Live Reviews

Live Reviews of concerts and festivals by Craig Hammons Dan MacIntosh Alyson Camus Heather Harris Sylvia Borgo Luis Moreno. 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 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

Punk Rock Bowling Flips for California Bands Stitches, Weirdos and The Dils

May 25, 2019 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA The Stitches, The Weirdos and The Dils rocked Backstage Bar as punk rockers from all over the world arrived in downtown Las Vegas Friday for the annual Punk Rock Bowling festival. The […]

Review: Johnny Marr Live Performances Time and Again Prove His Mastery as Solo Musician

May 23, 2019 News Comments Off

By DAN MACINTOSH ANAHEIM, CA – Without guitarist Johnny Marr, the Smiths’ music would have been as inconsistent as Morrissey’s solo career. With him, though, they were one of the greatest modern alternative bands. Thus, […]

Hammons Review: Acid Mothers Temple Crash Lands in Long Beach to Blow our Minds

May 19, 2019 News Comments Off

By CRAIG HAMMONS There is another dimension beyond which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space that lies between sonic sounds and man’s ability to hear. This is a dimension […]

Melanie Smith: Peter Doherty Puts on a Rebellious Show in Manchester, UK

May 15, 2019 News Comments Off

Photos By MELANIE SMITH Music photographer Melanie Smith goes in search of Peter Doherty with his new band the Puta Madres at the O2 Ritz, Manchester UK Peter Doherty and The Puta Madres have been touring […]

Jenny Lewis Invites Guest Jackson Browne on Stage During her Show at The Hollywood Palladium

May 12, 2019 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Jenny Lewis was joined by guest performer Jackson Browne on stage for a couple of songs at The Hollywood Palladium Saturday night. During her anticipated show promoting her new album On The […]

Yodeling Singer-Songwriter Alice Wallace Blends Business with Beautiful Music

May 10, 2019 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Alice Wallace is a musician on a mission. Wallace is a talented songstress and impeccable self-promoter, and that combination is helping her make a mark in music. Wallace, whose new album, Into the […]

The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, Ruby The Hatchet, Rock the House at Catch One

February 4, 2019 News Comments Off

By CRAIG HAMMONS The psychedelic rock legend Arthur Brown returned to Los Angeles to weave his spell on us dedicated fans. It was a cold night in Los Angeles and after a rough week at […]

Steven Adler at Whisky- Photo by Donna Balancia (1 of 1)

Steven Adler and His Band Adler’s Appetite Rev Up Fans at the Whisky A Go-Go

December 31, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Steven Adler brought his band Adler’s Appetite to the Whisky A Go-Go, topping a full night of Rock N Roll Sunday. The former Guns N’ Roses drummer Adler and his band Adler’s […]

Review: John Lydon and Public Image LTD Celebrate 40th in LA

November 4, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Punk rock’s John Lydon and his band Public Image LTD put on a victorious 40th celebration show in Los Angeles Saturday night. It’s obvious The Public Image is Rotten Tour has gone […]

REVIEW: Simple Minds Proves to be More Than ‘The Breakfast Club’ in Concert

October 31, 2018 News Comments Off

By DAN MACINTOSH Witnessing an arena rock band — arena rock, at least in most countries outside the United States — in a relatively small theater, seemed a little weird. This Scottish band gained its […]

Dave Grohl at Cal Jam - Photo © 2018 Donna Balancia

Reunions Reign at Cal Jam 2018 with Nirvana and Post Pop Depression

October 8, 2018 News Comments Off

Tenacious D and Garbage Bring Out the Fans By DONNA BALANCIA Reunions were the name of the game at Cal Jam 2018, the Foo Fighters second annual rock festival at Glen Helen Amphitheater in San […]

Interpol Plays a Darkly Colorful Show at The Hollywood Bowl for ‘Marauder’

October 5, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Interpol rounded up the packed house of fans at The Hollywood Bowl Thursday night. Sunflower Bean and The Kills opened for the New York City based band in strong performances. Interpol moves […]

VIDEO: CHVRCHES Turns The Greek into Dance Party on Love Is Dead Tour

September 24, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Boosted by the boundless pep of petite powerhouse Lauren Mayberry, CHVRCHES brought its high energy show to The Greek Theatre for the LA leg of the Love Is Dead Tour. CHVRCHES is […]

