Live Review: The Music of Randy Edelman “Waltzing On A High Wire” @ Carnegie Hall 12/08/24
Rich in timeless beauty, Carnegie Hall is discreet, perfect in design and is internationally acclaimed as a superior setting for […]
Live
Live Review: Composer Randy Edelman Live at Chelsea T&S “2nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Massacre” 03/16/24 and Record Release in NYC
There was an infinite vitality of velvet green flowing deliciously through the air as Composer Randy Edelman presented his 2nd
Tommy Keene At Bowery Electric, September 17th, 2015, Review
He can dazzle you with his tight and smart band on point as one, and his constant inventiveness on every level, whether it be guitar on “Nowhere Drag”, a beautiful refrain on “Places That Are Gone”, or even on his own inevitable epitaph, like Bronson at the train station, leaving Dodge, “but what can a poor boy do…?” breaks through the clutter in our brain and lifts us somewhere we weren’t
Le Butcherettes At Amoeba, Thursday September 17th 2015 Review
‘We can all be free if we want to,’ she also said in the interview. ‘You take those transmissions and become A Raw Youth or part of that oppressive society. Youth doesn’t mean young. It’s the essence of being resilient against so many of life’s struggles. In every decade or era there’s always a rebel who gives inspiration for the poets to write about. That person holds the light. These songs tell those tales.’
Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” At Madison Square Garden, Wednesday, September 16th, 2015, Reviewed
“I’m feeling very nostalgic”, Madonna claimed about her return to MSG 30 years after her first performance here. But she shouldn’t be. Madonna didn’t have the rebel heart for it then, she hadn’t learnt how hard she could cry, how alone she could be. She didn’t appreciate human frailty the way she did last night. She is playing tonight, if you love Madonna this is the concert you must see.
Frank Turner At Amoeba, Wednesday September 16th 2015 Review
Meanwhile Frank Turner was talking about being jet lagged, and was profusely and euphorically explaining his songs, he seemed to be in very high spirit and was joking around… ‘The tour starts in Pittsburg, but they sent me to LA first’… ‘This song was about being an asshole to my girlfriend, and this is an apology’ he added before singing another song of his new album ‘The Opening Act of Spring’.
Spend New Year’s Eve 2015 With Jimmy Buffet In Margaritaville (Or Barclay center Rather)
Jimmy and Margaritaville for New Years Eve? I am a little wary of jumping too soon, it might be a little early to make the decision, plus, Jimmy is such a sunny individual, do we really really want to see him in Latest of late December…
Gwen Stefani Playing The Hammerstein October 17th, 2015
The last time I saw Gwen Stefani, nearly exactly a year ago, she was performing an excellent greatest hits package with her band No Doubt, at Central Park for Global Citizen. She was really incredible and the time before that, at MSG on her first solo tour, pushing the awesome Love Angel Music baby, she was, if anything even better. Me and my friend slip slided down to the 100s to the side of the street and she was practically sitting on my knee
La Lenguas, Charlie Overbey And The Broken Arrows At The Echo, Monday September 14th 2015 Review
Wearing Willie Nelson’s braids, holding his guitar very low and approaching his songs with some Springsteen muscles, Charlie Overbey and his Broken Arrows gave us a very energetic ballet of layered guitars, as they were a lot on stage and constantly moving around.
The Ultimate Madonna Concert Setlist… But She’ll Never Listen
Four from Rebel Heart because business is business and I love the album any way, but none off Hard Candy, Confessions From The Dancefloor, American Life, I’m Breathless (though I seriously considered “Hanky Panky”) and Who’s That Girl? Two from Music and three from Ray Of Light.
Interpol at Rock En Seine, Saturday, August 29th, 2015, Reviewed
For my 4th time I enjoyed a magical moment between cold wave music, ecstatic memories and Ian Curtis reincarnation. It’s quite true that not many bands have the caliber and consistency of Interpol. These New Yorkers and their British singer have a whole collection of songs divided into five incredibly classy albums
Let’s Active: rock nyc Top Concert Picks Week Of September 14th, 2015
With a fabulous album, Laugh in The Dark, just released and a deep back catalog to dip into, Tommy Keene is bringing along power poppers Dot Dash to Bowery Electric and for less than ten bucks (a ridiculously great price) all this can be yours on Thursday. I have never seen Keene on stage and wonder if he can deliver…
Queens Of The Stone Age At Teragram Ballroom, Thursday September 10th 2015, Review
They didn’t talk much, Josh was visibly touched by the loving demonstrations of the enthusiastic crowd, but he shouldn’t have, as only the most die-hard fans had probably managed to get a ticket. In any case, the time was for music and not talking, and they played the show with a formidable energy while dispatching their songs as if they were rockets sent to the moon. The band kept us on the edge of a hard rock cliff, showing us once again they are one of the greatest rock bands alive.
