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Dido at The Masonic | San Francisco, California | 6/26/2019 (Concert Review + Photos) (Bonus Portland + Seattle Mini Reviews/Photos)

July 1, 2019 by Jason DeBord

“…one of the reasons it passed so quickly for me was actually – I had a kid.  He’s magic.  And I’ve basically wanted to hang out with him so I’m sorry I disappeared.” Dido offering some explanation of why she’s not done a world tour for the past 15 years, and as an introduction to one of two encore songs – her very personal “Have To Stay” – in her performance at The Masonic in San Francisco on Wednesday night.  I’m actually one of those people who have waited to see her for the past 15 years, so it was an amazing experience.  Supporting her brilliant new album, Still On My Mind, Dido played many hits and lots of new music, and still left us all wanting more, even with a 20-song set.  This was actually show #1 of 3 for me and Shelley (Mrs. Rock Subculture), as we took time to also catch the subsequent shows in both Portland and Seattle (mini reviews included below) as Dido wrapped up the U.S. leg of her tour in California and the Pacific Northwest.  Hopefully it won’t be another 15 years for her to come around again, but it was well worth the wait. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Dido, Jack Savoretti, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, San Francisco California, The Masonic (formerly Nob Hill Masonic Auditorium) Tagged With: 2019, axs, cities, Concert, concert photography, Concert Review, dates, dido, Friends, Hell After This, Hurricanes, Jack Savoretti, live, live nation, Mad Love, meet & greet, meet and greet, north american tour, photography, photos, portland, preview, review, Ria Mae, Rollo, Rollo Armstrong, Roseland Theater, San Fransico, seattle, showbox sodo, Soundcheck, Still On My Mind, Thank You, the masonic, tickets, tour, White Flag, world tour

Culture Club at Thunder Valley Outdoor Amphitheater | Lincoln, California | 8/19/2016 (Concert Review + Photos)

August 22, 2016 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

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“So, basically Culture Club makes happy sad music.  If you’re a Gemini, you don’t need that explained.  If you’re a Libra, I can’t help you.  Hands up for the Geminis!  You’ve got to use two hands if you’re a Gemini, because there’s always two of you.  What’s that saying?  ‘Roses are red, violets are blue, I’m schizophrenic, and so am I.’  That’s the Gemini mantra.  So we do these happy sad songs.  Dancy rhythms, melancholy sounds, mixed together…”  Boy George explaining Culture Club in a way that only he could…  an interesting insight into the band and the man who proudly stood out in front of it (as well standing for many other things) throughout the first half of the 1980s.  All in preface to the song, “Move Away”, which was the lead single to their fourth album, From Luxury To Heartache, an album title which nicely dovetails into what he was explaining, as well as illustrative of that early trajectory of the band in it’s first life…  It all ended far too early when they broke up in 1986 following the release of that album and that lead single, which would be their final entry into the U.S. Top 40 charts.  The light that burns twice as bright last half the time and all that…  But life is a funny thing.  Fast forward thirty years (!), and there on that stage at Thunder Valley’s Outdoor Amphitheater in front of thousands of jubilant fans on Friday night was Boy George and the original members of Culture Club – Roy Hay, Mikey Craig and Jon Moss – and I can’t imagine them being any more happy or in sync with one another musically and with their live performance.  And, it would seem, the impossible journey each took to get them there made it all the more sublime.  Joyfully playing those now classic songs of happy sad music.  A potent chemical reaction of letting soul and reggae out to play with all manner of other music genres, bending and twisting and dancing with new wave, country, pop, funk, rock, R&B, and even church music, to create something altogether unique but unified in that wicked sort of Gemini manner…  The genius of Boy George, and his bravery in always being uniquely himself and forging new paths for others to follow.  Definitely one of the best tours of 2016, one of the most important New Wave bands (who helped push those loose boundaries within that broad musical movement), and a band fronted by one of the most interesting figures in pop culture in modern times. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Culture Club, Groves, Information Society, Lincoln California, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Thunder Valley Resort and Casino, World One Presents Tagged With: 80s, artist, boy george, church of the poison mind, Concert, concert photography, Concert Review, culture club, dates, do you really want to hurt me, groves, high resolution, information society, insoc, jack fm, jon moss, Kurt Harland, lincoln, live, mikey craig, Music, new music, new wave, north america, paul robb, performance, Photo, photograph, photography, photos, Pop, pure energy, reggae, review, rock, roy hay, set, set list, setlist, show, thunder valley, thunder valley casino resort, tour, what's on your mind, worldone presents

