Artists — Page 16

Jefferson Airplane’s Paul Kantner Passes Away at 74: Concert Photography Tribute

January 29, 2016 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Paul Kantner, co-founder, guitarist, singer and songwriter of Jefferson Airplane, passed away at age 74 yesterday. He was at the center of 60’s counterculture and psychedelic rock and roll. I had an opportunity to see him perform live about a year ago, as part of his “Jefferson Starship Performs & Celebrates The Music of Jefferson Airplane 50th Anniversary”. Interestingly, another 60s icon Leonard Nimoy passed away the day before, and was on my mind as I watched that show. Nimoy’s last tweet seemed poignant then and even more now: “A life is like a garden. Perfect moments can be had, but not preserved, except in memory. LLAP.”
[Read more…]

Johnny Marr’s California Jam Tour 2016 Kicks Off at Ace of Spades in Sacramento Next Month

January 19, 2016 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Johnny Marr, singer-songwriter and legendary guitar player, will be kicking off his “California Jam Tour 2016” on February 28th at Ace of Spade in Sacramento. The English musician will be supporting his latest, a live album called Adrenalin Baby, though he is widely regarded as one of the most important music artists of the past three decades. Associated with a who’s who gallery of groups, bands, artists, and influencers such as The Smiths, Electronic, Modest Mouse, The Pretenders, Pet Shop Boys, Talking Heads, Noel Gallagher, Kirsty MacColl and more, his live shows promise a lot of electricity. [Read more…]

Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers 2016 Headlining & Co-Headlining Tour Schedule with Duran Duran

January 19, 2016 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Chic Featuring Nile Rodgers will be getting on the road out ahead of the Duran Duran tour starting in April by headlining their own set of shows in California next month. The legendary producer and artist, Nile Rodgers, has worked with some of the best artists of the past half a century. Chic’s new album, It’s About Time, is expected sometime in the Summer. [Read more…]

Special Live Concert by Seal Coming To Fox Theater in Oakland on February 5th; New Album “7”

January 19, 2016 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Seal is coming to perform a special one off show at Fox Theater Oakland early next month, in support of his latest album, 7, which was released in November. The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter is celebrated all over the world for his incredible live shows, with a vast catalog of original hits and timeless covers in his repertoire. The show is being promoted by Another Planet Entertainment and Red Devil Presents. [Read more…]

Morrissey at The Masonic | San Francisco, California | 12/29/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

January 1, 2016 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

“Spread open your Golden Gates…” Morrissey always has an interesting little quip before delving into the first song of the night, and what he prepared from The Masonic in San Francisco was appropriate enough. Having seen him one other time this year – in San Jose in July (phenomenal show!) – he seems to be increasingly jubilant this year… a turn of fortunes for sure. He also seems much more comfortable in his own skin, and more confident (with a stellar band bringing his music alive in a way that eclipses all iterations that have come before it). He was also quite chatty with this latest engagement on Tuesday night, abandoning at least some of the darkness fans have become accustomed to (though he did make a remark about looking to find him in a monastery eight miles south of Vienna in the future). There is often a unique theme for each show by way of matching outfits for the band, and with this show, they all wore “Morrissey for President” t-shirts. We can only image. As one of my all-time favorite artists, I see him as often as I can, and it seemed most fitting to make this show my final one for 2015. He remains one of just a few artists that can still give me that chill down my spine and make me feel like I am witnessing something genuine and important (kicking in at this show with “How Soon Is Now?”). Morrissey has a way of bringing up feelings of nostalgia and fusing it with his new works to create something special. [Read more…]

“Not So Silent Night 2015” by Live 105 (#LIVE105NSSN) at Oracle Arena | Oakland, California | 12/11/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

December 14, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Not So Silent Night (NSSN) is Live 105’s “Annual Holiday Rock Show”, with 2015 bringing it back from a two-night event to a one night show. As I’ve mentioned in the past, I tend to avoid the massive outdoor Summer-style festivals (too hot, dirty, sweaty and crowded, though I did cover Live 105’s BFD this year – see Part 1 & Part 2), so I really enjoy these indoor ones that happen in the colder weather. With this one being an annual event, they are extremely well organized and somehow improve upon their formula year after year. The night kicked off early at about 5:30 and ran up towards midnight, so it was a very long evening of excellent artists doing their thing (with scant 5-minute breaks in-between as the did quick stage rotations). It was also an interesting mix of artists, with newer bands as well as some that have put in a lot more years, with Weezer topping the billing. All in all, it was a great line-up that flowed well and all performers seemed to step up and deliver to their own fans as well as making some new ones.