Queens Of The Stone Age At The Teragram Ballroom
Last night, Queens of the Stone Age played a ‘secret’ show, announced at the last minute at the Teragram ballroom, a tiny place for them. I got the chance to get a ticket,and they were fantastic as usual, but being in the front, at Josh Homme’s feet is really a treat… And now I have all these ridiculously good pictures of these guitar gods! The last true rock stars….
Madonna’s “Rebel Heart” Tour Opens In Montreal, Setlist Attached
she is missing a great deal of her best songs off the new one, no “Ghost Town”? Surely some mistake here. NO “JOAN OF ARC”???? Still, she performs next Wednesday at MSG and it should be a killer evening (Amy Schumer opens!)
Oldies But Goldies: Lana Del Rey In 2012 Fails At Irving plaza
If you are sick of the Oldies But Goldies segment look at it this way: if I was to repost one article a day till I’ve reposted every story I’ve written since 2009, it would take 56 year years. By which time I would be 114 years old . So shut your face
Diva At Amoeba, Tuesday September 8th 2015 Review
On stage, five women covered with pastel-colored veils were sort of entering in a yoga transcendental meditation, reciting a new age-y discourse about opening our minds and receiving a waterfall, some esoteric stuff they were taking very seriously,… like opening our feet into the earth to channel infinite love?… they were surrounded by flowers and I was wondering, when do they really start the show?
Oldies But Goldies: Madonna At Yankee Stadium In 2012, More Oldie Than Goldie
With Madonna’s 2015 tour starting tomorrow, here is a step back to her 2012 concert, which had me swearing to never see her again. I have changed my mind and am going on September 16th, for my sins, but I am very excited for it. I just think she is too much the pro to screw us over again… Here is my pan
Egrets On Ergot At Vacation Vinyl, Sunday September 6th 2015 Review
But the main attraction was their frontman, Adam Brooks, a thin and agile guy on vocals and sax – an original addition for a punk/post-punk band – who was climbing everywhere, using at his advantage the small space the store was providing, while taking the best hardcore-punk pauses ever.
Let Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of September 7th, 2015
The Kanye West find you first met on Yeezus (it is Scott who originally coined the phrase “New Slave”) and then cemented his reputation when he added his voice to Hova’s “Crown”. Now, a mixtape or two later, here comes the limelight. Travi$ debut album, the excellent Rodeo, was released on Friday and the Monday through Wednesday stand will stand as a CD release party at the tiny Gramercy Theatreseconds as a CD release party at the tiny Gramercy Theatre. The next time you see him in the city, Scott will be opening for The Weeknd at MSG, so get close when you can.
Health At Los Globos, Thursday September 3rd 2015
Most of their songs were at the verge of explosion before the eventual disaster was cut short, finishing into the lament of Duzsik’s vocals. Since I could not see any setlist around the stage, I am not sure what they played, very probably many songs of their new album ‘Death Magic’, like ‘Stonefist’, one of their poppiest tunes, which sounds much quieter on record, almost like an industrial track of Depeche Mode or Nine Inch Nails, but revealed itself much more ferocious in its live form. And that was the case for all the songs.
Must See: New York Empowerment Summit 2015, This Saturday
They cancelled the Sunday performance, but if they move the great Marvin Sapp from Sunday to Saturday then your headliners will be Cece Winans and Marvin Sapp and while you are missing a handful of big names (CeCe’s brother for one), if you have any interest at all in Gospel this is a big gig.
Kendrick Lamar To Barclay Center This October, 2015
That’s some line up this year, I only caught the last couple of songs of Future at Governors Ball earlier this year, but it was the one set I am sorry I couldn’t catch from the start, Meek Mill has a surprisingly strong album newly released, Jidenna is the guy with “Classic man” –the remix featuring Kendrick Lamar is killer as well.
Family Of The Year At Amoeba, Tuesday September 1st 2015 Review
In particular their song ‘Hero’ was used in the critically acclaimed movie ‘Boyhood’ by Richard Linklater. How could you escape this one? Even if you haven’t seen ‘Boyhood’, you probably caught the trailer also featuring the song, and the single peaked at #12 on the Billboard Alternative songs Chart, and #1 on the Triple A Top 30 Radio Chart and Top 15 at Alternative Radio!
“The Laid Back Festival”, Saturday, August 29th, 2015, Reviewed
I arrived at Nikon Theater around 5pm and was enamored by all the people wearing eat a peach shirts. I’m a big fan of the peach. The warm smell of colitas was very much present, being the Laid Back Festival and all it seemed fitting
Ken Camden, Brian Foote & M. Geddes Gengras (Musician’s Friend) Daniel Lanois & Rocco Deluca At Temporary Space, Saturday August 29th 2015 Review
Sitting behind his pedal steel connected to lots of electronics, he was facing Rocco Deluca also on a lap guitar, they were constantly looking at each other and their respective sliding sounds were responding to each other in a very soothing and melancholic way.
