The Muse concert in Sacramento last night at the Sleep Train Arena was, on a personal note, Night #2 of 2 for me, having seen them the night before at Oracle Arena in Oakland. Two totally different experiences (more on that later), but another Epic show by a band that delivers rock entertainment like no one else on tour today. Over the course of seeing them, one thing I’ve learned is that location matters at these shows, and I wouldn’t necessarily say one place is better than another (close or far), as they have such an elaborate and brilliant production and presentation, wherever you are in the venue you will experience something very special indeed. As I said in yesterday’s review, they are most definitely a band that needs to be experienced live in concert and their music is designed to be performed live in front of thousands. [Read more…]
Muse at Oracle Arena | Oakland, California | 1/28/2013 (Concert Review)
Muse are unlike any other band recording and performing today. And having watched them perform at Oracle Arena last night, they are most definitely a band that needs to be experienced live in concert. It’s as if the band, and their music, is designed to be performed live in front of thousands… and having been to a great many concerts in my time, I would rate their stage production itself in the top three I’ve ever seen. [Read more…]
Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival 2013 Concert Artist Line-Up Announced; Preview of Bay Area “Fauxchella” Possibilities
The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival, presented by Goldenvoice, has announced their 2013 line-up of artists and bands performing at the annual music event in Indio, California. Featured artists include New Order, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Phoenix, The Stone Roses, Blur, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The xx, Phoenix, Modest Mouse, Lou Reed, Metric, Of Monsters and Men, Johnny Marr, Moby, Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, Vampire Weekend, Jurassic 5, Hot Chip, Postal Service, Social Distortion, Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, and more. For residents of Northern California, like myself, are just as excited about the announcement, in that though we may not make the trek to Southern California, we have the benefit of what has been dubbed “Fauxchella” by SpinningPlatters.com… with concert venues in the San Francisco Bay Area playing host to many of the bands adding on their own headlining shows on dates just before and after the famous festival event.
Adam Ant at The Regency Ballroom | San Francisco, California | 10/18/2012 (Concert Review)
New Wave revolutionary? Prince?? Pirate??? Adam Ant has adopted a multitude of roles spanning many decades… but as an icon of post-punk and early 80s music and pop culture, he still knows how to kill it on stage, which is what he did for the sold out crowd at The Regency Ballroom in San Francisco last night, tearing through a massive 28+ song set list that still left out some fan favorites. Who would have imagined when he came on the scene in the mid to late 70s that not only would he still be selling out shows, but he’d still be relevant (and, looking backward, prescient) well into his late 50’s. Truly an artist musician, Adam Ant has created a culture and world all his own, and it is definitely a fun place to visit.
Garbage at The Warfield | San Francisco, California | 10/1/12 (Concert Review)
Last night at The Warfield was my second time seeing Garbage this year, having seen them back in April in Las Vegas. I was astounded at how much the band has evolved in this short time, having just been resurrected earlier this year, now completely transformed into one of the most kick ass bands touring in 2012. This group – that completely defies genre – burst onto the stage and played a tight and rearranged set, including many songs off their incredible new album for upwards of two hours. They also brought out one of the best audiences I’ve been a part of all year (and yes, audiences do matter!), who could not get enough of this band that comes across as beings from another, much more interesting planet. All in all, I think the fact that Garbage isn’t currently selling out huge stadiums is a tribute to the fact that the 90s was, as a decade, mostly filled with crap music (compared to the decades that preceded and followed), and somehow this band never received the recognition nor massive following that it deserved. People in the 90’s generally had no taste in music and it was a weak era in pop culture, and Garbage is, in my estimation, one of the most outstanding group of artists born of that time, and the fact that they somehow got back together to make music and perform live better than ever is nothing short of remarkable. Hopefully at some point the masses will catch up to what they are missing, as the concerts this band puts on are among the best live shows from any band today.
The Go-Go’s and The Psychedelic Furs at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/30/2012 (Concert Review)
The Go-Go’s and the Psychedelic Furs closed out my own personally selected Summer concert series at the always awesome Mountain Winery last night and I can’t imagine a better send off, with two classic and important 80s bands in top form playing their many hits, back to back. A bit of a contrast in styles (though both bands, in their own ways, were a result of and reaction to the 70s punk movement), it was very much a celebration of the wide ranging and innovation music born during my favorite decade. The Furs opened with what I would characterize as the best live performance I’ve seen from them, and the Go-Go’s closed it out with a fun and energetic set that felt very warm and personalized for the audience. A great night hosted by two stellar bands, and I feel fortunate to have had a chance to be part of it.
Huey Lewis and The News at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/28/2012 (Concert Review)
“I am not perfect. But I’m perfect for you.” This was a sentiment expressed by Huey Lewis early on in his performance with Huey Lewis and the News at Mountain Winery last night, which was a reference to the fact that this was a make-up show for one that was canceled about a month ago. A Bay Area native, the band certainly put in a lot of “heart and soul” into producing a very special concert last night, playing through many of their hits and going the extra mile to bring their special brand of rock and roll to the stage. It was a great show put on by this classic band that helped to define the 80s while mostly defying the sound of their peers with a musical identity all their own. As one might expect, they put on a classy, positive, high energy show in Saratoga last night.
Daryl Hall and John Oates at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 9/18/2012 (Concert Review)
An ongoing personal tradition of mine, I have made a commitment to try to see Daryl Hall and John Oates perform live every year, preferably at my favorite venue – Mountain Winery in Saratoga – and am happy to have been a part of that event again last night. As readers of the Rock Subculture Journal would likely surmise, music from the 80s is the foundation for my love of popular music, and among all those wonderful artists that were highly prolific in those times, I would personally rate Hall and Oates among the very top. Billboard Magazine rates them as the number one duo of all time for very good reason – they are simply brilliant songwriters, and have published seemingly endless hits, and their live shows are some of the best I’ve experienced. Last night I had a great vantage point from which to take it all in.
Duran Duran at Mountain Winery | Saratoga, California | 8/9/2012 (Concert Review)
Duran Duran kicked off their North American tour this week with two back-to-back dates at my favorite venue, Mountain Winery in Saratoga, California. I was fortunate enough to attend the second date on August 9th. Duran Duran is one of my all-time favorite bands, and it was just an amazing night, with an incredible set that stretched two hours and kept the audience on their feet and singing and chanting along to favorites, old and new alike, as soon as they came out onto the stage. [Read more…]
Santigold at Club Nokia | Los Angeles, California | 6/1/2012 (Concert Review)
Santigold has been on my “must see list” for a while, and with their latest tour, they did not schedule any Northern California shows, so I made a special trip to Los Angeles to see them last night, at one of my favorite venues, Club Nokia. I have been a fan since the release of their first album, and have become an even bigger fan with the release of their second album, Master of My Make-Believe. It was an absolutely fantastic night that felt like a giant celebration, with two great opening artists, so enough with the preface and I’ll get right to it. The thing that most struck me about Santi was her natural ability to make those magic connections with individual members of her audience, one by one – her eyes seeking out and locking onto people with a special smile, expression, or gesture. Wonderful stuff, and her music is so uniquely her – rare when a newer artist can produce and deliver such genuine art. I really can’t recommend enough picking up her albums and seeing her do her thing live, with her awesome band. [Read more…]