Billy Idol at The Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort | Reno, Nevada | 8/7/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

August 9, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Billy-Idol-2015-Tour-Concert-Review-Photos-Grand-Theatre-Grand-Sierra-Resort-Casino-Reno-FI

“Two words to introduce this next song!  Two words!  Two words to introduce this next song!  Two words to introduce this next song!”  Billy Idol getting the sold out crowd of nearly 3,000 screaming, fist pumping fans shouting “Rebel Yell” at the opening night of Grand Sierra Resort’s new Grand Theatre.  I can’t imagine a better way to launch a high end new concert venue than having none other than Billy Idol kicking off a new tour of his own on the vast stage built on the $10 million dollar renovation of the live music space.  Billy Idol has been building on his own career and accomplishments of late, with 2014’s awesome new album Kings & Queens of the Underground (the first in nine years) and bestselling Dancing With Myself autobiography.  In the midst of a resurgent mainstream interest in all things Billy Idol, he seems to be as popular as ever.  Alongside his incredible band, they’ve put together probably their best live show ever with this tour.  It also clocked in as the longest show I’ve seen, at around two hours.  I’ve always noted this band as one of my all-time favorite live shows, and I’d have to say that this was the best I’d ever seen them.  I’ve always complimented Idol on his boundless and limitless energy and he seems to have reached a new high with this show and tour.  He is at once an icon and an enigma, as he continues to evolve his style while retraining his trademark lip curl and tongue in cheek uncensored gestures, looks, and poses.  And one can’t neglect to mention Mr. Steve Stevens on lead guitar, who could put the audience in a trance even if he stood alone on the stage – one of the best guitarists performing today, if not the very best.  If you haven’t been to a Billy Idol concert lately, you haven’t seen him and his band at all, as they are better than they’ve ever been, and that is saying a lot.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Billy Idol, Concert Reviews, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Reno Nevada, The Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort Tagged With: 2015, 2015 review, 2015 tour, 80s, album review, announcement, artist, autobiography, band, Billy Idol, billy morrison, biography, book tour, can't break me down, cities, Concert, concert photography, concert photos, Concert Review, dancing with myself, dates, europe, event, fan, front row, general admission, generation x, gig, grand sierra resort, grand sierra resort and casino, grand theatre, Icon, kings & queens of the underground, live, meet and greet, nevada, photo op, pit, reno, setlist set list, show, vip

Martin Gore of Depeche Mode (DJ Set) at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club | Santa Barbara, California | 6/27/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

June 29, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

Depeche Mode has been my favorite band since Black Celebration came out, so when I came across the new of this special DJ set show at SOhO Restaurant & Music Club in Santa Barbara, I was excited for an opportunity to see the man behind some of my all-time favorite songs express himself in a completely different setting.  Part of SOhO’s 20th Anniversary Fundraising Show Series, it did not disappoint.  Martin Gore played his unique style of live music for around two hours.  It was amazing to see the man at work, and being close enough to see his own facial expressions reacting to his own music.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Depeche Mode, DJ Headshot, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Martin L. Gore (Martin Gore), Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Santa Barbara California, SOhO Restaurant & Music Club Tagged With: 2015, Concert, concert photography, concert photos, Concert Review, dave gahan, delta machine, delta machine tour, depeche mode, DJ Headshot, dj set, early entry, front of stage, fundraiser, fundrasing, ga, general admission, high resolution, live, martin gore, martin l gore, meet and greet, mg, MGxMG, performance, Photo, photograph, photography, photos, picture, pictures, review, santa barbara, set, show, soho, soho music club, soho restaurant, soho restaurant & music club, soho restaurant and music club, tickets, vcmg, vince clarke

Information Society and Book of Love (“80’s Rewind Fest Presents: PURE ENERGY”) at Thunder Valley Casino Resort | Lincoln, California | 1/31/2015 (Concert Review + Photos)

