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Branches on the tree of music will never stop growing. As soon as someone pioneers a new sound, five others have radiated from it, creating what they see as their own unique niche, slightly different form their predecessors. Unfortunately, such constant divergence creates an intricate web of music where nothing is original and no two sounds can be grouped exclusively under one heading. This has lead to bands describing themselves with more stylistic differences than those listed at a record store. "Rock infused funk with folk and indie influences." What the hell is that?

Known for his hip-hop and reggae style, Jewish musician Matisyahu's sold out show Sunday night at Boulder's Fox Theatre proved to have attracted far beyond the religious folk of his faith. While a considerable amount of Jewish families with women in their head dresses and men in their customary yarmulke could be spotted from among the crowd, the greater majority of the audience showed to be just as diverse as the musical genres in performance.

Usually, I'm a rock and roll fan.  Usually.  But I like to mix it up now and then, see something I don't usually get the opportunity to see, hear something I haven't heard before.  The club scene is rarely my scene, but last Wednesday night, I find myself in the middle of a DJ show at the Fox Theatre in Boulder, CO.  To me, this is like being on another planet.  It's not the music really, although there is something futuristic and otherworldly about electronica that I find appealing, it's the people who make m

I hope the folks in Greensboro, NC and Florida got the same treatment we got from RatDog here in Philadelphia before ending their Fall Tour.  Two weeks after our country rejoiced and welcomed a new sign of hope in the free world with the election of Barack Obama, Ratdog brought the house down. The stage was full of election remnants.

Many aspects of last Monday night's show at The Flynn Space in downtown Burlington, Vermont felt as if they had been transplanted from past eras, even different locales.

For lovers of atypical instrumental rock derivatives, there may be no sweeter words than Toubab Krewe.  What's a Toubab Krewe, you ask?  Good question!  For starters, Toubab Krewe is a band, five guys who make some of the grooviest music you've ever (or maybe never) heard.  The only term that really sticks with any consistency is instrumental, since, as the word implies, they only play instruments sans vocals.  Other than that, they ar

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There is a certain feeling I get before a Phish or a Trey show that is unlike any other pre-show feeling. I don't know why, but it almost feels like it's my show that I'm preparing for. Everything has to be right. I have to be on time, in my spot, with everything that I need. I probably acquired these survival skills during ten years of Phish Jedi touring.

Halloween is a festive occasion across the nation, but few places are able to boast the sort of debauch festivities Boulder, Colorado is known for.  Hit the Pearl Street Mall starting at around 8 pm and treat your eyes to a cornucopia of sights, including the Naked Pumpkin Run (just what it sounds like), the "Anything Goes But Clothes" costume contest at the Lazy Dog, and generally more sexy, sultry, scandalous and skintastic costumes than you could shake your stick at.  A mainstay of Bould

It was another typical Saturday night in Boulder, Colorado.  University Hill was crawling with weekend revelers, frat boys wearing their hats like idiots, freshmen trolling for house parties where no one checks ID, and throngs of music fans smoking cigarettes and talking it up outside the Fox Theatre.  The crowd outside the Fox was a pretty good cross-section of Boulder society - a mix of tie-dye, glow sticks and designer jeans.  Inside the

Yep, even in Illinois they like their grass blue.  The Chicago-based progressive bluegrass outfit Cornmeal is proof of that.  Combining elements of traditional bluegrass, country, roots, modern rock, and improvisational jam the group fosters a unique and pleasing sound that wins over fans across a host of genres.

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