Aftershock 2022 was a fantastic memory that will be hungered to repeat next year. Allowing over 40,000+ people each day to chill during a sweltering 99 degrees (Fahrenheit) with large mist blowers and delicious (health or comfort) eats choices were plentiful. The stage layouts were designed with both mainstages almost back to back with alternating performances with viewing screens of each other’s performance. Then the 3 smaller stages rotated with incredible talent that are under the mass media radar. As with all great experiences, I will always be missing something; thus, I did miss the first day of all my personal favorite bands. In addition, I am sure I missed out on others on the days I attended. Yet, the ones mentioned were phenomenal, and hope to see comments on your experiences. Continue reading “Show Review: Aftershock Festival 2022”
Category: Show Reviews
Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2022 Journal
At the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass music festival, you may arrive as an orphan, but you will leave with a close adopted family of one million. Hosted within the iconic Golden Gate Park, an all-inclusive backyard.
Each stage appeared to have a theme of strict bluegrass, Americana, funk, rock, or soul. It didn’t matter where you were all the stages hosted extremely talented artists with bookshelves of Grammy awards. Even when Marcus Mumford was introducing his guests and missed one; the trust was evident. If you were playing at Hardly Strictly, your talent is recognized, and you are welcome to collaborate. Wondering with discovery was encouraged. My least favorite part of the festival was making decisions, and my favorite was all decisions were good decisions. Continue reading “Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival 2022 Journal”
Single Of The Week: “Ex-Girl” by Alexis Castrogiovanni
It’s funny… Alexis Castrogiovanni sent me a different track for single of the week, and I thought, this is really good. And then I clicked on “Ex-Girl,” and was taken aback. This driving cello puncutated by lyrics that puncture your heart? OH SHIT! And then a baritone sax kicks in? MY GOD! This song is so brutal!
“Ex-Girl” comes from Alexis Castrogiovanni’s EP, Someday My Thoughts Will Be Like A Range of Mountains, which is availble NOW from her Bandcamp page.
Show Review: Rodrigo y Gabriela with Sean Carscadden Trio at Blue Note Napa at Charles Krug Estate, 9/15/2022
It’s been two and a half years since the start of the pandemic. For many of us, things have begun to feel increasingly “normal” again, whatever that means. For me, that means seeing live music regularly, and I couldn’t be happier to have this opportunity back. Every once in a while, I even get to see a live show right here in my hometown of Napa. This was the case late last week when Rodrigo y Gabriela graced the outdoor stage at Charles Krug for Blue Note Napa‘s summer sessions.
Show Review: Motley Crue & Def Leppard & Poison, Oracle Park, 09/07/2022
Photos and review by: Alan Ralph @ARPhotoSF
So, what is there really to do in retirement? Move to an over-55 community in Florida and play golf, shuffleboard, and pickleball until death? KISS has been retired since their Farewell Tour in 2001, right? Wrong! Ozzy Osbourne‘s No More Tours farewell tour was 30 years ago, yet he just put out another new record! Eagles, Foreigner, Fleetwood Mac, and many other legacy classic rock bands never even bothered to retire and just keep going with the same hit song setlists. For all those mere mortals who are not lifelong rock stars, retirement might be something to look forward to after working a desk job or whatever for 40 years, but for Vince Neil (61), Mick Mars (71), Nikki Sixx (63), and Tommy Lee (59) of Mötley Crüe, their retirement in 2015 was definitely not the right choice.
Mötley Crüe’s first tour since then was actually announced nearly 3 years ago and was supposed to happen in 2020… and then 2021… and now in 2022, with Def Leppard, Poison, and Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, The Stadium Tour finally happened! What better way to say We’re Back than to jump straight into stadiums as if there was never a cessation of touring agreement that they signed in January 2014…
Show Review: Descendents, The Circle Jerks, Fake Fruit at The UC Theatre, 8/26/22
In my humble opinion, The Decline of Western Civilization is the greatest film ever made about youth counter-culture movements. Director Penelope Spheeris later directed Wayne’s World, another impressive depiction of youth culture that captured the much-maligned and misunderstood 80’s LA punk scene. The NYC and UK scenes were the “important” scenes. LA was overly aggressive and lacked artistic credibility in the eyes of music critics. This is where hardcore was born, which often marked the “end” of punk for many folks. Continue reading “Show Review: Descendents, The Circle Jerks, Fake Fruit at The UC Theatre, 8/26/22”
Show Review: The Killers with Johnny Marr at Chase Center, San Francisco, 8/23/2022
Recently I had the pleasure of attending a music festival in Spain where The Killers were one of the headliners. Top-billed along with Metallica, Muse, Florence & the Machine, and Jack White, they were by far the highlight of the 5-day affair, their set becoming a joyous singalong among tens of thousands of fans. I’ll admit to being a bit concerned about the contrasting fanbases. Is Chase Center even able to become the joyous sing-along venue? Continue reading “Show Review: The Killers with Johnny Marr at Chase Center, San Francisco, 8/23/2022”
Show Review: Phil Lesh & Friends, Midnight North at Stern Grove Festival, 8/14/22
Rolling away the end of summer with Phil and Friends with opening tunes from “Midnight North.” Continue reading “Show Review: Phil Lesh & Friends, Midnight North at Stern Grove Festival, 8/14/22”
Single Of The Week: “Tres Hermanos” by Hermanos Gutierrez (featuring Dan Auerbach)
This one is specifically for my fellow Latinxes whose parents were born in the 50’s and made sure that the music of Santo & Johnny was always in rotation at home. I forgot how much my soul needed some lazy Sunday morning, reverb drenched guitar instrumentals. Enter Hermanos Gutierrez! This track, produced by The Black Keys’ Dan Auerbach, is the exact soundtrack for making pancakes and staying in your pajamas until 2pm.
“Tres Hermanos” is the lead single off their upcoming full-length El Buen y El Malo. It’s coming your way on October 28th, the day after my birthday, and you can preorder/presave here!
Show Review: Stern Grove Festival – Taj Malah and Monophonics -A Legend is Present
Taj Malah concerts are legendary and, for me, a soulful, personal connection to self. The anticipation for this concert was huge, as he has many Grammys, a large following, and relatable lyrics. Preparation was beyond the normal process of selecting a close location to the stage and gathering friends and snacks. It was a trip and opportunity to recharge life with positive wonders yet to be seen. This audience was tight – a shoulder-to-shoulder crowd. Yet, as I roamed the venue, there was always space for one more. Continue reading “Show Review: Stern Grove Festival — Taj Malah and Monophonics -A Legend is Present”