The Long Ryders perform at Pearl Street Warehouse on Sept. 20, 2019. (Photo by Rashad Polk)
At the beginning of The Long Ryders’ concert Friday night at the Pearl Street Warehouse, lead singer Sid Griffin urged the crowd, “Please come forward so we have something to play to.”
Ray Wylie Hubbard (Photo courtesy Red 11 Music)
You can call it country-rock, outlaw country, progressive country, or Americana. Whatever you call it, Ray Wylie Hubbard, who’s “been doing this a long time,” and calls himself “an acquired taste,” found a receptive, appreciative audience in a sold-out house at City Winery recently. The legendary Texas troubadour, feted lately with a tribute album and a book about his life and music, gave patrons a special live experience, punctuating his songs with conversational asides and injecting good-natured humor throughout his show.
Billy Bragg performs at The Birchmere on Sept. 19, 2019. (Photo by Kyle Gustafson)
Not many solo artists armed with only an amp and a guitar have done it longer or better than Billy Bragg. Accordingly, the recent trend of artists playing classic albums in their entirety is a great opportunity for Bragg, a master storyteller in addition to being a master songwriter, to look back on his career, but with a bit of a twist.
Marina performs at The Anthem on Sept. 18, 2019. (Photos by Katherine Gaines/ ambienteye.com; Words by Mickey McCarter)
When examining the whole of pop music through a rear-view mirror, it becomes clear that most musicians have little new to say after their first and second records.
Marina Diamandis, known eponymously as Marina and formerly known as Marina and the Diamonds, doesn’t have that problem. The Welsh chanteuse released Love + Fear, in April via Atlantic Records, drawing from some study she did on psychology and how the two emotions in the title of the record drive all of human behavior. She broke it down for her audience in a very crowded show at The Anthem recently.
Brent Cobb (Photo by Don Van Cleave)
Grammy Award nominee Brent Cobb understands how to put a show together. Southern rap played him onto the stage at the Rock & Rock Hotel recently, ending with a flourish of horns. Strumming a few notes on his acoustic guitar, Brent conversationally told the audience he was going to “ease you on in.” He started his set with the beautiful “Keep ’Em on Their Toes,” about “the best thing you can do when the ignorance shows.” He stopped to acknowledge an especially gorgeous riff by his bushy-bearded lead guitarist, remarking, “Isn’t that pretty?”
The Lox Performs at Howard Theatre on Sept. 17, 2019. (Photo by @Waufflez – wauffleznotwaffles.com)
Legendary New York rap group, The LOX stopped through Howard Theatre recently for a classic hip-hop show in celebration of the 20th anniversary of their platinum debut album Money Power Respect. With assistance from opening act Tony Moxberg, Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch gave the crowd all the bars they could ever ask for performing classic solo and group records such as “We Gon Make It,” “Knock Yourself Out,” and “Mighty D-Block.”
Elton John (Photo by Ernst Vikne)
Interest in all things Elton John is soaring in 2019, thanks to the recent biopic Rocketman and the rock legend’s ongoing three-year farewell tour.
While it’s no secret that the former Reginald Dwight has lived an amazing musical life – overcoming personal challenges during his six decade-spanning career – you might be surprised to learn these five interesting details about Sir Elton.
The B-52s perform at The Anthem on Sept. 17, 2019. (Photos by Jason Nicholson; Words by Mickey McCarter)
“Forty years ago, we used to stay up all night and drink coffee to make big plans about the future,” said Kate Pierson of The B-52s. “We called ourselves the Deadbeat Club.” With that, the band launched into the song bearing the title “Deadbeat Club” from 1989’s Cosmic Thing in the middle of their concert at The Anthem recently.
Touring on a 40th band anniversary, which coincides with Cosmic Thing’s 30th anniversary, The B-52s could have stuck to that sunny album of earworms and pleased the bustling crowd at The Anthem. But delightfully, The B-52s took the opportunity to celebrate their entire career with the anniversary show, and played selections both familiar and quirky from across six of their seven studio albums.
Joined by openers Berlin, the California new wave collective, and English synthpop quartet Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, The B-52s tour proved consistently entertainingly and downright beguiling while turning The Anthem into a nonstop dance party.
Meek Mill and Future perform at Jiffy Lube Live, Sept. 17, 2019. (Photo by Shedrick Pelt)
“Legends are made, not born.” Enter Meek Mill and Future — two of hip hop’s most powerful artists, crisscrossing the nation on a 20+ stop summer tour, that could only be done justice under the banner of Legendary Nights.
Bloc Party performs at The Anthem on Sept. 16, 2019. (Photos by Paivi Salonen; Words by Mickey McCarter)
Performing with little fanfare to an eager crowd at The Anthem recently, Bloc Party got down to business in a show celebrating the band’s debut studio album, Silent Alarm. Frontman Kele Okereke professionally yet casually got laid down a groove that heightened anticipation in the set.
