Concert Review Site

In his follow-up to his highly successful Mercury Records debut album, That Lonesome Song, country singer-songwriter Jamey Johnson released The Guitar Song today. The double disc album full of old school country music has been hailed by Spin Magazine, Rolling Stone, the Los Angeles Times, as “a consummate blend of artifice and self-revelation” and a “uplifting journey from rot to redemption”. The first disc entitled the Black Album aptly includes songs darker in nature, while the second disc takes a more optimistic tone. After listening both discs you’ve felt like you’ve been through a storm and are now riding on the highway on a sunny day. Johnson’s deep baritone is tailor-made for story-telling. The record may be loaded with country music clichés, but you don’t seem to mind. The Guitar Song is a rare throwback to the heart of country music. Jamey Johnson has tour dates scheduled through the fall up until November. With what could be one of the best reviewed albums of the year, things are looking good for Jamey Johnson.

All is well in the Jam Band world - fans can buy Phish tour tickets once again with Vermont’s favorite sons back on tour. It appears Phish fanatics will also have a opportunity to take a look back at the band’s mid-nineties glory day. Phish’s Trey Anastasio, Jon Fishman, Page McConnell, and Mike Gordon played West Palm Beach’s Coral Sky Amphitheater in November of 1996. The legendary show was captured on video and will be released on October 19th as a two-disc DVD entitled Coral Sky. The show featured appearances from Santana percussionist Karl Perazzo and Allman Brothers Band drummer Butch Trucks. Phish were in rare form in 1996 having released one of their best studio albums, Billy Breathes in October of that year. The live concert DVD includes rocking renditions of Phish original tunes like “Run Like an Antelope”, “Free”, and “Harry Hood”. Phish also broke out a few priceless covers including Talking Heads classic “Crosseyed and Painless” and The Beatles’ “A Day In The Life”.

It’s been 17 years since Britt Daniels and Jim Eno formed Spoon but the indie-rockers are still getting better as a band. Spoon is one of the only bands in the last decade that churns out Rock N’ Roll that is both contemporary, yet, rooted in the genre. Daniels is one of the best rock songwriters in the business. The band struggled to gain the audience it deserved until a major label deal failed in 1998, and the band moved to indie label Merge Records at the turn of the century. Girls Can Tell was released in 2001 to critical acclaim and Spoon’s fan base at home and abroad began to grow. Spoon released their fifth album, Transference, with Merge Records this past January. Just in the last week, Spoon opened for Arcade Fire at Madison Square Garden and played a terrific set at Lollapolooza in Chicago. Spoon will tour the US into October before jumping across the pond in November to tour Europe.

Out of Bowling Green, Kentucky, Cage the Elephant are developing into a reputation for infectious punk rock both in the US and UK. Their debut album scored a surprise hit with the gritty storybook punk parable “Ain’t No Rest For the Wicked”. It’s rare that a rock song that touches on the desperate, dirty side of life gains traction on the charts, but Cage the Elephants single was a Top 40 hit in the UK and was Top Ten hit on the Billboard Mainstream Rock and US Modern Rock charts. The young band led by lead singer Matthew Schultz has toured with bands like Silversun Pickups and The Pigeon Detectives.  Their sophomore album, Computer Says More, is expected in the near future. For now, the band heads out on tour with alternative rock legends Stone Temple Pilots.

Americans might not be aware of the Isle of Wight Festival, but the three day festival held on England’s largest island has developed into one of the best music festivals in the world. This year the show’s saw hip hop superstar Jay Z, the return of The Strokes, and the legendary Sir Paul McCartney perform. Despite the muddy conditions, concert goers poured into the festival with such big names on the bill. Jay Z headlined the show on Friday night which marked a special guest appearance from Kanye West. On Saturday fans tuned in on big screens to watch England and USA’s 1-1 World Cup tie and saw bands like Vampire Weekend, Blondie, and The Hold Steady. Sir Paul brought the festival to a epic crescendo on Sunday night with his rip-roaring set which included a cover of Jimmi Hendrix’s “Foxy Lady” and Beatles gems “Helter Skelter”, “Yesterday”, and “Let It Be”.

