Classically trained DJ and Producer Douglas Appling, better known as Emancipator played a cleansing set to a sold-out house at San Francisco’s Great American Music Hall that was nothing short of hypnotizing. His music, if not genuinely describable as trance, was certainly trance-esque, and highlighted electronic music’s evolution and maturity in recent years.

On Wednesday night, Trey Anastasio brought his newest side project, Ghosts of the Forest, to the Orpheum Theatre in Boston. Promoting the band's self-titled album that would be released two days later, Anastasio performed 21 songs, most of them written after the passing of his dear friend Chris "CCott" Cottrell, who had passed away from cancer prior to the songs being written.

When time and tour schedules allow, members of the Green Leaf Rustlers, an amalgamation of members of several current successful bands, present a stimulating array of classic adaptations of American Country Roots & Blues, including the Bakersfield Sound. Such was the case on March 28 at Sacramento’s enduring rock club, Harlow’s, where the band finished up a tidy 10-date California tour before heading to Alaska for a triad of early April shows.

Last week, the musical world witnessed the extraordinary live debut of The Allman Betts Band, the legendary-in-the-making collaborative project between Devon Allman (son of the late great Gregg) and Duane Betts (son of the still rocking Dickey). The duo’s new rock outfit also includes Barry Oakley Jr., son of the late Allman Brothers’ bassist, along with keyboardist John Ginty, drummers John Lum and R. Scott Bryan, and slide guitarist John Statchela.

There is something about getting ready to go to a show in Vegas. The whole day is magical. Getting ready in your hotel room with your sweetheart with March Madness surrounding the weekend and getting in the cab with the permanent Vegas hangover is just about as alive as it gets. Daryl Hall and John Oates performed a three-night residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. It was their first time there in five years.

March 29th, on a drizzly spring evening in Chicago, Trevor Hall and Dirtwire performed at Concord Music Hall to an all-ages show. The show collided two tribal influenced acts into one wholesome performance that nourished the crowd. After treating audiences of this tour to their new single “Strength in One”, the track is now out available for all to hear.  

Dylan Jakobsen is a bit different from your stereotypical country singer and songwriter. He’s not from the south, didn’t grow up on a farm, doesn’t drink… Yet he’s certainly worthy of a spot-on country music’s mainstage. With his album, I Am, he paints a picture of his journey as an artist - incredibly well, I might add. Not only did Jakobsen write every song and play all the instruments on this album, he also produced it in his own home studio. His talent, across the board, is undeniable. So, buckle up: Jakobsen's album does not disappoint.

In their twenty-third as a touring and recording band, roots rock leaders O.A.R., or Of A Revolution, have released their ninth studio album today, called The Mighty. The record, released via RED Music, commemorated the occasion with an exclusive album release party at Sony Square in the lower east side of Manhattan. 

Arlo Guthrie returned to Santa Barbara’s historic Lobero Theater to play a sold-out concert on Tuesday, March 19th. The iconic singer-songwriter, most famous for his anti-war protest anthem, Alice’s Restaurant, celebrated that song’s 50th anniversary two years ago, with a concert that was one of many that he has played at the Lobero. This year’s concert celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Alice’s Restaurant movie and featured three distinctive sets of music.

“This is my first time here…You know, I think I like the sound of this room.” So spoke the one and only Del McCoury at Tarrytown Music Hall this past Saturday night, towards the beginning of his performance with master mandolinist David Grisman. Moments after this quote, McCoury and the Tarrytown audience sang “Happy Birthday” to Grisman, who on this night turned seventy-four years.