Live Reviews

Live Reviews of concerts and festivals by Donna Balancia Craig Hammons Dan MacIntosh Alyson Camus and Heather Harris. Dead Boys Prettiest Eyes Buttertones Kaleo The Two Tens Sheryl Crow Bonnie Raitt MC5 Iggy Pop James Williamson Dave Grohl Queens of the Stone Age QOTSA The Kills Alice Bag Le Butcherettes At The Drive In Dandy Warhols Nick Waterhouse Allah Las OCS Thee Oh Sees Ty Segall Cherry Glazerr Chicano Batman California Rocker covers shows Echo Echoplex Fonda Wiltern Regent El Rey The Mint Troubadour Whisky Viper Room Cafe Nela Redwood DTLA Globe Theatre Henry Fonda Theatre Ricardo Montalban Theatre Alex Theatre Satellite Churchill’s Pub Echo Park Rising FYF Coachella Arroyo Seco Music Tastes Good Desert Daze The Federal Bar Noho Alex’s Bar Long Beach Eagles of Death Metal Jesse Hughes Boots Electric Tom Petty Mike Campbell Dead Cross Mike Patton Owl Foo Fighters CalJam Cal Jam 18 CalJam18 LCD Future Islands Wayne Coyne Yeah Yeah Yeahs Karen O Deap Vally Death Valley Girls Peach Kelli Pop Prettiest Eyes

Review: Weezer Album ‘OK Human’ Strings Us Along with New Classical Sound

February 7, 2021 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE Weezer just released a record, OK Human, and Rivers Cuomo is lonely. This is not a watery depressive state; this is not an Astral Weeks lonesome yearning, not even a Pinkerton state […]

GNL Zamba Creates Innovative and Upbeat New Sound with Album ‘The Spear’

January 28, 2021 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY GNL Zamba blends a compelling Afrocentric-Reggae sound and rap, producing his very own unique style with “Energy,” the latest upbeat and appealing single from the respected Ugandan musician. It is a passionate […]

Ryan Summers Releases the Eclectic ‘Undo Influence,’ an Industrial Showpiece

January 28, 2021 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Ryan Summers has amassed an eclectic collection of synth-infused pop songs, called Undo Influence and the music will surely get any aficionado talking. Experimental and industrial in its presentation the music features […]

Review: Life of Justin Townes Earle Celebrated by Father Steve Earle with Album ‘J.T.’

January 24, 2021 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE On August 20, 2020, Justin Townes Earle, son of Steve Earle, the proto-country Americana master paving the way for classic country with a modern edge and dispelling the bad reputation imparted of […]

Mike Garson and Trent Reznor - Courtesy Rolling Live

David Bowie Celebrated by Music Stars During Mike Garson’s Inventive Livestream

January 10, 2021 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Mike Garson’s A Bowie Celebration never fails to amaze but this time around, the show has proven it has a new home in the virtual arena. It’s difficult to imagine Bowie is […]

Review: Karen Elson Replicates Renowned Renditions for ‘Radio Redhead’

January 7, 2021 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE Creatives are doing what they do best during quarantine: getting creative, and supermodel turned gothic Americana singer-songwriter Karen Elson is no exception. On her new EP Radio Redhead Vol. 1, Elson shares […]

Video: Sluka Takes a Colorful Approach to Cover ‘Iko Iko’

December 19, 2020 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY It’s never a dull moment for Sluka. The band which takes the last name of founder and frontman Christopher Sluka, has released an inspiring new take on “Iko Iko,” and it’s colorful […]

King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard Continues Psych Rock Story with ‘KG’

December 14, 2020 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard have a new album. While this is perhaps one of the most omnipresent phrases in the modern rock world, the Australian psych-rock outfit have something rejuvenating […]

Review: ‘The White Stripes Greatest Hits’ Album an Homage to a Decade-Defining Duo

December 11, 2020 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE Much to the chagrin of hopeful rock fans hanging onto the dregs of hard bluesy-rock last seen in the early 2000s, 2020 will not be the year of a White Stripes revival. […]

Drew Angus with the band release A Snow Globe Christmas

Drew Angus Saves the Holidays with New EP ‘A Snow Globe Christmas’

December 9, 2020 News Comments Off

By MEL TAEVIN You may not have heard the name Drew Angus, but even Santa has him on his list for best new holiday music. A Snow Globe Christmas, the latest EP by the handsome […]

Guards Partners with Maison Kitsune on Energetic Track ‘Life is a War’

November 29, 2020 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE After individual Guards members found themselves in a series of high-profile rendezvous including collaborations with Lana Del Rey, Tame Impala, the Arctic Monkeys, and Strokes member Nick Valensi, Guards have come back […]

Idiot Grins do Louvin Brothers Proud with New Album ‘Thoughts & Prayers’