Let’s Active: rock nyc Concert Picks Week Of August 31st, 2015
They met at the New England Conservatory and then made a U Turn to cover Youtube cover band extraordinary and last time I saw em they were wowing us at Town Hall as part of T Bone Burnett’s neo folk rave up.
Quitapenas, Isaac Rother & The Phantoms And Fool’s Gold At The Echoplex, Thursday August 27th 2015 Review
Red Bull was having one of its Sound Select show at the Echoplex, and it is always a cheap way to spend a night of music, while discovering 3 bands… so why not going? Because it is general held on a weekday,… but who cares, it’s almost the weekend anyway. The whole show was colorful and on the ethnic side, something always pleasant and prompt to remind you that summer is not over yet.
Valley Shine At El Cid, Wednesday August 26th 2015 Review
I had the pleasure of seeing Valley Shine at El Cid yesterday night, and they didn’t need pedals and other equipment to blow the red velvet curtain of the small stage and make people dance as if it was Friday night.
Oldies But Goldies: Prince At MSG In 2010 -Not Half Bad
The worst time I ever saw Prince was also the last time I ever saw Prince and while time changes our memories, I guess it did a real job on mind. I coulda sworn he really sucked, but apparently he only kinda sucked. I’ve seen him so often and loved him so much and this wasn’t bad, apparently it was great, it just doesn’t remember that way. Now back to 2010….
AC/DC At Metlife, Wednesday, August 27th, 2015, Reviewed
With the exception of “You Shook Me All Night Long”, they don’t have a memorable tune to their name and all their lyrics are ephemera, the audience chant hooks but the hooks have no real meaning, so that frees the set up from expectation. Sure “Hells Bells”, “Back In Black” and a coupla others get an especially loud cheer, but really the set just goes from one great song to another to anothe
Oldies But Goldies: Aretha Franklin Channeling Curtis Mayfield At Radio City In 2009
This was the first of three times I reviewed Aretha Franklin live for rock nyc. The very next time would prove to be the best show I’ve seen in the 21st century and this one? Pretty good, actually pretty good. maybe Curtis Mayfield was hovering nearby
The FYF Fest 2015 In A Few Pictures
Despite the fact that I was not allowed to bring my camera inside the FYF fest, despite the fact that I had no access to the photo pit, I managed to take some pictures during the 2-day festival, mostly using my iPhone and a small camera. Here is a photo log of these intense 2 days, of course the big acts are missing because it was way too crowded to get close,… except for Morrissey! I was not really close but I found a spot close to a tree, a bit above the rest of the crowd, and it was not so bad…
Sunday At The FYF Fest, I Wish Every Day Were Sunday, August 23rd 2015 review
Faithful to himself, Morrissey still wants to convince us with bravado and courage… and I love the fact that he is still trying, I am well aware that lots of people may have taken all this for bad propaganda, but did you see these giant middle fingers flipped by the queen? And I haven’t even mentioned that his musicians were wearing ‘Crapitol Records’ shirts…
HAMILTON – An American Musical: August 17, 2015 – Richard Rodgers Theater, Reviewed
At the center of the Hamilton’s story is the relationship between Hamilton and Burr. Burr’s motto was “smile more talk less … don’t let them know what you stand for” whereas Hamilton was an outspoken proponent for a strong central government and a modern economic vision and often in opposition with Jefferson and Madison. Hamilton became George Washington’s most trusted adviser and confidant while Burr’s political aspirations were repeatedly thwarted. Burr is often seen looking on contemptuously instead of being invited into “In the Room Where it Happened.”
My First Day At The FYF Fest, Saturday August 22nd 2015 Review
What are you thinking FYF fest, do you want to compete with Glastonbury or Coachella? … you were this cool DIY fest and now you are all grown up and so big. How much did you pay Kanye? More than Frank Ocean? I would like to know, as I was amazed to see that 2-day tickets were still available a few days before the festival,… which didn’t sell out?
FYF Fest 2015 Starts Without A Hitch, And Loses Part Of Its Soul
The FYF fest takes itself very seriously and the logistics are now those of a big and professional festival, something I regret, and not only because I was camera-free during the whole day, but also because the festival seems to have make a complete U-turn against some of its first core values. In the first years, it had a very local and familial feeling, I miss the days when the festival was held at the very dusty LA State Historic Park when the biggest names were Panda Bear, Thee Oh Sees, Broken Social Scene, Descendants or OFF!… Now we have to deal with Kanye West crowds, and some of the fun is gone.
