Concert Reviews

Paisley, Doobies and lots more highlight Beachlife Ranch Fest

September 22, 2023 - The festival was held Sept. 22-24. Beachlife Ranch isn't technically a country music festival as a lot of its performers touch upon a wide variety of musical styles. Nevertheless, there was than enough real country music performed over the weekend to satisfy most any country-loving heart. ...

Morris sparkles at Coastal Country Jam; McGraw less so

September 17, 2023 - Day two of Coastal Country Jam featured five mainstream country artists, led by Tim McGraw and Maren Morris, and most all performed admirably well. This event may not have sported the kind of hip alt-country performers always found at Stagecoach, but for a radio-friendly lineup, it was darn good. ...

Life is real good for the Eagles

September 11, 2023 - If The Eagles are hanging it up for good as they claim, then The Long Goodbye Tour speaks volumes about the enduring legacy and quality of the band if the first of two Boston dates was any indication. Simply stated, there was a tremendous amount to like about the performance from the musical veterans ...

Cooke needs to deal with reality

September 8, 2023 - As Ashley Cooke recounted before the enthusiastic packed club on her first headlining tour, this has been quite the year. The blonde-haired Florida native made her Grand Ole Opry debut, a milestone for every artist. And she released her major label debut, "shot in the dark" just last month on ...

My Morning Jacket creates a storm

August 28, 2023 - It was another beautiful Southern California night, and not the hurricane weather predicted for the original date of this My Morning Jacket/Fleet Foxes concert. The only storm created this evening was the rocking jams that My Morning Jacket played to close out the evening. It was the sort of storm we ...

Rucker means it - "Have a Good Time"

August 23, 2023 - When Darius Rucker opened with "Have a Good Time" during this midweek outdoor theater concert, he meant what he sang. His laidback performance style was contagious, too, as it seemed like everybody in the crowd was having a good time. It helps that Rucker also has many good times songs to ...

Whiskey Myers goes beyond a t-shirt

August 23, 2023 - Cody Cannon, the lead singer of Whiskey Myers, sported an Alan Jackson t-shirt. Of course, paying homage to one of the greats of the somewhat recent traditionalist movement was great to see. Credit goes to Cannon, but there was scant musical resemblance by the band to Jackson's music. ...

Pandering aside, Wallen leads a fine night

August 17, 2023 - Most of the artists on the four-act bill could have plead guilty for rooting for the home team.s After all, how else to explain how artist after artist – that would include headliner Morgan Wallen, HARDY, Ernest and Bailey Zimmerman - donned the uniform of one of the local teams. ...

With Tuttle, Valerie June, Neilson, Aysanabee on hand, quality pervades Edmonton Folk Fest

August 12, 2023 - Going 13 hours, the third day of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival is no sprint. All must pace themselves as best they can. If you festival goers ran out of steam before the two headliners (Teskey Brothers and Old Crow Medicine Show), there was the rest of the day. Stellar in all range of matters. ...

Greensky Bluegrass leads Edmonton Folk Music Festival, day two

August 11, 2023 - After several days of sporadic, heavy rain, the second evening of the Edmonton Folk Music Festival began under grey, overcast skies. Never fear, all went well with only a few drops being felt on the hill late in the evening. The evening held promise for roots types although headliners Fleet Foxes' ...

Kahan keeps it in-house

August 9, 2023 - Noah Kahan sings about his emotional issues – a lot – especially in a song called "Growing Sideways," which details his time in therapy as a very young person. He also touches upon mental health topics with "Your Needs, My Needs," which mentions the medication Zoloft by ...

Swift generously offers a satisfying night

August 5, 2023 - For Taylor Swift fans (known as Swifties), "The Eras Tour" is certainly the primary trek to catch. Spanning the iconic artist's restlessly active career and drawing liberally from all her primary album releases, it's a 40-plus song set and a full three-and-a-half-hours of Swift music. ...

Adkins masters his obvious skills

August 1, 2023 - Trace Adkins told a funny story about meeting Buck Owens during his first radio publicity tour, a time when Owens suggested Adkins always use the lower register of his vocal range because that was about all he had going for him. Owens was wrong, of course, because Adkins is a much more versatile singer ...

Earle plays the lone troubadour role - particularty well - again

July 30, 2023 - Although Steve Earle's band, The Dukes, is one fine instrumental unit, it's nevertheless a treat to see him solo with just an acoustic guitar, mandolin and various harmonicas. It gives him more flexibility in the setlist, since he doesn't need to teach a group how to play his various deep cuts. ...

Newport Folk Festival day 3: only the music was hot

July 30, 2023 - The eclectic Newport Folk festival is the type of fest that typically has something for everyone. And now that was no different on third and final day of this year's edition ranging from bluegrass to country to singer/songwriter to angst-ridden pop to African music to gospel music. ...

Newport Folk Festival day 1: a hot day weather-wise and musically

July 28, 2023 - A the Newport Folk Festival, now in its seventh decade got underway, the fest has traditionally been in the vanguard of the protest song movement. For those who are concerned about climate change, this was the proof to their concern. Not that protest songs ruled the day, but the question loomed as ...