Robert Plant and the Band of Joy

By Butch Worrell
     Nashville, TN

 In honor of today’s snow I am finally posting the shots from Robert Plant’s Band of Joy 2 night run at Nashville’s War Memorial Auditorium.

The Flaming Lips Magic at All Good Festival

Wayne Coyne with The Flaming Lips

The Flaming Lips are known for their delightful on-stage theatrics and crowd engagement.  This was especially the case when they performed for a jam packed audience at the 2012 All Good Music Festival and Campout in Thornville, Ohio.  The Lips started out the show by playing arguably one of their best songs, “Race for the Prize.”  The next two hours would hold numerous other philosophical yet entertaining songs including a cover of Pink Floyd’s “On the Run”.  

Lacuna Coil, Avatar, Coldville and Sargent Avenue

Lacuna Coil
Avatar
Coldville
Sargent Avenue
@The Intersection, Grand Rapids, Michigan
02-24-2013


Sunday 02-24-2013 was perfect weather a trip to a concert.

SOJA Stirs Up All Good Festival

SOJA

Nothing beats a little reggae on a Friday afternoon at All Good Music Festival and Campout.
That’s why it was so pleasing to see SOJA (Soldiers of Jah Army) bring a little poppy roots fusion to the main stage. This high-energy Washington D.C. based band really got the crowd pumped in the warm Ohio sun. The octet knew exactly how to utilize its percussion and horns sections in a way that can get anyone to dance whether they knew the band or not. Topped off by Jacob Hemphill’s lyrics that SOJA’s fans were belting out as he sang, they created the perfect light-hearted medley of ear-pleasing melodies. It seemed as if everyone was in a good mood as the band played their song “Strength to Survive,” which is the title track from their new 2012 album. One of the best things about All Good is their rotating performances on two adjacent main stages, so all sorts of people were able to catch this rockin’ set as they soak up the good vibes from the beautiful festival environment.

Bob Weir & Bruce Hornsby with Branford Marsalis

Bruce Hornsby, Brandford Marsalis and Bob Weir

All Good Festival 2012 was a great year for fans of the Grateful Dead, with many of the surviving original members in attendance to play shows. Although Bob Weir, Phil lesh, and Mickey Hart decided to each do their own thing, it was a magical weekend for deadheads young and old alike. Bob Weir opened up Thursday on the main “Dragon” stage after a short Trampled by Turtles set by coming onstage with Piano virtuoso Bruce Hornsby and Saxophone Legend Branford Marsalis. Both Hornsby and Marsalis played with the Dead in the 90’s, so this was quite an astounding family reunion that all of the fans in the overwhelmingly large crowd could appreciate. 

The Who at Nassau Coliseum - Out Of Our Brains On The Train

Images and article by Bill Kelly

During a very creative, prolific period Pete Townshend wrote another “rock opera”  for The Who reflecting the zeitgeist of the band’s formative years, when ‘mods’ and ‘rockers’ battled for social relevance in the working-class redoubts of mid-60’s England. Mods wore parkas, rode motor scooters festooned with mirrors and listened young bands like The Small Faces and imports from Motown. Townshend’s album reflecting this time, “Quadrophenia”, tells the story of Jimmy Cooper, a young mod coming of age during this transitional period.

Testament with Flotsam & Jetsam, 4ARM and Flood The Desert

Testament

Flotsam And Jetsam

4ARM

Flood The Desert

@The Intersection, Grand Rapids, Michigan

02-21-2013

When I heard that Testament was playing at The Intersection it was a must see.  Testament we feel is thrash metal royalty along with Megadeth, Slayer, Anthrax and Metallica.  We were lucky enough to score some tickets from WGRD.

Testament had there new cd for sale so we grabbed one up to rock out to on the way home.  Everyone that claims to be metal has heard of Testament.  Another band I was curious about was 4ARM managed by the great Mr. Blasko.

Mr. Blasko is metal royalty as well.  My son and I had the honor of seeing Mr. Blasko play bass for Ozzy at Ozzfest 2007, Tinley Park, IL.  This show was the first concert I took my son to.