February 2, 2015 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

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“Oh, somebody wants to hear, “What’s On Your Mind?”.  Peer pressure him into letting it go… Dude.  Or is he telling us to hurry the fuck up?”  Kurt Harland, singer and front man for Information Society, displaying a mix of confidence and humor at their concert at Thunder Valley Casino Resort on Saturday night.  Live shows from the New Wave/synthpop band are very rare these days, and the guy shouting out the name of the song that made them very famous with the masses circa 1988 didn’t have the same appreciation for the full spectacle and show they put on as the rest of the crowd, who couldn’t seem to get enough of their unique style of music, whether it was old favorites from the 80s and 90s or new songs from the newly released (and excellent) _hello World, which came out late last year.   This concert event promoted by WorldOne Presents was marketed as “80’s Rewind Fest Presents: PURE ENERGY”, and it was a special winter edition of their “80’s Rewind Fest” series.   This concert boasted additional special guests Book of Love as well as local opener, Self.Same.  Though the three founding members of Information Society have gone off to create lives and careers outside of their band, you wouldn’t know if from this concert.  They brought a ton of excitement and style on stage.  Given their amazing new studio album and their ability to put on a fantastic live show, hopefully it represents more InSoc coming in our future.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Book of Love, Concert Reviews, Information Society, Lincoln California, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Rewind Fest, Self.Same, Thunder Valley Resort and Casino Tagged With: 2015, 80s, 93.7 jack fm, artist, audio, band, book of love, book of love concert, book of love tour, boy, california, Concert, concert photography, Concert Review, dance, dates, discussion, dj tom tom, gig, hakatak, high resolution, Hollywood, i touch roses, information society, insoc, jack fm, James Cassidy, Kurt Harland, lincoln, live, Music, new music, new wave, paul robb, performance, Photo, photograph, photography, photos, plano hall, pure energy, review, rock, rock subculture, rock talk, self same, set, set list, setlist, show, sire, song, Susan Ottaviano, Synthpop, Ted Ottaviano, thunder valley, thunder valley casino resort, tour, video, what's on your mind, worldone presents, youtube

Clive Farrington, former lead singer of When In Rome at Hogue Barmichael’s | Newport Beach | 12/6/2014 (Rehearsals & Concert Review + Photos + New Wave Bar)

December 14, 2014 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

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I had an opportunity to spend a couple of days with Clive Farrington, to see what is going on with the former front man and lead singer of the popular 80s band, When In Rome.  On the itinerary was sitting in on a rehearsal with his new band prepping for 2015, checking out the New Wave Bar & Restaurant in Bellflower for Danny Sanchez’s birthday (“70s Disco Night”), and a few days later attending their special charity concert at Hogue Barmichael’s in Newport Beach, which benefited the Orangewood Children’s Foundation.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Hogue Barmichael's, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Newport Beach, When In Rome (Clive Farrington, Original Lead Vocalist) Tagged With: 8tease, Clive Farrington, Concert, Concert Review, date, download, england, high definition, high resolution, Hogue Barmichael's, interview, itunes, live, Lost 80's Live, Music, Napolean Dynamite, new wave, newport beach, orangewood children's foundation, performance, Photo, photograph, photography, photos, picture, pictures, podcast, review, rock, set, set list, setlist, show, The Promise, uk, video, When In Rome UK, youtube

Erasure (“The Violet Flame Tour”) at Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort | Las Vegas, Nevada | 10/31/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

