The 3rd Annual Winter on the Rocks was perfect. Although it didn’t start out that way. I couldn’t help but question my own intelligence as I navigated Red Rocks Loop in the dark. The temperature outside was a cool 25°F as my headlights reflected off the fog back through my windshield. The Upper North Lot
Winter on the Rocks. Red Rocks. 01.31.14 Read More »
My eyes were burning despite the dark sunglasses and overcast sky. I was navigating my nondescript rental car down Highway 29, keeping an eye out for an In-N-Out Burger, when I realized I had missed the turn-off for Interstate 80. The fog was being ushered west (back to the bay) by a sun eager to
Tom Waits. Bridge School Benefit. 10.27.13 Read More »
(PRCA Rodeo in Cheyenne, Wyoming, 07.21.13) I’m not a cowboy. There isn’t anything remotely ‘country’ about my life, even if there is a little country in my blood. My grandfather was the epitome of country, before country was cool. My mom and her siblings grew up in the rodeo. Ten-gallon hats, shiny belt buckles, barrel
Music festivals usually end up being something less than the sum of their parts. Whether it be a hot summer day in a park or a week long event spread across multiple venues throughout a city, the anticipation and planning is usually a lot more fun than the reality — a reality that consists of
A Fun Fun Fun Recap Read More »
The 2012 Westword Music Showcase was the 18th of its kind. It was my 4th. And like every year, it was quite different than the year before. Back in 2009, the pouring rain forced us indoors so quickly that we never caught a single act on the Main Stage. The weather was disappointing because I
Westword Music Showcase. 06.23.12 Read More »
The Maryland Deathfest. It’s the biggest extreme metal festival we have here in the US so for many bands around the world looking to make a splash in the states this is usually their first and best starting point. And on the tenth anniversary of the Deathfest, the organizers really put out a top notch
notes from the road: Genji’s Maryland Death Files Read More »
When we wrote the profile on Profound Lore Records earlier this year, one of questions I posed to Chris Bruni was ‘ever thought of doing anything like the Power of the Riff shows that happened on the West Coast this year?’ His answer, in summary, was he would like to do it if he found
notes from the coast: Scion Profound Lore Fest 03.31.12 Read More »
(I have written quite a few reviews of Lucero shows, this is not one of them) The fact that I am in any shape to be writing this ‘play-by-play’ is a testament to good planning. Sure, meticulously mapping out a day of drinking might sound like a total buzzkill, if not a complete waste of
The Lucero / Starving Artist Beer Crawl Across Denver Read More »
South by Southwest (SXSW) is an industry tradeshow that descends upon Austin, Texas every March. This is a critique of that tradeshow, not a review of the bands that performed last week. Often mistaken for a music festival, SXSW literally floods the small city of Austin with almost half a million outsiders. Hotels sell out
SXSW12: The Good, the Bad and the #hashtag Read More »
For as long as I can remember, the name Golden Voice has been pretty synonymous with great punk and metal shows. I believe my first ever punk show (GBH/The Accused) was a Golden Voice sponsored tour, so when I showed up at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium on Sunday night I was proud to be
notes from the coast: Golden Voice 30th Anniversary 12.18.11 Read More »
