Live Music Reviews and Photographs / NYC, Buffalo, Toronto, Pittsburgh
On the heels of her sophomore studio album "The Good Witch" debuting at number one on the UK charts, Maisie Peters embarked on a two month tour of North America. A week after the kickoff in Minneapolis, she played History in Toronto on Aug 14th. With just two albums under her belt, she is already …
Continue reading "Maisie Peters enchants Toronto – Aug 14, 2023"
What an incredible couple of years it’s been for British/Japanese pop star Rina Sawayama. After her critically acclaimed debut album “ Sawayama” in 2020, she’s not only released her second hit album “Hold the Girl” last September but also started in the lates John Wick movie opposite Keanu Reeves! Could her star get any brighter? …
Continue reading "Rina Sawayama ignites Hold the Girl Tour in Toronto – Aug 9, 2023"
It’s been less than a month since Berlin-based singer/songwriter Alice Phoebe Lou released fifth studio album “Shelter” and she stopped in Brooklyn for the final stop of her 2023 US tour before heading up to the Newport Folk Festival. Since there were only seven US stops on the tour and two of them were in …
Continue reading "Alice Phoebe Lou wraps up US leg of solo tour at Brooklyn Steel – July 26, 2023"
When legendary guitarist Peter Frampton announced that he had inclusion body myositis (IBM) and that he would embark on his farewell tour in 2019, it was a tour that everyone wanted to attend, not only because it was the culmination of a glorious career with a hiccup caused by starring in the ill-fated "Sgt Pepper's …
Canadian singer/songwriter Luna Li (aka Hannah Bussiere Kim) played a one-off show at the Elsewhere Rooftop in Bushwick, NY on Monday, July 24th. After last year's tour, we hadn't expected her to grace us with her presence so soon but were happy to see this hit our schedule. The show was quickly sold out and, …
Continue reading "Luna Li enchants Brooklyn at Elsewhere Rooftop – July 24, 2o23"
As conservative movements globally try to turn back to a time when women had fewer rights (eg. The US Supreme Court invalidating Roe vs Wade), and the music industry continues to struggle with misogyny and regular sexual assault allegations, riot grrrl music pioneer Kathleen Hanna has brought her messages back, first with Bikini Kill touring …
Continue reading "Le Tigre brings the riot grrrl message back to Toronto – July 21, 2023"
Ever since the original members of Veruca Salt got back together, released a new record “Ghost Notes”, and toured North America. We’ve been eagerly awaiting more news from this incredible band and, while we don’t have a new Veruca Salt record, vocalist/guitarist Louise Post has released her first solo LP “Sleepwalker” and is touring North …
Continue reading "Louise Post brought 90s memories back to Toronto – July 18, 2023"
Australian singer/songwriter Julia Jacklin first caught our attention when she released her sophomore studio album “Crushing”. Her live performance of “Don’t Know How to Keep Loving You” at the Paste Studio in 2019 is so achingly good, way more emotional and heartbreaking than the studio version. After she released her third studio album “Pre-Pleasure” in …
Continue reading "Julia Jacklin making us cry at Asbury Hall – July 16, 2023"
Indie singer/songwriter Blondshell (aka Sabrina Teitelbaum) last played in Toronto in January opening for Suki Waterhouse at the Axis Club. Since then, she has released her self-titled debut album, been featured in Rolling Stone magazine, Billboard and many others, and performed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon! Not too shabby! At the end of …
Continue reading "Blondshell crushes her first headlining show in Toronto – July 14, 2023"
The Thursday and Main concert series at the Fountain Plaza in Buffalo is always a good time and popular with locals. On July 13th, Canadian indie rock band Tokyo Police Club graced the stage, their first show in Buffalo since 2017 even though it's just a skip and a hop from Toronto. Just One More …
Continue reading "Tokyo Police Club play free show in Buffalo – July 13, 2023"
Singer/songwriter Melanie Martinez, a former contestant on The Voice's third season, archived all her Instagram posts back in January of this year, making her fans wonder what was happening. When she release Portals, her third studio album, on March 31st, she also debuted a new look: a dark fairy complete with a mask with four …
Continue reading "Melanie Martinez enchants Cleveland – July 5, 2023"
NOTE: All photos are copyright of JYP Entertainment What do you think Canadian reactions were when K-pop girl group TWICE (consisting of Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu) announced a stop in Toronto as part of their "Ready to Be" tour? Their fan club, called ONCE, and their fans ONCEs have …
Continue reading "TWICE are “Ready to Be” dominant in Toronto for two nights – July 2, 2023"
