G3 Tour 2018 at the Raleigh Memorial Auditorium

The G3 tour shakes Raleigh with guitar thunder and searing riffs.

The G3 Tour 2018 consists of Joe Satriani (founder and creator), John Petrucci of Dream Theater, and Phil Collen of Def Leppard.  The G3 tour began in 1996 and is still going strong, some 20+ years later!

Tauk with Peridoni at The Madison Theater

Tauk played The Madison Theater with Peridoni this weekend and rocked the stage. These two bands have had a lot of good momentum this and are playing several festivals this spring and fall. This show was moved from Madison Live to the Madison Theater as there was a great turn out. Check out their schedule at www(dot)taukband(dot)com.

Images by Doug Siegel
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

 

Lockn' Festival: Same Rockin' Place, Different Time

Bob Weir and Mickey Hart performing at Lock

The first round of the 2016 Lockn' Festival lineup has just been announced, and people are in a rage.  The Lockn' Festival, which will be taking place August 25-28 near Arrington, Virginia , has become the smash hit to close out the summer festival season in recent years.   Having been known for having no overlapping sets, good vibes, and creative collaborations between musicians that can be seen nowhere else, it is easy to see why it has become a fan favorite. 

Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime @ Capone's

Geoff Tate and his new band, Operation: Mindcrime, stopped off in Johnson City, TN., in support of their new album, The Key. 

Van Halen @ PNC Pavilion

Van Halen in Charlotte NC during their North America Tour 2015

Drum Lovers Unite for Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart

Returning to Asheville, North Carolina’s famous musical venue and social club, The Orange Peel, was one of the founding percussionists of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart.  The heavy rhythm and percussion oriented Mickey Hart Band came through in a rolling thunder, playing to a packed out club with Deadheads from all over and of all ages.  The current lineup for the Mickey Hart Band is Mickey on percussion, Crystal Monee Hall on vocals, Joe Bagale on guitar and keys, Reed Mathis on bass guitar, Gawain Matthews on guitar, Sikiru Adepolu on the talking drum and other percussion, Greg Schutte on Drums and Jonah Sharp on keys.  Mickey Hart has spent much of his life studying music from all over the world, and it shows in his versatile range of skills in different types off percussion including djembes of all sizes, cowbells, and digital drum machines.

Furthur Brings Out Guests at All Good 2013

Phil Lesh with Furthur

Furthur, the newest and most epic reincarnation of the Grateful Dead since Jerry Garcia’s passing, attained the much anticipated headlining slot at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013.  They played two sets during a four hour set Saturday night from 8:15-12:15.  Led by Grateful Dead alums Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, Furthur also features talent from Joe Russo (Benevento Russo Duo, American Babies), Jeff Chimenti (Ratdog), John Kadlecik (Dark Star Orchestra), as well as Sunshine Becker and Jeff Pehrson on vocals.  Their performance was incredibly on point.  As usual, Furthur just kept cranking out the classic tunes with professional musicianship.  It was almost as if this show featured everyone’s favorite songs.  The first set featured jams such as “Uncle John’s Band” and “The Music Never Stopped.”  The last three songs featured Andy Falco, who is the guitarist from sensational bluegrass band The Infamous Stringdusters. 

Save the Leftovers

Vince Herman with Leftover Salmon

Leftover Salmon, the bluegrass rock stars from Boulder, Colorado, took to the stage Friday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2014.  Their set was right in the middle of the day after Dark Star Orchestra and before the John Butler Trio, so needless to say the crowd was ultra hyped.  The best part of All Good Festival is the lack of overlapping sets, so the audience can sit in one place and see all of the music that they want to see.  Accordingly, the fans on Friday afternoon were content as could be, especially the ones lying in the hammocks in the wooded area.  Leftover Salmon came through with their expected high energy performance that had the crowd hootin’ and hollerin’. 

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue Bring the Funk

Trombone Shorty 

Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue is a brass band from New Orleans who brought such fresh flavor and style to All Good Festival 2013.  The six members of the band, including Shorty of course, brought a unique vibe and style to the stage with two percussionists, two saxophones, guitar, bass, and of course a trombone.  They even had an extra percussionist sit in with them for a few songs.  Their sound is a combination of jazz, blues, and the most authentic sounding effortless New Orleans funk you can imagine.  These guys have such a high energy style that they can keep every song fresh and sounding brand new.  Orleans Avenue has been creating quite a buzz lately and they accordingly they earned themselves a prime Saturday afternoon slot before Grace Potter and the Nocturnals. 

