Slayer - Farewell World Tour @ Salem Civic Center

Slayer brought the “Final Campaign” tour to Salem Civic center on November 5th. They may have arrived by bus but they entered the arena like a freight train.  This tour is said to be their final and they performed as if it was.

Billy Joel at U.S. Bank Arena

Billy Joel played a long set of all his best songs last night at U.S. Bank Arena. The sold out crowd was singing and dancing with Billy as he rocked the arena with his Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame performance. Billy Joel is one of the most successful solo artists of all time and almost every song he played last night has either won a Grammy or some sort of accolade. Check out the article with my photos next week at The Examiner.

Images by Doug Siegel
www.dougsiegelphotography.carbonmade.com

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. 

Moogfest 2014: The Advancement of Culture and Technology

Laser Lights During The Pet Shop Boys

After taking a break for 2013, Moogfest came back stronger than ever in Asheville, North Carolina for an epic five-day adventure of sound and art.  Opting to move from its usual position in late October to beautiful April, festival organizers have saved traveling patrons from the overpriced hotel rooms associated with Autumn in the mountains.  With the addition of the daytime events including lectures, talks, performances, and workshops, Moogfest has secured itself as an east coast commodity.  With the pioneer of electronic music and inventor the Moog Synthesizer, Bob Moog having called Asheville his home for many years, and with the Bob Moog Foundation and the Moog Factory both located in Asheville, it feels natural to bring such an amazing event back to the mountains of North Carolina.  Moogfest carries the strong theme of new technologies, futurism, and synth-heavy music.  Music lovers and geeks unite to watch over 100 musical performances and dozens of educational and interactive talks and workshops.

The Mad Tea Party Jam is Set to Return to West Virginia

The Mad Tea Party Jam

Fans of truly conscious music and art will rejoice at the return of third The Mad Tea Party Jam presented by Appalachian Jamwich.  Taking place amid the astounding beauty of Hedgesville, WV, from June 19-21 this one of a kind festival is sure to rock your socks off.  The Mad Tea Party Jam features some of the best talent in the jam band and electronic scene today.  Along with their Asheville, NC based headliner Popadosio, The Mad Tea Party Jam features talent from all over the country including Dopapod, The Werks, The Mantras, and New York based sensations TAUK and Consider the Source along with many more.  Many of the bands will play two nights.

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 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.  

Scotty McCreery @ Viking Hall

 

Scotty McCreery stopped off at Viking Hall, located in Bristol, Tennessee on his Weekend Roadtrip Tour.

 

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.  

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.

Bassnectar Blasts the Beach

Bassnectar

Lorin Ashton AKA Bassnectar played into the sunset on the other side of the beach from 7:30-8:45 right before Tom Petty closed out Saturday night at The Hangout Festival 2013.  It seemed slightly odd watching Bassnectar at a festival during the daylight, but this was unavoidable at a festival where the music has to end at 11:00 PM.  While the show was very high-energy and enjoyable, the first hour lacked the usual element of his profound visual spectacle because the sun subdued the normally epic light show.  

Tate Stevens

X Factor winner Tate Stevens put on an awesome show in Springfield, Illinois at the Prairie Capital Convention Center. He played a few of his hits, some of the music that made him a winner on X Factor and also some great covers, ending his set with Separate Ways from Journey.

He was very humble and grateful that he won, and the crowd seemed to agree.

Here are some photos from the night, more at my site below....

Thanks, George
www.strohlphotography.com