[Read more…]

Vanessa Carlton Touring New Album “Liberman” in Early 2016; New Video for “House of Seven Swords” Out Now

November 24, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Singer-songwriter Vanessa Carlton released her fifth studio album, Liberman, through Dine Alone Records last month and will be touring North America in January and February. Her latest music video for the second single, “House of Seven Swords”, just debuted last week and features an intimate glimpse into her new home in Nashville and life as a mother, as directed by Daniel Henry. [Read more…]

The Bird And The Bee at Social Hall SF | San Francisco, California | 10/28/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

October 31, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

“Fuck you, Greg! Just kidding!” What the audience playfully shouted at Inara George of The Bird And The Bee (on cue and at her direction) as she recorded video of the crowd with a borrowed phone, to share with the other half of their duo who is not joining her on this short, rare tour hitting just four cities in the U.S. (Pasadena, San Francisco, Chicago, and Minneapolis). Supporting their first all-original album since 2009 with the newly released Recreational Love, that crowd has certainly been waiting with great anticipation to see the act, in whole or part, for the better part of five years (in which time just a handful of dates have been played). The packed collection of fans at Social Hall SF in San Francisco (just below and part of Goldenvoice’s Regency Ballroom) was not disappointed, as Inara George and her band played through The Bird And The Bee favorites, old and new. Going by the quality and energy of the show, you wouldn’t know that live shows are not something that they do continuously, as it was a brilliant concert and the unique studio sound was recreated faithfully and, of course, at the heart of it all were Inara’s unique vocals. Definitely worth turning out for one of these rare shows, and short of that, checking out the new album, which takes them in a new direction while retaining that unique distinct, singular, signature sound. [Read more…]

LIVE 105’s Not So Silent Night 2015 (#LIVE105NSSN) To Feature Weezer, Death Cab For Cutie, Bastille, Halsey, Silversun Pickups, Chvrches, Foals, and X Ambassadors

October 27, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

The line-up and date for LIVE 105’s annual Not So Silent Night concert event has been announced, with a one-night show at Oracle Arena this year on Friday, December 11th. 2015 will feature Weezer, Death Cab For Cutie, Bastille, Halsey, Silversun Pickups, Chvrches, Foals, and X-Ambassadors. [Read more…]

A Special Evening with Dave Gahan & Soulsavers at The Theatre at Ace Hotel | Los Angeles, California | 10/19/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

October 22, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

“We’re going to play a few songs now that you might know. You’ve been very patient; thank you very much. You also might not know them as well…” Dave Gahan, bridging the main set of Soulsavers material and their encore, which featured two songs from his first two solo records and two from Depeche Mode’s Songs of Faith and Devotion. Making his debut performance with Soulsavers, they previewed the newly recorded material from Angels & Ghosts, which will be released on Friday. Dave Gahan has reunited for a second album as Dave Gahan & Soulsavers, as well as announced a very limited set of concerts with a 10-piece band at very small and intimate venues in the U.S. and Europe, with this first one happening at The Theatre at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles on Monday night. The album, Angels & Ghosts, is his second collaboration with producer Rich Machin and the tour takes them to New York, London, Berlin, Paris, and Milan. It all creates a framework to showcase Mr. Gahan’s ability to transcend the work of Depeche Mode into territory that allows him to reveal his own unique gifts, artistry, and vision. A peek into the soul of a man who is very complex, as well as a foundation with which to truly hear his voice soar to new heights and lyrics that provide real vulnerability. Decidedly not “a Depeche Mode show”, but a rare experience for fans to see another side of one of the most talented artists of our generation. Unforgettable.

[Read more…]