November 1, 2014 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

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“Halloween is so brilliant though, isn’t it?  ‘Cause everyone can dress up; be what they want to do…  nobody is like judging you at all for how you look or anything or what you’re doing or who you’re with, blah, blah, blah …” Andy Bell of Erasure on Halloween at the Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.  Certainly an interesting combination of band, date, and city to be sure.  As the more extroverted of the duo, Andy came dressed in a sort of skeleton costume with accompanying face paint that has some resemblance to the cover art of their latest album; Vince Clarke, set back from the front of the stage and back to one corner, I don’t think said anything all night, and was dressed in more business-style attire (though he had the aforementioned art one his laptop lid.  However the two contrasting personalities found one another for their journey into music that has gone on for nearly three decades, the magic worked in the beginning and continues to do so today.  This was definitely an interesting (in a great way!) night on many levels.  I had an opportunity to meet Vince Clarke and Andy Bell from Erasure via the special tickets made available through their PledgeMusic campaign for that newest latest album, The Violet Flame.  The aptly named Violet Flame Tour included a number of those new songs mixed into the set, as well as a lot of their many, many hits and favorites.  I got the sense that it was a different sort of show for this series of shows, and I’m happy that I got a chance to experience this new music and tour.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Andy Bell from Erasure, Brian Evans, Concert Reviews, Erasure, Las Vegas Nevada, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, The Pearl at The Palms Casino Resort Tagged With: 2014, andy bell, Concert, concert photos, Concert Review, depeche mode, erasure, halloween, Las Vegas, live, meet and greet, merchandise, october 31, palms casino resort, pearl concert theater, photography, photos, pledge music, pledgemusic, program, review, set list, setlist, show, The Palms, tour, tour photos, u.s. tour, united states, vince clarke, violet flame tour, yaz, yazoo

Air Supply at Montbleu Theatre | Stateline, Nevada | 9/12/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

September 13, 2014 by Jason DeBord 0 Comments

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“Ladies and gentlemen, tonight we are going on a journey together…”  Graham Russell giving a bit of a preface to an amazing concert, along with his songwriting partner Russell Hitchcock, the duo that comprise Air Supply have “been on tour” now for 39 years, though this is the first time I’d ever seen them live.  Playing to a sold out crowd of around 1,300 or so at the Montbleu Resort Casino & Spa in Lake Tahoe, from the vantage point of the front row, eyes on the stage, it felt like they could have been playing to a vast sports arena.  Hands down, I would have to say that Air Supply gave me the biggest surprise of the year in terms of my expectations against the actual performance – they were spectacular.  Playing over 100 shows a year, unless there was something different about this concert (and I have no reason to believe that there was), these guys know how to put on a stunning show with a variety of music, up tempo and slowed down, and in many cases rocking, and they have a brilliant band backing them up.  I cannot stress enough my recommendation to check them out if you get the opportunity – these guys put on a stellar live show.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Air Supply, Concert Reviews, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Montbleu Resort Presents, Montbleu Theatre, Stateline Nevada Tagged With: 2014, 2014 tour, air supply, announcement, cities, Concert, concert photos, Concert Review, dates, graham russell, lake tahoe, live, montbleu, Montbleu Resort Presents, nevada, Photo, photography, russell hitchcock, set list, setlist, south lake tahoe, stateline, tickets, tour, united states

80s Rewind Music Fest 2014 / Retro Futura Tour (Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey, Howard Jones, The English Beat, Katrina) at Thunder Valley Casino Resort | Lincoln, California | 8/31/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

September 2, 2014 by Jason DeBord 13 Comments

80s-Rewind-Music-Fest-2014-Retro-Futura-Concert-Review-Photos-Thompson-Twins-Tom-Bailey-Howard-Jones-English-Beat-Thunder-Valley-FIa

The show at Thunder Valley Casino Resort’s Outdoor Amphitheater Sunday night was continuing on in WorldOne Presents’ tradition of their annual “80s Rewind Festival Music Fest”, and arrived in Lincoln, California with it’s own unique line-up and variation on the newly christened Retro Futura Tour 2014 (formerly Regeneration Tour).  With this event, the same co-headliners – Thompson Twins’ Tom Bailey and Howard Jones – shared the bill, as did Katrina Leskanich (formerly of Katrina and The Waves.  But in place of Midge Ure and China Crisis was the incredible English Beat featuring Dave Wakeling.  As usual, the show took on a character all it’s own, playing out to a large and enthusiastic crowd.  I think the Katrina/English Beat/Howard Jones/Tom Bailey line-up featured artists that all have one thing in common: authentic optimism driving their music.  Of course, the modern day ’10s are not the classic ’80s, and though the music played came from the past, it could also serve as a beacon of hope for the future.  And, as with the show at Mountain Winery the night before, there seemed to be quite a reception for Tom Bailey, who stopped touring and performing live as Thompson Twins way back in 1987.  It was another exceptional performance by all of the artists, and both shows are certainly on the short list for top concerts of the year for me personally.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Concert Reviews, English Beat, Howard Jones, Katrina (Katrina & The Waves), Lincoln California, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Maita Honda, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, Rewind Fest, Thunder Valley Resort and Casino, Tom Bailey (Thompson Twins), World One Presents Tagged With: 2 tone, 2014, 80s, 80s rewind, 80s rewind music fest, 93.7 jack fm, band, california, china crisis, Concert, concert photography, Concert Review, dave wakeling, English Beat, gig, high resolution, howard jones, jackapalooza, katrina, katrina and the waves, Katrina Leskanich, lincoln, live, maita, midge ure, Music, new wave, outdoor amphitheater, performance, Photo, photograph, photography, photos, regeneration tour, retro futura, retro futura tour, retro futura tour 2014, review, rewind, saratoga, set, set list, setlist, show, ska, stage, summer concert series, the beat, thompson twins, thunder valley, thunder valley casino resort, thunder valley resort and casino, tickets, tom bailey, tour, ultravox, venue, videos, world one presents, worldone presents

