts began holding impromptu free form improvised funk jams under the moniker Motet, that now the band is finally getting the national recognition it’s due. Maybe it really isn’t so surprising. They spent their formative years developing original material and finding the right full-time players and much of the 2000s throwing impressive tribute shows to the finest icons of rock, funk, soul, jazz and disco.

Umphrey's McGee ended their stint in south Florida by tearing up The Fillmore Theater on Miami Beach Saturday, Aug. 22.