November 24, 2020 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Oakland band Idiot Grins do the Louvin Brothers proud with the new album Thoughts & Prayers. The band’s new album Thoughts & Prayers is a covers release of the Louvin Brothers’ 1959 […]

John Dwyer of Osees - Donna Balancia photo

Review: Osees Cover Entire Prog Rock Domain with Inventive Album ‘Metamorphosed’

November 22, 2020 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE Gawk-worthy California psych-rock group Osees released Metamorphosed, a characteristically daring album with trademark kaleidoscopic sonics. Many, many releases and projects later, frontman and multi-instrumentalist John Dwyer never fails to conjure a subtle […]

Electric Sister Puts the Bite in Heavy Metal with Single ‘Miss American Vampire’

November 11, 2020 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Oakland heavy metal band Electric Sister was not joking when it claimed it brought back The Lost Art of Rock N Roll, with its aptly named 2011 album. Electric Sister has now […]

OK Cowgirl Shakes the Ground With Indie-Pop Track ‘Get Gone’

November 4, 2020 News Comments Off

By AVA LIVERSIDGE Frontwoman Leah Lavigne’s OK Cowgirl makes their ethereal indie-rock debut with single “Get Gone.” As reflected upon in OK Cowgirl’s exclusive American Songwriter interview, the band pays tribute to their Detroit, now […]

Video: Mike McCready of Pearl Jam ‘Layin’ Low’ at Home With the Family

March 20, 2020 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Mike McCready gave an impromptu performance as Pearl Jam revealed some sounds off the upcoming album Gigaton. Pearl Jam has postponed the tour that was supposed to kick off this week, but […]

Neil Young, Willie Nelson and Family, Jewel and Paul Simon Perform Great Livestream Version of Annual Luck Reunion

March 19, 2020 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Neil Young made a surprise appearance at the annual Luck Reunion, which this year went to online streaming and starred Willie Nelson, the Nelson family and friends including Paul Simon and Edie […]

Luke Spiller of The Struts Spins the Discs With Special ‘Quarantine Radio’ Show

March 19, 2020 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Luke Spiller of the UK band The Struts entertained fans online with a livestream of what he called “Quarantine Radio,” playing tunes from a range of bands from different eras, and taking […]

Watch the New Livestream: ‘Ben Gibbard: Live From Home’

March 18, 2020 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Ben Gibbard covered the Radiohead song “Fake Plastic Trees” and took requests for songs on his first edition of “Ben Gibbard: Live From Home.” In response to the social distancing and self […]

Live Review: Keane Gives Soaring Performance at Dolby Theatre in LA, Cuts Tour Short from Virus

March 16, 2020 News Comments Off

By DAN MACINTOSH LOS ANGELES, CA – Keane is oftentimes mentioned in the same breath as other similar British acts, like Coldplay and Travis, because they perform keyboard-based songs with decidedly overt earnestness. The four-piece […]

Patti Smith People Have The Power at Disney

Review: Patti Smith Delivers Her Power to the People at Walt Disney Concert Hall

March 8, 2020 News Comments Off

By DAN MACINTOSH Appropriately, Patti Smith read lyrics for “People Have The Power” to open her enthralling set at Walt Disney Hall. She was, after all, participating in the Herbie Hancock curated Power to the […]

David Bowie Celebration: A Constellation of Talent Shines Bright in the Nighttime Sky

March 7, 2020 News Comments Off

Photos and Words By DONNA BALANCIA A host of heavenly performers including Corey Glover, Mike Garson, Kevin Armstrong and Joe Sumner showed star power at The Rose in Pasadena for A Bowie Celebration. A Bowie […]

Nasty Cherry Pours On the Sweets From Hollywood to The UK – Photos and Review

March 3, 2020 News Comments Off

Words and Photos By MELANIE SMITH MANCHESTER, UK – Those wicked Nasty Cherry girls made their Manchester debut this week. If you haven’t seen the 6-part reality series on Netflix called “I’m With the Band,” […]

California Votes: Chuck D and Public Enemy Radio Spout Fiery Words to Support Bernie Sanders

March 1, 2020 News Comments Off

Flavor Flav ‘Fired’ Prior to Start of Sanders Rally in DTLA By DONNA BALANCIA Bernie Sanders was celebrated by Chuck D and Public Enemy Radio, Sarah Silverman, Dick Van Dyke and thousands of supporters at […]

Sleater-Kinney - Photo by Melanie Smith in Manchester

Photos: Riot Grrrl Rockers Sleater-Kinney Take Manchester, UK, by Storm

February 29, 2020 News Comments Off

Photos and Words By MELANIE SMITH MANCHESTER, UK – Those ’90s riot grrrl rockers Sleater-Kinney emerged bold and confident at the UK’s Manchester Academy. There was really no doubt about it: They have come back […]

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