A week after Tears for Fears kicked off part two of The Tipping Point Tour, the iconic band from the 80s landed in Toronto to play at the Budweiser Stage. I was lucky enough to also catch Roland Orzabal (guitar/vocals), Curt Smith (bass/vocals), and crew in Cleveland for the first leg of the tour (see …
What else can we say about Taylor Swift's Eras Tour that hasn't already been said? Besides the monumental scale of the tour, each show is over three hours long, with a massive stage having to be built and torn down at each stop, and comprising of ten acts with multiple costume changes and colors representing …
Continue reading "Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour takes over Pittsburgh for two days – June 16, 2023"
It’s been a busy couple of years for Tegan & Sara (Tegan and Sara Quin) , the twin musicians from Calgary. They signed with Mom and Pop records, released their latest studio album “Crybaby”, debuted “High School”, a TV show based on their memoir, toured North America supporting “Crybaby”, and recently released a graphic novel …
Continue reading "Tegan & Sara play make-up show at Danforth Music Hall – June 15, 2023"
This past Sunday saw the first Lavender Wild Festival, focused on the 2SLGBTQ+ community, comprised of a pure 2SLGBTQ+ lineup, and provided a safe space for queers and friends. I was privileged to attend and photograph the festival on a beautiful afternoon at Echo Beach in Toronto. While there were two stages, I primarily focused …
Over fifty years since Styx released their debut album in 1972 and over forty five years since their classic album "The Grand Illusion" became certified triple platinum, the band continues to tour even through personnel changes including an acrimonious separation from former lead singer Dennis DeYoung. They've even been making new music, the latest being …
Continue reading "Styx still rocking at ArtPark – June 2, 2023"
It’s hard to believe it’s been over eight years since a young Declan McKenna (not that he’s not still young) won the emerging talent competition at the Glastonbury Festival. His first single “Brazil” was released on his YouTube channel and expressed dissatisfaction with FIFA and its governing body. That doesn’t change the fact that it …
Continue reading "Declan McKenna brings excitement to Town Ballroom – May 31, 2023"
When Seal's self-titled debut album came out in 1991, it took the world by storm! With his incredible vocals that dare you not to listen and hit singles "Crazy", "Killer", and "Future Love Paradise", he was on his way. That album garnished Seal awards left and right. When he released his sophomore album and also …
Continue reading "Seal brings it on at Massey Hall – May 15, 2023"
It’s been quite a busy year so far for LA indie pop band MUNA. They started off with some shows in Australia before taking a two week break, played Coachella, then embarked immediately on their North American tour. This is their second tour supporting their third studio album, the self-titled MUNA, released in June 2022. …
Continue reading "MUNA celebrates with Toronto at History – May 14, 2023"
It's not often that you get to see a living legend on the stage. The word "legend" has been thrown around way too much but in the case of Graham Nash, it's not debatable. Being a two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a two-time Songwriter's Hall of Fame inductee can attest to that. …
Continue reading "Legend Graham Nash inspires Asbury Hall – May 8, 2023"
Indie pop singer/songwriter quinnie from New Jersey exploded onto our collective consciousness via her viral hit "Touch Tank" on TikTok, like many young artists these days. Yes, she had previously released music when she was just a teenager but it was that snippet of a song that finally made her known to a larger audience. …
Continue reading "Feeling all kinds of emotions with quinnie at the Drake Underground – May 6, 2023"
After kicking off their North American "Take Back Your Life" tour in Montreal a few nights ago, heavy metal stalwarts Disturbed stopped by ScotiaBank Arena in Toronto to start the month of May in proper fashion. The band had released their eighth studio album "Divisive" on November 18th of last year, with both the record …
Continue reading "Disturbed had ScotiaBank Arena shaking – May 1, 2023"
Indie pop band Tennis, comprised of the married couple Alaina Moore and Patrick Riley, stopped by History in Toronto in the midst of their "Pollen" tour. Their sixth studio album was released back in February on their own label Mutually Detrimental and three singles, "One Night With the Valet", "Let's Make a Mistake Tonight", and …
Continue reading "Tennis brought smooth 70s grooves to History Toronto – Apr 5, 2023"
Buffalo loves Pigeons Playing Ping Pong and Pigeons love Buffalo right back! The incredible jam band played two sold out nights at Town Ballroom at the end of March and we were there to bear witness! Pigeons had played the Cobblestone Festival in Buffalo last summer so nine months sounds almost too long to welcome …