Broadway is flush will the sale of American Idiot tickets lately with the rock ‘n roll opera gaining steam towards the 2010 Tony Awards. On Sunday, American Idiot will be in the running to the win the Best Musical at the 64th Tony’s live from Radio City Music Hall. The musical based on the epic Green Day album of the same name has made Broadway finally relevant. The story of  young American dealing with war, desperation, addiction, and love with a punk rock edge won over critics from the moment American Idiot debuted at St. James Theater. American Idiot was nominated for Best Musical, Best Scenic Design of Musical, and Best Lighting Design of Musical. The rock opera is a dark horse to win Best Musical against the likes of Memphis and Million Dollar Quartet. Who knows? Green Day’s reign on Broadway may complete its dominance with a shiney Tony’s Award or two.

The Strokes lead singer has been making his rounds supporting his debut solo release, Phrazes for the Young, has toured the United States, Europe, and Australia the past few months. The 31-year-old will rejoin The Strokes for a number of dates in June and July including the Isle of Wight Festival in England, the Openair St. Gallen Festival in Switzerland, and Lollapalooza in Chicago all while continuing his solo tour in Europe. Stops at The Montreux Jazz Festival, The Peace in Love Festival in Sweden, and the Super Bock Super Rock, and T in the Park in Scotland. Phrazes for the Young has earned heaps of praise as well as being called Paul-Simon-esque. Fans can even download the album for the bargain price of $4.99 on ITunes. Casablancas is likely to the studio with his band mates soon to record another The Strokes album, but his solo career looks to be just taking off.

Everyone is looking for Chelsea Handler tickets right now as the hilarious stand-up is currently touring the country. When asked what she will talk about on her live tour, comedian Chelsea Handler told the press “It depends on how much I drink”. The E! Channel talk show host has become  a mini-mogul in her own right in the past few years. Her late night talk show, Chelsea Lately, has built up a huge following, her books continue to be best sellers, and her stand up comedy tours sell out night after night. She loves to dish on celebrities, drinking, and share humorous stories from her childhood. Chelsea got her start in comedy doing stand-up in little comedy cafes, and now she’s selling out theaters across the country. Her comedy comes off as if she’s just one of the ladies in the hair salon making fun of Britney Spears. She tears down pretentious stars without taking herself too seriously. Even the Obamas admitted they watch her talk show. Chelsea will be playing shows across the country from May to Novemeber.

Gorrilaz looks poised to have a huge year in 2010. Gorillaz, the genre-defying project of Blur front man Damon Albarn and cartoonist Jamie Hewlett, released their third album, Plastic Beach, last month. In the past Gorillaz has performed with big stage shows featuring numerous musicians huddled in the shadows why images of the four piece cartoon character band flashed on screens. In their first performance in London in nine years, Gorillaz rocked the Roundhouse last night in a show that featured more than 30 performers. Albarn acted as lead singer on a number of songs while playing piano, but De La Soul, Bobby Womack, Mick Jones and Paul Simonon of the Clash, and a number of other surprise guests. Gorrilaz are a real testament to the beauty of collaboration in music. Keep your eyes pealed for US tour dates to be announced soon.

English Rock band Muse has quietly become one of the biggest bands in music quietly since forming 16 years ago in the English countryside town of Teignmouth. Now Muse tickets are selling out venues like the Staples Center in United States and mammoth soccer stadiums in Europe. Songwriter Matthew Bellamy’s operatic voice blends beautifully with the bands space rock sound. Now with five studio albums to their name, Muse has plenty of material in their songbook to lace their performances with numerous hits. Some early critics dismissed Muse as a wanna-be-Radiohead cover band, but the band quickly displayed their originality on Absolution, Black Holes & Revelations, and their most recent release The Resistance. Both singles off The Resistance “Uprising” and “Resistance” topped the charts in US, furthering the band into America’s Top 40 music scene. The band will be touring the United States playing mostly indoor arenas in the Fall, before returning to England to play a number of shows including a number shows at the massive Wembley Stadium.