North Mississippi Allstars – Deep South Rock Comes to All Good

Luther Dickinson with the North Mississippi Allstars

The North Mississippi Allstars brought the heat to the main stage Sunday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013.  Their blend of southern rock and blues was exactly what the doctor ordered for the crowd who had been there partying since Thursday night.  The North Mississippi Allstars are a three-piece featuring Luther Dickinson on guitar and vocals, Cody Dickinson on drums and keyboard, and Chris Chew on bass.  It is hard to believe that so much sound can come from only three people.  The Allstars’ set was filled with a variety of first-rate tune including some classic covers.  They played “Hear My Train a Comin’” by Jimi Hendrix and “Goin’ Down South” by R.L. Burnside amongst others.  During the show, each member of the band swapped places and instruments, so all three played each instrument.  This is very unique demonstrates the musical ability of each of these fine musicians. 

The Stepkids Breakthrough at All Good

Jeff Gitelman with The Stepkids

Newcomers to the scene, The Stepkids, played a short yet solid set at All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.  They had a primo slot on Friday afternoon sandwiched between All Good staples Darkstar Orchestra and Leftover Salmon.  Hailing from Bridgeport, CT, The Stepkids consist of guitarist/vocalist Jeff Gitelman, bassist/keyboardist/vocalist Dan Edinberg, and drummer/vocalist Tim Walsh.  The Stepkids were a pleasant surprise being a relatively unknown band to most of the people there.  They would fluently switch in and out between groovy psychedelic jams and layered jazzy ensembles.

The Infamous Stringdusters Show Bluegrass Finesse at All Good

The Infamous Stringdusters

The Infamous Stringdusters blasted the All Good Festival 2013 crowd in the face on Saturday night with some of the most fluent strings in the business right now.  This award winning band has quickly become an all around fan favorite within the past few years.  Besides getting the privilege to play alongside bluegrass legends such as Del McCoury, Sam Bush, and David Grisman, they Infamous Stringdusters have also started their own annual music festival in central Virginia called The Festy Experience.

The Ragbirds Span Genres at All Good Music Festival

Erin Zindle with The Ragbirds

Coming out with their debut All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 performance Sunday afternoon was the up and coming band, The Ragbirds.  This quintet from Ann Arbor, Michigan has been touring across the country since 2006 and has played alongside notorious bands such as Cornmeal and Dirty Dozen Brass Band.  The Ragbirds are led by siblings TJ Zindle on guitar, and Erin Zindle, who plays violin and serenades the crowd with her heavenly voice.  At first listen, they sound like a group of traveling gypsies in some strange land.  There were so many noticeable influences in The Ragbirds’ music.  Their songs incorporated Americana as well as traditional music from other cultures, such as Latin and middle-eastern.  

Grace Potter On Top

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

The ever-growing musical prowess of Grace Potter and the Nocturnals has become something that fans music fans of all types can appreciate.  That is why it is such a pleasure to see them return to the All Good Music Festival and Campout 2013 to host a Saturday night prime time slot on the Dragon Stage from 6:00 until 7:30.  Between Grace’s on stage charisma, voice, and beauty, she is the perfect leader for a band that has been building up quite a rock-star reputation over the past few years.  Grace Potter and the Nocturnals put on quite a spectacle for their loyal fans on that sunny evening at Legend Valley in Thornville, Ohio.  The highlight of their set that had everyone talking was their cover of The Grateful Dead’s “Friend of the Devil” which featured a surprise sit-in from none other than Bob Weir, an original member of The Dead.  In return, Potter would sit in with Furthur, who played after The Nocturnals on the same stage, to collaborate on a rendition of the Grateful Dead classic, “Turn on Your Lovelight.”  