Continue reading "Pigeons Playing Ping Pong jam for two epic nights in Buffalo – Mar 31, 2023"
Last night, pop star Jake Wesley Roger’s stopped by the Opera House in Toronto as his “Peace Love and Pluto” tour hits the Northeast. I say “pop star” even though he’s still a young man, having released just four EP’s, the latest “LOVE” last year. However, his dynamic personality already flags him as a star …
Continue reading "Exuberant joy followed Jake Wesley Rogers to the Opera House – Mar 30, 2023"
It's been quite a month for Canadian band Softcult, consisting of twins Phoenix and Mercedes Arn-Horn. They were named as a Stereogum Band to Watch, released their latest EP "See You in the Dark", and completed their first US headlining tour! A true DIY band, with the sisters handling everything from album art to production …
Continue reading "Softcult brings their tour back to Ontario – Mar 28 2023"
Four years is much too long to not see Muse on tour. Granted, we had a little hiccup with the pandemic but it's wonderful to have Muse hit North America on the fourth leg of their "Will of the People" tour. Even better, American rock band Evanescence was tagged as a support act. I can't …
If there was a band that exemplifies lo-fi dream pop, Afternoon Bike Ride would be that band. Their soothing sounds are perfect for coffee in the morning while looking out the window, a quiet evening by the fireplace, or perhaps a nice afternoon bike ride!! While their songs are not all chill, there do seem …
Continue reading "Afternoon Bike Ride is also great in the evening – Mar 7, 2023"
VÉRITÉ (aka Kelsey Regina Byrne) stopped by Longboat Hall in Toronto on Friday as the opening night of her Love You Forever Tour. The record of the same name was released just a week ago and I’ve been playing it on repeat ever since. Her lush music and honest lyrics always spoke to me, although …
Continue reading "VÉRITÉ, Love You Forever! Signed, Toronto – Mar 3, 2023"
As a fan of Alvvays, Phoebe Bridgers, and indie rock in general, it was a no brainer to cover The Beths at Toronto’s Phoenix Concert Theatre as they continued to tour in support of their third studio album “Expert in a Dying Field”. If you haven’t heard the songs and have been following popular music …
Continue reading "The Phoenix Concert Theatre welcomes The Beths – Feb 26, 2023"
It's been three years since Swedish pop star Tove Lo (aka Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson) graced Toronto with her presence. Still in the early days of the tour supporting her latest studio album "Dirt Femme", released in October 2022, she arrived at History to a sold out venue. Walking around the before Tove Lo came …
Continue reading "Tove Lo returns to Toronto with a bang – Feb 16, 2023"
It's been almost exactly five years since I was last able to cover a Lights (aka Valerie Ann Poxleitner-Bokan) show. That's pretty much the time between "PEP", her fifth studio album, released in April of last year and "Skin and Earth", her previous record that coincided with the release of her comic books and a …
Continue reading "LIGHTS hits Hamilton with PEP party at Bridgeworks – Feb 11, 2023"
If you watched the Grammy's last weekend, you'd think that rock and roll is now just a tiny fringe music genre with few followers. While rock acts are finding it much harder to earn a living with record sales and streaming, the music continues to live on with touring and merch sales being the primary …
Continue reading "Mac Saturn and Billy Tibbals bring glam rock to Town Hall – Feb 9, 2023"
A model and/or actor wanting to become a musician has become a cliche. That’s not to say they can’t be incredibly successful but it’s often times an immediate strike with critics. Suki Waterhouse has been an exception to this rule, with her 2022 debut LP “I Can’t Let Go” garnishing relatively positive reviews. On the …
Continue reading "Suki Waterhouse packs the house at the Axis Club – Jan 24, 2023"
It's been quite a year for Just One More Concert. It was the first full year of live music post-pandemic although much has changed since 2019 (the last full year). Bands are still having to cancel shows/tours because someone in the band or crew tests positive for Covid, more acts have opted for having their …
It's been quite a hectic three months for Alvvays even though there was a period of time where I wasn't sure if they would be back. But after a long hiatus and, on the heels of their well received latest studio album "Blue Rev" on October 7th, the band hit the road for twenty three …
Continue reading "Alvvays close out 2022 with two hometown shows – Dec 15, 2022"
After touring for much of the year, Toronto band The Beaches surprised Buffalo by announcing a one off show in December. On the heels of winning the 2022 Juno Award for best rock album and an extensive tour, we were happy that the band was able to find the time to stop by Buffalo Iron …
