The summer storm passed as quickly as it came, and with the soft lights of the setting sun filling the valley, Gary grabs his guitar and strums out sweet love to the hypnotized audience. Some danced, most though sat back on the lawn and let the rhythm take hold, the riffs floating out into the…
Tag: Concerts
boy, you best pray that I bleed real soon…
how’s that thought for you? Lyrics such as that are what hooked me to the artist Tori Amos back in 1990. We both have changed much since that time, but as the world continues to spin upon its axis, sometimes the stars align and fate brings things back together. July 18th was one such incident…
Bob Weir & Ratdog
It’s hard for me to recall what stopped me from going to The Grateful Dead show here in the SLC back in the early 90’s. Probably a girl, or perhaps my own reluctance at that time to see a concert solo. Sadly, it was one of the last shows Jerry did before his death. Nowadays…
How the music of JT changed everything
“I want to try and have a baby”… “so do I my dear…” It was a conversation as simple as that. We had a house, we both had jobs, and we were young and in love, so why not? We converted the spare upstairs room into the “baby’s room”, complete with a crib and I…
Acoustic Neil Young
It’s a rare opportunity to see an artist at the end of their career, showcasing their songwriting ability and life experience when they still have immense talent. As I sat front row and center in the beautiful Dolby Theatre last night, I witnessed such an event. At seventy ( or close to it), Neil’s haggard…
Kings of Leon
It all started with Aha Shake Heartbreak. I downloaded songs from the album, burned them to a CD and played them for my sis. “It’s his voice!, I love it!” I clearly remember her saying like it was yesterday, but the year was 2005, and Kings of Leon had yet to make it big with…
MJ in Portlandia
Following my theme this year of seeing more acoustic concert performances, I find myself in the quaint and charming section of Portland, Oregon known as Alberta. No cookie cutter housing districts here, only individuality and freedom of artistic expression. In the safety of this lies the Alberta Rose Theatre, and a performance by folk singer/songwriter Mason…
the steps that lead me to Band of Horses
Step One : See a new album out on iTunes, download songs, fall in love. Step Two : Realize the album was just made days ago, search to see if band is still touring. Step Three : Find a show you can go to, get a ticket, book travel. Step Four : Wake up in…
Mavis in Malibu
National Public Radio had Mavis Staples on, promoting her newest collaboration with Jeff Tweedy. I’m intrigued as Wilco is one of my favorite bands, and listening to Mavis speak about her life story is one of true fascination. “I wonder if she is touring?” I do a little Google search, find out that she is…
Pearl Jam
I was sitting on a ratty old couch, hungover, while MTV played on the TV. Through my fog I hear that a new music video will play from a new band out of Seattle. The year was 1990, the song was “Alive”, the band, Pearl Jam. Twenty three years later, I was finally able to…
NIN
I was nineteen when I first played the album Pretty Hate Machine on my tape deck. Head like a hole was the first track, and I was mesmerized. I’d never heard anything like it, and played it for my girlfriend, co-workers, really anyone that would listen. I few years later they came to the SLC to promote…
Gov’t Mule
As the work week winded to a close, I use my lunch break to catch a quick flight to Las Vegas. I needed a different view to finish out the afternoon. Overlooking the Strip in the Mandalay Bay Hotel I finish work at five and ready myself the night’s event. The long awaited Gov’t Mule was…