With another summer tour looming the “Phab Phour” from Vermont have whet the appetites of their fan base by unleashing another monstrous concert box-set.  The band continues their string of excellent archival releases with the newest addition to their ever-expanding live catalogue; an 8-disc collection presenting three incendiary shows performed at the Paradiso in the Netherlands during their heralded 1997 European tours, which for all intents and purposes will be called Amsterdam ’97.

The sun finally came out, and there was a full moon on the horizon. There is no better place to enjoy rocking Americana string band music then Red Rocks Amphitheatre. The bill on this night had two heavy hitting, fast growing, old-time playing bands from two different parts of the country. The Devil Makes Three comes from Santa Cruz, California, and they bring a sort of punk, pirate, darkness flavor to their Americana bluegrass.

Experiencing these musicians in one of the most beautiful places to see live music, the Chautauqua Auditorium in Boulder, CO was a wonderful experience and a memory that will stay. The landscapes that surround the foothills of Boulder make an aesthetic canvas for a perfect evening. There were people having picnics on the lawn, while others threw Frisbees under the setting sun.

Iconic guitarist and composer Steve Kimock is a fixture in many different contexts. It’s hard to think of a musician who’s more adaptable and melodically resourceful. While his style gets unfairly lumped into the jam category, those more knowledgeable know better. It’s best to regard him as a purveyor of free music. Jerry Garcia admired his work immensely and proclaimed Kimock his favorite under-the-radar guitarist.

In less than ten years, Pennsylvania alt-grass group Mason Porter has built an honest following. Genuine musical expression and staying true to one’s roots can be challenging when critics marginalize through categorizing and genre labeling. It seems as if the quintet isn’t really bothered by anybody else’s opinion on what type of music they play, or could be playing. Their authenticity has won over a loyal family of fans.

Chris Robinson Brotherhood (CRB) is much more than individual players built around a popular musician. While there’s no doubt that Chris’ past with The Black Crowes has helped fuel their ongoing surge, it’s unfair to the band and their music to label it as such. This is a band in the truest sense, and over the past four years and counting it would be difficult to argue against such a notion.

After hearing from dozens of people that Sufjan Stevens puts on one of the best live shows, I knew I had to go when I saw he announced a date in Austin. The venue was Bass Concert Hall, typically reserved for orchestras, ballets, and classy events that exist on a plane far outside my reach.

It was a bill that was full of bands that I have been anticipating seeing. I have seen members in each band play individually in all-star jams and as guests with other bands, but this was what I was waiting for. The New Mastersounds together with Analog Son and Adam Robinson & the Funky Monks opening. This was a hat trick with three great musical acts for the price of one. The crowd bulked up late, but none the less, they were there, and it was packed.

In a recent conversation we had, guitarist Leo Nocentelli laid down why music from New Orleans was so distinct.

“There are only a few cities that have a reputation of having a sound… [New Orleans] is a unique city that has its own identity. When a New Orleans record hits the radio, you know where it’s from. Being identified as an individual rather than sounding like anybody.”

One of the prolific 21^st century musical breakthroughs from the East to West is the story of Bombino. Omara “Bombino” Moctar was born in Niger to a family of nomadic Tuaregs near the town of Agadez. Spending much his childhood in an encampment with seventeen siblings, he strayed from the norm of tradition and became infatuated with not only guitar playing, but also the different styles he would be exposed to from travelers and locals alike.