Ten year anniversaries are certainly something to celebrate, and that is exactly what Joe Russo's Almost Dead did this past weekend with a four night run of shows in the New York City metro region. The performances were at the Brooklyn Bowl for the first night and the Capitol Theatre for the rest.

New Orleans funk specialists Galactic performed at the iconic Blue Note Jazz Club in New York, NY last Thursday, January 26, 2023 as part of an intimate five night residency. Special guest pedal steel guitarist Robert Randolph, from Robert Randolph and the Family Band, sat in and complemented the jazzy quintet well.

Los Lobos brought their dance-inducing rhythms to the Lobero Theatre in Santa Barbara for two nights on January 20-21st. The first night featured an all-electric set, followed by an acoustic set the second night. The shows were part of the 2023 celebration of their 150th anniversary. The Lobero Theatre is a historic performing arts theater in downtown Santa Barbara, California. It was built in 1873 and is the oldest continuously operating theater in California.

The Wellmont Theater, located in the sprawling New York City suburb of Montclair, NJ, hosted moe. last Saturday, January 21, 2023 for an evening of exploratory rock and roll. This show marked the fourth time the band has played at the Garden State venue. This was also the fourth show back for guitarist Chuck Garvey, who suffered a stroke in late 2021.

Friday night, I got the invite to travel to The Fox Theatre in Boulder to see the up-and-coming Buffalo Commons. Formed in 2017 and originating out of Steamboat Springs, Colorado, it is hardly a surprise that yet another stringed talent has again emerged from the Rocky Mountains.

Twiddle continued their Distance Makes the Heart tour on Sat Jan 21 with their Sold-Out performance at the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ. Mihali Savoulidis and the boys came to the coastal Jersey town on a chilly night with Philly-based Great Time in support.

Jam rock heavy hitters Spafford returned to the Brooklyn Bowl in Brooklyn, NY for this first time in almost three years last Friday, January 20, 2023. They brought their new keyboardist Cory Schechtman, from the New Motif, a slate of thick grooves with deep improvisation, and a pair of vibrant covers along for the occasion. Escaper, the jamtronica inspired quartet from Brooklyn, NY, provided their support.

Samantha Fish and her band just finished a four-day run in the Rocky Mountain state of Colorado. They played in the mountain towns of Beaver Creek and Grand Junction and the front range towns of Boulder and Fort Collins. Fish’s touring schedule is as ambitious as it is relentless.

Kenny Loggins brought his tour to the Saban Theatre on Friday, January 20th. Coming just four months after his two headlining appearances at the Hollywood Bowl, the show was billed as being part of his At the Movies tour, with a focus on the songs that are forever linked with 1980s film classics such as Caddyshack and Top Gun.

In mid-January, Denver Comes Alive put on their annual celebration in the RiNo district of Denver, bringing out a whole host of incredible players and drawing near capacity crowds for solid lineups that left audiences reminded what a great event this is. Over the course of two nights, fans were treated to individually themed parties with Friday getting the jamgrass treatment and Saturday getting the funk. Friday’s stringed extravaganza saw the likes of a great opener in the talented Maggie Rose followed by the powerful WinterWonderWomen.