MØ with Erik Hassle at Popscene at Rickshaw Stop | San Francisco, California | 6/3/2014 (Concert Review + Photos)

June 5, 2014 by Jason DeBord 1 Comment

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The Popscene concert at Rickshaw Stop on Tuesday night was one of those rare shows that was very surprising (in a good way).  Danish singer-songwriter MØ (Karen Marie Ørsted) headlined the night that featured Swedish singer-songwriter Erik Hassle supporting, and both put on stellar performances, with awesome bookend DJ sets by Aaron Axelsen.  Candidly, I was not familiar with either of these young artists until recently, and I would mark the night as one of the best concerts I’ve attended so far in 2014.  MØ and Erik Hassle should be on the pop culture watch list as ones to expect big things from in the future.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Concert Reviews, Erik Hassle, Live Rock Music, News, & Events, Meet & Greet / Meet The Artist, MØ, Popscene, Rickshaw Stop, San Francisco California Tagged With: 2014, aaron axelsen, album, audio, bay area, can't remember to forget you, Concert, Concert Review, danish, denmark, dj aaron axelsen, download, electronic, ep, erik hassle, interview, itunes, jimmy kimmel, June 3, Karen Marie Ørsted, live, MØ, Music, new music, new wave, no mythologies to follow, performer, photography, photos, podcast, Pop, popscene, R&B, rickshaw stop, Rihanna, Ronni Vindahl, San Francisco, set, set list, setlist, shakira, singer, singer songwriter, somebody's party, songwriter, soul, sound check, stage, Sweden, Swedish, tour, tour dates, video, youtube

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Concert Reviews

The Psychedelic Furs | James at Grand Theatre at Grand Sierra Resort & Casino | Reno, Nevada | 8/3/2019 (Concert Review + Photos)

“…hopefulness and lifting up and then deep, deep grief and then lifting up… because that seems to be the human experience right now, doesn’t it?”  Tim Booth of James, part of their co-headlining tour across North America with The Psychedelic Furs this summer, with one of their last stops in Reno at the Grand Theatre […]

Podcast Interviews

Ted Ottaviano, Book of Love: “Rock Talk” Podcast Audio Interview

This article features the latest in an ongoing series of “Rock Talk” podcast audio interviews for the Rock Subculture Journal. Today’s guest is Ted Ottaviano with Book Of Love. The synth pop New Wave group continue to celebrate their 30th anniversary with the release of new music as part of 2016’s “MMXVI: The 30th Anniversary […]

Darryl “DMC” McDaniels (Run-D.M.C.): “Rock Talk” Podcast Audio Interview

This article features the latest in an ongoing series of “Rock Talk” podcast audio interviews for the Rock Subculture Journal.  Today’s guest is Darryl McDaniels, best known as DMC with Run-D.M.C. (he prefers to be called “D”).  D was a featured guest at Sac-Con in Sacramento this past weekend, promoting his authentic foray into the […]

Dick Dale, Guitar Legend: “Rock Talk” Podcast Audio Interview

This article features the latest in an ongoing series of “Rock Talk” podcast audio interviews for the Rock Subculture Journal. The first guest for 2015 is Dick Dale, a legend in music, regarded as both “The King of the Surf Guitar” and the “Father of Heavy Metal”.  Now 77 years old, Mr. Dale is well […]

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