I can still hear the infamous opening riff of “Black Dog” from the album Led Zeppelin IV. The tape played non stop in my basement bedroom as a young kid. Some thirty odd years later, the music sounds the same, only the faces have changed. The Phoenix Symphony put on an amazing showcase…
Tag: Concerts
The Pickin’ in the Pines Festival 2016
For three glorious days up in the cool pines of Flagstaff, Arizona, you can hear some of the greatest bluegrass music our country has to offer at the Pickin’ in the Pines festival. Held in September each year, last years festival was my first time attending. From camping with a village full of bluegrass…
Pickin’ in the Pines – the camping experience
Just outside the town of Flagstaff, Arizona, there is a little festival that happens each year in September. People from all over come to camp for three nights, playing their banjos and other stringed instruments in what is affectionately called the Pickin’ in the Pines festival. Last year was my first time attending,…
Kenny Wayne Shepherd
When the sixteen year old guitar prodigy first came onto the airwaves, I was in my late twenties. I think it was actually an old girlfriend that introduced me to his music. Down home Louisiana Blues with smokin’ guitar riffs had me hooked. For the next twenty two years, I’ve listened and hoped for the…
Ugly Christmas sweater concert
It’s time to return to the music. Ever since I moved here to Arizona almost one year ago, I’ve been looking for an outside concert venue. Luckily, the Ugly Christmas sweater concert had a triple line up of some of my favorite bands, and it was at the Mesa Amphitheatre, a relatively small outside…
Ouroboros
September the fourteenth, two thousand and sixteen. 7:45 PM. Ray walks out onto the stage, guitar in hand, and starts to sing a four song acoustic set that puts chills on everyone’s skin. He then brings out the band, and sings his new album in it’s entirety. He then ends with audience requests, creating a…
Trevor Hall
You will most likely have no idea how to relate to what I’m about to tell you. I don’t believe that each soul is entirely unique, and that some of us share a piece of the same spirit. I’ve followed Trevor Hall’s music and life journey for a few years now. No other artist has…
The Wild Feathers
“No one really knows her first name, but they all hold her hand Everyone leans on her window pane but no one looks in” Breaking out of my comfort zone in Nashville, Tennessee. I’m not a country music fan, but I knew I would have to shift gears while in this city. “She’s so…
California, I don’t even know ya
I sat down in my church pew of the Ryman, and finished off my beer just as the opening act took to the stage. Jamestown Revival. I’d never heard of them before, but was pleasantly surprised . When the song, Cast Iron Soul, from their album aptly titled “Utah” was played, I fell in love….
The Ryman
On October the 12th, 1841, Thomas Green Ryman is born. In 1892 the Union Gospel Tabernacle is completed. December the 23rd, 1904, Thomas Green Ryman dies. At his funeral, the Rev. Sam Jones takes a vote to rename the tabernacle the Ryman Auditorium. The audience responds with a standing ovation. Throughout the…
Greensky Bluegrass 2016
Banjos and steel cut guitars. Bad ass beards, long hair and redneck trucker hats. It must be time for Greensky Bluegrass. With this being my second time seeing them, I’m fully prepared for the awesome sounds, or so I thought. The night was full of surprises, however. It’s the thing I enjoy the…
Leftover Salmon
My seemingly annual return trip to Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado happened last July. This time around it was to see the local band Greensky Bluegrass. Yet I was pleasantly surprised to find that Leftover Salmon was opening. I settle into my front row and center seat. Take a sip, grab a small bite,…