venue — Page 4

Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band 2014 Tour Line-Up Features Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Todd Rundgren, Gregg Rolie, Warren Ham, and Gregg Bissonette

June 23, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Legendary drummer Ringo Starr is currently on tour with a fantastic line-up of icons in rock and pop music, with shows in the U.S. running through October. Ringo Starr & His All-Star Band is featuring some amazing musicians, including Steve Lukather (Toto) on guitar and vocals, Richard Page (Mr. Mister) on bass, acoustic guitar, and vocals, Gregg Rolie (Santana and Journey) on organ, keyboards, and vocals, Todd Rundgren (Nazz, Utopia and The New Cars) on guitar, harmonica, bass, percussion, keyboards, and vocals, Warren Ham (Bloodrock and AD) on saxophone, keyboards, percussion, and vocals, and Gregg Bissonette on drums, percussion, and vocals. [Read more…]

Pet Shop Boys “Electric Tour 2014” at Fox Theater | Oakland, California | 4/8/2014 (Concert Review + Photos) #PSBtour

April 10, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

It was one year ago to the day that I saw Pet Shop Boys and their Electric Tour in San Diego… and while the “show” was mostly the same on this 2014 tour, kicking off at Fox Theater in Oakland, my own personal experience was worlds apart. The actual concert itself was the same as last year’s, with the exception of I think just one change to the setlist, but that is actually a good thing – why mess with near perfection? While there are a few favorites of mine I would have loved to have heard, the highly prolific duo have been making hits for over three decades now, so there will always be some songs that aren’t going to make the cut for every tour. As with last year, the avant-garde stage production is of the highest order, with credit also due to Stuart Price with his music production and programming, Creative Director/Designer Es Devlin and Stage Director/Choreographer Lynne Page, the two colorful dancers (Merry Holden and Tom Herron) with their interesting costumes and stage presence, and many others behind the scenes. This show was their first of 2014, and at one point Neil even confessed to having some nerves in coming back on the stage, but his voice and delivery was spot on, and the blending of old and new music maybe even works better the second time around. It was one of my favorite shows last year, and it was great to revisit it as well as share it with someone very special in my life this time around – it is a concert that I will never forget (more on that later)!

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Phantogram at Fox Theater | Oakland, California | 2/20/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

February 21, 2014 by Jason DeBord 2 Comments

“We love you so much… you’re so beautiful! We’ve been playing San Francisco for years and years and years, and every time we come back here, you’re so fucking great and it’s so fucking fun…” Sarah Barthel, standing beside long time collaborator Josh Carter, both of whom seemed moved at times by the enthusiastic crowd that sold out the Fox Theater in Oakland for Phantogram’s debut show touring their latest album, Voices, which hit the streets earlier this week. Joined on stage by Chris Carhart on drums and Nick Shelestak on keyboards, the band put on an amazing show with a fantastic ability to recreate their unique studio sound live on stage, which was itself bathed in a pulsating light show that suited their songs well. This is definitely one of the must see tours of the year – really brilliant performance of their incredibly unique music and fantastic new album.

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Tori Amos to Tour United States in July & August Following May 13th Release of “Unrepentant Geraldines”

February 19, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Legendary singer-songwriter Tori Amos has announced her U.S. dates for 2014’s world tour supporting the May 13th release of her 14th studio album, Unrepentant Geraldines. She will cross the United States throughout July and August. Fans can gain access to a special pre-sale of all dates and venues by pre-ordering the new album (in CD, CD/DVD, and vinyl formats) on a special site. [Read more…]

Phantogram Leads Out With U.S. Tour Following Next Week’s Debut of “Voices” Album

February 13, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Electronic synthpop/trip hop duo Phantogram is releasing their second studio album, Voices, next week, and late next week they will be kicking off a small U.S. tour. I was a big fan of their eponymous EP released last year (particularly “Black Out Days”, which I counted among my Top 100 Songs of 2013) and have previewed their new album and it is excellent. [Read more…]

Berlin Featuring Terri Nunn at Saint Rocke | Hermosa Beach, California | 1/24/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

January 26, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Berlin Featuring Terri Nunn kicked off 2014 with their first live date of the year at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach, California, just as they did last year (which is a show I caught and reviewed as well). The biggest difference between last year and this year is that their amazing new album, Animal, came out this past September. While they have been playing some of this new material in their shows in the past few years, somehow it felt much more seamlessly intertwined into the set, maybe because now I’m so familiar with the songs. Like last year, it was another stellar show with excellent supporting artists, and Saint Rocke is a great little venue. I think more than most bands, Berlin gets what their music is about, how it affects people, and the power a live show can have on celebrating life and living it with some passion. They definitely bring it all out on stage and they are one of those bands that can carry you along with them vicariously. [Read more…]

Ash Tour Across United States in January and February on Way to The Weezer Cruise 2014

January 20, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Northern Irish indie band Ash will be doing a rare tour starting on the West Coast later this month, stretching across the U.S. through February with 13 headlining shows and then joining up with Weezer for their 2014 Weezer Cruise going from Florida to the Bahamas. [Read more…]

!!! (Chk Chk Chk) Starting 2014 with Three Northern California Concerts in Sacramento and San Francisco

January 20, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Sacramento dance-punk band !!! (Chk Chk Chk) will be doing three shows this month, the first in their home town at The Assembly and then back-to-back shows at The Chapel in San Francisco. Their latest EP, R!M!X!S, came out a few months ago, following their fifth studio album, THR!!!ER, which came out earlier last year. [Read more…]

Johnette Napolitano at The Griffin | San Diego, California | 1/17/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

January 19, 2014 by Jason DeBord 7 Comments

“I wanted to be a writer. I didn’t just want to shake my hair around and scream…” Johnette Napolitano, in one of many self-reflective moments in her honest and raw solo show at The Griffin in San Diego on Friday night. The singer and bass player for Concrete Blonde has always projected raw emotion and artistry in all she does, but this was certainly a step even further into having a glimpse into her world, which was bathed in gentle red and blue lights on the small stage in the intimate venue. For me, she has always been one of my favorite vocalists in rock and roll (and based on this show, it is only getting better with age), but there is so much more to her as an artist beyond that one remarkable gift. She talks about ghosts a bit, and it makes me wonder if she can see and feel things that the rest of us mere mortals cannot, and that is one of those things that gives her work more depth and dimension, and of course more emotion. Regardless, the show was an amazing experience for fans of her and her work, whether it is on vinyl or paper, she is that writer she always dreamed of becoming, in multiple disciplines. Brilliant artist and amazing showcase of her work in San Diego for those lucky enough to attend.

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Berlin Featuring Terri Nunn To Take “Animal” On Tour Across U.S. in 2014

January 12, 2014 by Jason DeBord Leave a Comment

Berlin Featuring Terri Nunn has announced new concert dates all across the U.S. through May, which kicks off at Saint Rocke in Hermosa Beach later this month. They will play favorites from the 80s as well as songs from the fantastic new album, Animal (which I rated one of the Top Ten Albums of 2013). [Read more…]