Review: Brandi Carlile Brings Soaring Vocals and Great Fan Vibes to The Greek

August 23, 2018 News Comments Off

By BOB BUSBY Brandi Carlile, the alternative-Indie-Americana powerhouse and veteran rocker, brought her tour to the Greek Theatre in LA, in support of her latest and acclaimed album By The Way, I Forgive You. She […]

Alice with Nurse and friend - All Photos © 2018 Craig Hammons

Alice Cooper Goes Beyond Stage Antics to Deliver True Character

August 18, 2018 News 1

By CRAIG HAMMONS I go way back with Alice Cooper. I first saw him open up for Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention in the gymnasium of Cal State Fullerton in 1972. All he […]

Hammons Review: Juke Box Hero Tour Wraps to Rock and Roll Satisfaction

August 13, 2018 News Comments Off

By CRAIG HAMMONS The Juke Box Hero’s tour wrapped up in Irvine to a crowd of happy Rock and Rollers. What more can you ask for on a hot summer night but to be outdoors […]

Cindy Lee Berryhill In Talks to Reissue Two Classic Albums

July 27, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Cindy Lee Berryhill’s albums Garage Orchestra and Straight Outta Marysville will get a second life as the well-loved SoCal musician is in talks to reissue her 1994 and 1996 works. Berryhill, who […]

‘Professor’ Thomas Dolby Kicks off Summer Tour Tonight at Largo at the Coronet

July 25, 2018 News Comments Off

By JOHN DALY Thomas Dolby is taking a break from academia for a short summer tour with a stop tonight, Wednesday, July 25, at the Largo at the Coronet. Dolby, the renowned musician and director, […]

‘Yacht Rock’ Sails with McDonald, Loggins and Cross at Hollywood Bowl

July 18, 2018 News Comments Off

By DAN MACINTOSH A concert bill of Michael McDonald, Kenny Loggins and Christopher Cross reads like a killer ‘Yacht Rock’ festival, as all three have been linked to that recent rebranding of ’70s and ’80s […]

Fan crowd surfs during Feels the band at Dirty Penni Fest 3 - Photo by Scott Free

LOCALS ONLY: Dirty Penni Fest Proves Popularity of Indie Music

July 18, 2018 News Comments Off

Photos by SCOTT FREE The Dirty Penni Fest continues its tremendous growth and next year’s event is already in the planning stages, festival producers said. “This year was the biggest crowd yet,” said Michael Grodner […]

Billy Bob Thornton and Boxmasters Kick Off Tour at The Mint

July 15, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Billy Bob Thornton is realizing his dreams. Thornton and The Boxmasters kicked off their summer-long tour at The Mint in Los Angeles to thunderous applause. “I came to Los Angeles to be […]

Mike Campbell and The Dirty Knobs at The Mint - Photo © 2018 Donna Balancia

Mike Campbell and Dirty Knobs Pay Tribute to Tom Petty at The Mint

July 12, 2018 News 1

EXCLUSIVE STORY By DONNA BALANCIA Mike Campbell misses Tom Petty. It’s as simple and as that, as the best friend and partner of Petty since high school took the stage at The Mint Wednesday night. […]

Beloved Songwriter Willie Nile Makes His Mark on Crowd at McCabe’s

July 6, 2018 News Comments Off

BY HARRIET KAPLAN At 70 years old, singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Willie Nile has incredible physical stamina. Nile played an almost two-hour, acoustic show at McCabe’s. The New York native and the Big Apple’s unofficial poet […]

Matt Morrish on sax with English Beat - Photo © 2018 Donna Balancia (1 of 1)

The English Beat Draws Masses To The Rose for Record Release Show

July 3, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA The English Beat Starring Dave Wakeling hasn’t lost a step. With their first studio album since 1982, Here We Go Love, and continual touring, Wakeling and company push on. The famous front […]

By DAN MACINTOSH

Lloyd Cole Stripped Down Show at Largo Causes Great ‘Commotion’

June 28, 2018 News Comments Off

By DAN MACINTOSH One good way to prove songwriting quality is to strip a song down to just an acoustic guitar and vocal, which is how Lloyd Cole performed his songs during his mid-week Largo […]

LOCALS ONLY: Spirit In The Room Haunts The Satellite in LA

June 28, 2018 News Comments Off

By DONNA BALANCIA Spirit In The Room is one of those local bands that should be on a stage in a big arena opening for a huge international act like U2. These hardcore-punkers have it […]