Earl Sweatshirt At Best Buy, Saturday, August 22nd. 2015. Reviewed
Earl himself gave a centered, unflashy performance, hard dark beats rapped over with only the occasional sample, he goes to that special place where syllogism and empathy meet and where misogyny and misanthropy give way to a deep and strange vision of life. Wordy and flowing, but tight in itself and subdued
Weird Al Yankovic, Verizon Theater, Grand Prairie, Texas, Friday, 21 August 2015 Reviewed
Al’s music draws you in because you are often hearing some of the most recognizable hooks and riffs in pop music. His band has the talent to move from hard rock, modern pop, and rap seamlessly and Al never breaks character during the show. There’s no moralizing or social commentary in his material. Silliness reigns supreme.
Ariel Pink At Twilight Concert Series, Thursday August 20th 2015 Review
Ariel is a goofy individual who makes magic, his songs are musical collages with abrupt accelerations or changes of rhythms, washed out pop harmonies with a myriad of voices going in all directions, weird noises, freak-out moments and monster-like vocals.
Ariel Pink At Twilight Concert Series, Thursday August 20th 2015
I have seen Ariel Pink a few times but his concert on the Santa Monica pier this Thursday was probably his best ever, and his most triumphant one as the pier was packed to the beach… He didn’t look too weird for once, his outfit was not too eccentric despite the black girlie corsage, but I have seen him wearing a turquoise dress with purple spiky high heels, so this one was quite conservative for Pink. He even had his natural blonde hair and he was good and weird all-set long, screaming, meowing and crooning, making everyone dance and sing.
The Weeknd Starts Here: Playing MSG And Barclay Center, November 2015
I haven’t seen the Weeknd since… well actually since July when he performed a song at Taylor Swift’s Metlife gig. But I haven’t seen him perform a set since he opened for Justin Timberlake in 2013 and while truth be told, there is no way I am going to Jones Beach this weekend for a half hour set, these concert at MSG and Barclay Center?
Public Image Ltd. Releasing New Album, Playing Best Buy In November
The one song we’ve heard off the What The World Needs Now… is pretty solid stuff so news Johnny is touring behind it is not such bad news after all. indeed if he is half as good as he was last time, it should make for an interesting evening.
August 26th At Beacon Theatre Don’t Miss the J Geils band
J Geils Band are one of the great still standing live bands around and any chance to see them is a chance worth taking. Playing the theatre size Beacon, er, Theatre, you can get pretty close here and that’s for sure, and in a rare, really rare, first in 30 years rare headlining gig in New York City and if I didn’t already have plans to go to see AC/DC I would be soooo there.
The Mynabirds At Amoeba, Tuesday August 18th 2015 Review
‘There’s something about wandering the world over,’ said Laura in an interview, ‘that makes you realize how similar we all are – everyone searching for something, so often the same thing: love. It may sound trite, but it’s true. Love – or the lack of it – is the thing we all have in common. It can destroy us. It can break us open and let the light in. And it’s also the thing that can make us sing.’
Must See: Jack Phillips At The Duplex, November 2015
So imagine how thrilled I was to hear that Jack was indeed back, and presumably close to releasing a new album since Caleb is with him. I received an email from Jack yesterday:
Galactic’s 20th Anniversary Run at The Brooklyn Bowl, August 15th, 2015, Reviewed
Later that evening, Galactic tore Brooklyn Bowl down to the studs and built it back-up with their Master Class of New Orleans Funk and Soul. Look, it’s about the beat, stupid. If people are moving in the crowd, if you’re tapping your foot, it’s about the beat. Enter the best of modern day New Orleans. Second Line Drumming, Stanton Moore. With two hands, two feet and two drum sticks, he can make a dead man move
Hunny At Bardot, Monday August 17th 2015 Review
They have been declared emerging band of the week by Obey Clothing Propaganda, ‘Cry For Me’, a song they have posted on Soundcloud (produced by Doug Boehm who worked with Girls, Tokyo Police Club, Christopher Owens) got more than 800,000 listenings, they got some local support from KROQ’s Locals Only Show, they had an LA residency at the Bootleg last June, and have booked a national tour with The Neighbourhood in the fall… So there’s no doubt they are a hot new band of the moment while they formed only a year ago.
Echo Park Rising Day 3, Sunday August 16th 2015 Review
so I climbed on the stage, and found a good spot just behind the musicians, observing the incessant crowd surfing, thrilled by the experience and their dark-wave punk sound. It was the perfect ending for this Echo Park Rising, which was attended by 10,000 people according to the news, a really impressive number for a neighborhood festival, free for all, with no big stars or big names, just local bands, but a ton of them celebrating the rich diversity of Echo Park.
Oldies But Goldies: Elvis Costello Loads His Revolver In 2011
A purely excellent two and a half hour set. I always write exactly what I believe and I have ragged on Costello for a couple of years now, but credit where it is due. He reformed the Attractions (c’mon, that’s what he REALLY did) and played an Attractions set. Just like that. And he was so good he made iffy songs sound like masterpieces.