Ice Cube - Never Too Gangsta

Ice Cube - O'Shea Jackson

One of the founding fathers of gangsta rap, Ice Cube (O'Shea Jackson) brought his brutally honest style back to The Orange Peel in Asheville, NC with WC (William Loshawn Calhoun, Jr.) and crew.  Ice Cube has been on the scene for over 25 years, since blowing music fans out of the water in 1987 with the infamous rap group N.W.A. alongside fellow rap legend, Dr. Dre.  When he left N.W.A and become a solo artist in 1989, Ice Cube secured his status as one of the most controversial lyricists of all time.  He has been accused of being overly violent, racist, and misogynistic.  On the other hand, he has been labeled as being one of the greatest story-telling MC’s of all time.  He has collaborated with an uncountable list of other talent along the way.  Ice Cube has also recognized success with his clothing line, as well as acting, and screenwriting.  He starred in the early nineties classic, Boys In Da Hood.  O'Shea Jackson also co-wrote and starred in the classic Friday movie series, as well as had starring roles in other blockbuster hits such as Anaconda, Three Kings, and Barbershop. 

Heart @ the Biltmore Estate

Heart took a pause from their Heartbreaker tour to perform an "Evening With Heart" show at the historic Biltmore Estate, which is nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina. The show couldn't have taken place on a more perfect evening, with the sun setting during the opening songs, creating a fireworks show in the sky that nearly matched the fireworks happening on stage.

Björk at Bonnaroo

Björk Guðmundsdóttir

Adding to the list of new and profound acts to make an appearance at Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival 2013 is the Norwegian sensation from Reykjavik, Iceland, Björk Guðmundsdóttir.  Björk’s music is wildly exotic and has covered all genres of music from folk and acappella to electronic dance music and punk in her thirty or so years being a solo artist. The common factor between all of her styles is the overlaying of her amazing voice that resonates over whatever beat is being played with it.  The most striking of Bjork’s set at Bonnaroo Music Festival was her on stage attire.  She was dressed in a very odd dress and her entire head was surrounded on all sides by thousands of six inch long needles.  Musically, Bjork’s set at Bonnaroo contained a wide variety of styles of music, and was accompanied by a group of twelve background singers/performers.  Her choice of songs came from throughout her career, and included “Hyperballad,” “Crystalline,” and “Pagan Poetry.”  Appearances in the US are quite rare for a European sensation such as Björk Guðmundsdóttir, so she was sure to satisfy her army of fans present to watch her show.  

The Shins - Indie Music at The Hangout Festival

James Mercer with The Shins

Welcoming a nice change of pace from the jambands and DJs on Friday, May 17 at the Hangout Music Festival was indie band, The Shins.  They played into the sunset from 7:30 until 9:00 on the sunset stage to a more resolute and seemingly sober crowd.  It was fairly easy to tell who the true Shins fans were.  Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and now residing in Portland, Oregon, The Shins were right on point with their show.  Although their music is relatively unknown to those that are not into their scene, one could not help but appreciate the caliber of their lyrics and instrumentalism.  They played two of their biggest hits: “Caring is Creepy” and “New Slang,” which are songs that were popularized by the 2004 movie, Garden State.  They closed their show with their also reasonably popular song “One by One All Day.”  

Jim James at 2013 Hangout Music Festival

Jim James

Jim James, best known for being the front man of My Morning Jacket, played to a bright eyed crowd Friday afternoon at The Hangout Music Festival in Gulf Shores, Alabama.  The mid-afternoon sun beamed down on the festival goers as they bobbed and swayed to the charismatic man in the eggplant purple colored suit.  Jim James switched back and forth from his Flying V electric guitar and a saxophone throughout the show.  James’ set was mainly comprised of his solo material, but he did also dabble into a My Morning Jacket tune or two.  You didn’t have to be a My Morning Jacket fan to enjoy Jim James’ performance.

I'll Have a Beach Breeze with My Gov't Mule

Warren Haynes with Gov't Mule

Saturday at the 2013 Hangout Festival was full of classic rock and roll on the main Hangout Stage.  On this beautiful afternoon on the beach, Gov’t Mule’s hard guitar licks took over from 3:30-4:45.  The southern rock band is led by possibly one of the hardest working men in show business, Warren Haynes on lead guitar and vocals.  He is also known for his time playing with The Allman Brothers and The Dead.  Gov’t Mule also features Matt Abts on drums, Danny Louis on keys and rhythm guitar, and Jorgen Carlsson on bass.  This Hangout performance really showcased Haynes’ daunting guitar skill with his consistent wailing guitar solos and effects.  These veterans play so well together as a band that it makes any rock and roll lover an instant fan.  One highlight of the show was the song “Soulshine,” originally done by Larry McCray.