Umphrey’s McGee has graced almost every stage of significance in their hometown of Chicago.  So when the opportunity arises to see them in a new venue there is a palpable sense of excitement and expectation. Such was the mood when guitarists Brendan Bayliss and Jake Cinninger followed up their ...view article

The chilly autumn night at the Lawn at White River Amphitheatre, opened by a single hum of Joe Kwon’s cello bow, succeed by Scott Avett’s palatable banjo melody  that kicked off the night with “Go to Sleep” a tune off of the Avett Brothers 2007 release Emotionalism. The sold out venue instantly ...view article

An evening filled with fantastic rhythm, beats inducing dance and phenomenal stage performance is one that doesn't go unappreciated. Ending the short month of February at the Kinetic playground, several bands livened up the joint with music flowing into the early morning. A collaboration of bass, ...view article

Josh Ritter and the Royal City Band played the Granada Theater in Dallas last Monday night.  It was only the third time they'd ever performed in Dallas, but surely it won't be the last.  They've been here twice in the last six months, and from my conversation with bass player, Zack Hickman, after ...view article

Bluegrass in my mind is envisioned as a small town gathered together to enjoy a knee slap and a yee- haw as well as to enjoy the simple subtleties of the strings while letting the worries of everyday life be lifted with the steps and spins of dancing. Hot Buttered Rum with the Coop opening at Clearwater ...view article

Umphrey’s McGee stopped by the House of Blues in Dallas on Friday on their way to Austin for their annual 4/20 show at Stubb’s BBQ.  The Dallas gig also has become an annual event, either coming the day before or the day after the Austin show.  I’ve been seeing UM in Dallas for several years ...view article

A studio album from a band that thrives on live performances can cut both ways.  On the one hand, they’re chock-full of tight, compact songs that benefit (for good or bad) from multi-layered studio production values.  (What would the Grateful Dead’s “Terrapin Station” be without its eerie, ...view article

Nocturnal lovers of the live-tronic and jam scene were appeased this past weekend with a delightful presence rolling through Chi-town. Performing at the Metro a combination of talented musicians performed together in a band called the Join. This evening the bands duo made up of members from The New ...view article

With festival season right around the corner, EOTO closed off their spring tour with a two night run in Chicago. They are making appearances at many known festivals over the summer including Wakarusa and Summer Camp. They closed out their spring tour with a bang. Sixty shows performed in 64 days ...view article