2016 marks Coldplay’s first global stadium and arena tour in years, in support of their seventh studio album, A Head Full of Dreams. The U.S. leg of the tour began in mid-July and runs through early September. As always, the tour promised surprises and a lot of candy for both eyes and ears, with a setlist that spans their entire career. [Read more…]
Rock and roll legend Joan Jett will be bringing her tour to California in August as Joan Jett & the Blackhearts. Dubbed the “Rock Hall Three for All” tour, some dates also feature fellow Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Heart and/or Cheap Trick. Heart was inducted in 2013, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts in 2015, and Cheap Trick was inducted this year. [Read more…]
Richter Entertainment Group’s Summer Concert Season begins with two shows at Ironstone Amphitheatre in Murphys this week, with Darius Rucker performing on Thursday and Goo Goo Dolls on Friday. Other artists slated to play over the coming months include Sublime with Rome, Train, Chris Young, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Peter Frampton, Bad Company, and ZZ Top. [Read more…]
“Put your hands in the sky…” Robert Smith of The Cure dispenses with the chit chat in-between songs for the most part, but fans of the band are so into every thought expressed in every song that the subconscious grooves in the back of their mind move them to connect with the moment, as as he sang those words during “From The Edge Of The Deep Green Sea”, a majority of the sold out crowd at Shoreline Amphitheatre reached up to the blue above. Not even a “hit” song for the band, that is the power of their music among the devoted. But it wasn’t just those long-time, hardcore fans that turned out for this show, but quite a number of “casual” fans as well, as this current tour is their first major one in the U.S. in about seven years. Apparently, their absence has been felt and their return is cause for celebration. They are not touring just the U.S., but the world at large through the end of the year. With their sprawling set lists and shows running around three hours non-stop with three or four encores, one wonders how they physically keep up… yet the shows they put on are stellar and truly unique experiences. The band has been recording and performing for so long – formed four decades ago – it is something just to hear the music from such different eras all performed in the same style and sound, with Smith’s matured vocals making them better than ever. A spectacular evening of music from one of the most original and talented bands of my generation – live music events don’t really get much better than this. One of the “must see” tours of the year, hands down.
“…I learned so much that year, about the difference between dreaming and pretending. Dreaming is so important for all of us and helps us live our aspirations… but pretending is really just fooling yourself, lying to yourself so you don’t see the truth. So here’s to truth, and here’s to growing up.” Jewel, the folk/pop/country signer-songwriter, producer, poet, novelist and actress… sharing one of many life lessons she has discovered in her remarkable journey, wherein the deeply personal has at times collided with her career and success. Creating an intimate atmosphere to a sold out crowd in Grass Valley, in the unique way only Jewel can, she had everyone captivated with not only her musical gifts but her insights based on a lifetime of experiences and challenges. It was a remarkable show, and she always seems to drive each performance as though it might be her last… Not only one of our most original songwriters, but one of our most talented and gifted vocalists, performing unique renditions of her songs, new and old, that at times left the crowd stunned. Jewel put on a showcase of storytelling in the personal and captivating way in which she has built her reputation over decades now. Those timeless songs and stories and poetry readings… Jewel lives her life authentically, one moment out loud and the next softly… but real in all it’s various forms and emotions. [Read more…]
“Seriously. Seriously? Seriously? Shiiiiit… You guys are sounding so good tonight. Everything that you joined in with tonight was fucking insane. We wish that we could take you everywhere we went!” Kelvin Swaby of The Heavy, bringing the sold out crowd at The Independent in San Francisco into a frenzy, leading them into a sing along of “What Makes a Good Man?” – the first of their two punch encore close out, which ended with “How You Like Me Now?”. I started the show up front and center, with Kelvin just inches away most of the show as he strutted back and forth along the edge of the stage, feeding off of the fans. It felt more like what you might expect at a Rolling Stones or Aerosmith sports arena show, going by the jumping energy throughout their hour and a half set. Part retro blues/funk, infused with a garage band sound, the band is led by their crazy charismatic front man and vocalist… they are like a band born to play live to give fans an unforgettable experience. Fueled by four albums, including Hurt & the Merciless released this month, it was like a concentrated rock and roll vortex was set loose in the venue and none of us quite understood what hit us until it was all over and the house lights came up. Really one of the best live bands touring today. A must see. No, a must experience. [Read more…]
Alternative music legends The Cure are kicking off their first major U.S. tour in seven years next month, with dozens of shows and festival appearances. After back-to-back shows in Hawaii in July, the band then plays dates throughout the rest of the world, all culminating in a series of shows at SSE Arena in Wembley in December. I’ve had the good fortune to have seen them play a few times in the past few years (in Honolulu and London) and I cannot fathom how they will be able to play so many dates in such a fashion, with their endless setlists of endless hits and rare tracks alike. In any event, the world is in for a treat, as they are one of the best bands of my generation, and they put on some of the best live shows I’ve ever seen. [Read more…]
Country, folk, and pop singer-songwriter Jewel is returning to California this next month for a series of concerts covering all twelve of her studio albums, including last year’s Picking Up the Pieces. The signer, guitarist, producer, poet, novelist and actress will kicked off the current tour in Louisiana last month. [Read more…]
Last month, Violent Femmes released their first new album in 15 years, We Can Do Anything. Now they are in the midst of a concert tour throughout the U.S., currently scheduled out through July. [Read more…]
“It’s been quite a while since we’ve played here…” Lauren Mayberry of CHVRCHES at the first of two back-to-back sold out shows at the Fox Theater in Oakland on Monday night. With the incredible Wolf Alice supporting, it was a stellar evening of music from two bands in the midst of a huge upswing in both talent and popularity. Late last year, both bands put out new albums, CHVRCHES with their Every Open Eye (their second) and Wolf Alice bowed their debut LP, My Love Is Cool. I had opportunity to see Wolf Alice at all three of their Bay Area shows last year and CHVRCHES with their “Not So Silent Night” appearance in December, so it has been fascinating to see them evolve and grow with both their studio recordings and their live shows. All in all, an evening that offered a look at the future of music… Wolf Alice with their alternative rock and roll and CHVRCHES with their synth pop. [Read more…]