On Monday night, Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country—featuring Donato on guitar and vocals, Nathan "Sugar Leg" Aronowitz on keys and vocals, Will "Mustang" McGee on bass and vocals, and Will "Bronco" Clark on drums—found the perfect setting to conclude their West Coast tour. This region, spanning the high desert areas of Pioneertown, Yucca Valley, Joshua Tree, and Landers, is steeped in a history of reported close encounters and has been a hub for renowned Ufologists.

On Thursday, January 11th, the Shrine Expo Hall in Los Angeles was transformed into a treasure trove of rock and roll, pop culture, and American history. The occasion was a special one-day exhibition of the collection of Jim Irsay, owner of the N.F.L.'s Indianapolis Colts and a passionate collector of music memorabilia, American pop culture, and historical artifacts.

Northeast rockers moe. played the second show of their West Coast tour on Friday night, stopping at the intimate Teragram Ballroom in downtown Los Angeles. The 600-person venue reached maximum capacity as Rob Derhak (Bass/Vocals), Chuck Garvey (Guitar/Vocals), Al Schnier (Guitar/Vocals), Vinnie Amico (Drums), Jim Loughlin (Percussion), and Nate Wilson (Keys) took the stage.

Joe Russo's Almost Dead returned to the famed Capitol Theatre on January 12, 2024, for another legendary run of their own, and their twenty-sixth show at the Port Chester, NY-based venue. Their clever interpretations of the Grateful Dead and other bands get better and better over time, and this show was no exception.

What needs to be said about a little ol’ band from East L.A. called Los Lobos? Do we need to point out that they’ve played over 100 shows a year since they were founded 50 years ago? Does anyone really need to be reminded that they’ve recorded 17 studio albums, charted a #1 hit with their cover of “La Bamba,” and won multiple awards, including several Grammys?

Old and In the Way were (ironically) mostly not old – and certainly not at all in anyone’s way! – when they gathered in 1973 to play about 50 live shows. Fiddler Vassar Clements, born in 1928 and having joined Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys at 21, was still under 50. The other members of OAITW were only about 30 at the time, give or take a few years.

Space Bacon, the late-night jamtronica specialists hailing from Brooklyn, NY, brought plenty of greasy jams to Hill Country Live on December 29, 2023. This was part of the Phish After Show series, and certainly an easy location to get to from Madison Square Garden. The band consisted of guitarist Fred Rylands, drummer Sam Crespo, keyboardist Chris Gironda, and bassist Kevin Legall.

Brothers Luther and Cody Dickinson have been on a musical journey together for almost thirty years. They both possess acute knowledge of many facets of music and the music industry. You might say it’s in their blood, coming from a very musical family. This knowledge and inspiration were largely inspired by their father, legendary producer and musician Jim Dickinson. Since they were teenagers, they have been producing records for themselves and have applied their creative skills in various ways.

The Declaration of Independence. Rocky Balboa’s boxing boots. Instruments used by members of the Beatles. John F. Kennedy’s rocking chair. These are just a few of the items I saw last Thursday night at the Jim Irsay collection at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles. Jim Irsay, owner of the Indianapolis Colts, has amassed an incredible assortment of relics that would make Indiana Jones blush.

I could tell you how their set included fun covers like the Rolling Stones’ “No Expectations,” John Hartford's "Granny Wontcha Smoke Some Marijuana," and Jesse Stone’s “Don’t Let Go” (a familiar Jerry Garcia Band tune for many in the audience who sang along with the refrain). I could tell you they picked and fiddled as tight as ever. I could tell you they had a guest fiddler named Coleman Smith and that he and Piccininni had a lot of fun fiddling eye to eye. So much to tell!