Continue reading "Buffalo loves Beaches in December! – Dec 10, 2022"
It's been quite a year for beabadoobee (aka Beatrice Kristi Ilejay Laus). She has been touring non-stop since April with stops globally, during which she also released her sophomore studio album "Beatopia". On Thursday, she stopped at History in Toronto just prior to wrapping up her tour tonight in Boston. After a well deserved rest, …
Continue reading "beabadoobee and her Beatopia tour play a full house at History – Dec 1, 2022"
Normally, I'd say that moving from NYC to Buffalo makes it more difficult to see all the bands I want to see but somehow this year, I've been lucky enough the have the English Beat hit Buffalo twice!! First, they opened for Culture Club this summer at ArtPark and, on Tuesday, they graced us with …
Continue reading "The English Beat help melt the snow in Buffalo – Nov 29, 2022"
The multi-talented twenty four year old bassist Blu DeTiger hit Toronto on Saturday just in time to bring her party beats to the Axis Club. I first noticed her when she was playing bass and her brother playing drums for alternative band Kitten, as well as other NYC acts. She's gained a huge following as …
Continue reading "Blu DeTiger parties with Toronto at the Axis Club – Nov 5, 2022"
LA rockers Starcrawler stopped in Toronto this week in support of their third studio album “She Said”. Known for their high energy outrageous shows, they make every performance a must see, making you wonder what's going to happen next! Their latest record is a bit more polished than their previous two, although the rawness of …
Continue reading "Starcrawler rock Adelaide Hall – Nov 4, 2022"
An hour before doors opened at HISTORY Toronto on Monday, October 24th, the line for entry had already wrapped all the way around the block. This didn't even include the 250 or so fans on the separate VIP line! Taylor Swift? Maybe Harry Styles? Nope. Korean band, the Rose, had hit Toronto as part of …
Continue reading "The Rose had their fans swooning at History Toronto – Oct 24, 2022"
Since James Iha and Jimmy Chamberlain rejoined the Smashingi Pumpkins, it feels like the band has been touring non-stop. Of course that’s not quite the case since they found the time to work on a THIRTY THREE song three-act rock opera “Atum”. The first act will be released on Nov 15th and each subsequent act …
Continue reading "Smashing Pumpkins play PPG Paints Arena without Jane’s Addiction – Oct 22, 2022"
Moroccan born Canadian singer/songwriter Faouzia (aka Faouzia Ouihya) took her Citizens Tour to a rainy Toronto evening at a sold out Opera House on Wednesday, October 19th. Fans had been waiting in the rain for hours before doors, eagerly awaiting the show. While the name Faouzia may still be considered an up-and-comer, over two million …
Continue reading "Faouzia has Opera House Toronto bursting at the seams – Oct 19, 2022"
If you haven’t heard of the Linda Linda’s, you may be living under a rock. They exploded onto the scene, not necessarily the music scene, when they released a song and video for “Racist, Sexist Boy” after a schoolmate made a racist remark to the band’s drummer early in the Covid pandemic. That song became …
Continue reading "The Linda Linda’s rock Music Hall of Williamsburg – Oct 2, 2022"
There are cover bands and there are good cover bands. Wednesday saw Zoso, the Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience, come to Brooklyn Bowl in NYC and evoke strong memories of the golden age of 70s rock and roll. Having been formed over twenty years ago, the band has honed its craft and is one of the …
Continue reading "Zoso and the shades of Led Zeppelin invade Brooklyn Bowl – Sept 28, 2022"
If you haven’t heard of Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum, you’re not alone. For a couple of years after they formed, they were primarily only known by a rabid group of fans in the NYC area, even though the band is fronted by award winning actor Michael C. Hall (Dexter, Six Feet Under on …
Continue reading "Princess goes to the Bowery Ballroom – Sept 15, 2022"
Austin based singer/songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Mobley (aka Anthony Watkins II) stopped by the offices of LiveNation in NYC to preview his latest record "Cry Havoc!" ahead of its release on September 23rd. I first saw Mobley at Rockwood Music Hall back in 2016 (see photos here) before he started playing drums as well as guitar …
Continue reading "Mobley previews new record at LiveNation – Sept 12, 2022"
If you've been following Just One More Concert, you'll find that we've recently been covering quite a number of top 80s bands who have discovered that, not only are their old fans still eager to see them perform live, they have built a new generation of younger fans who love the retro sounds of ska, …
Forty one years after the release of their self-titled debut album, Duran Duran is still going strong. Besides their well deserved election to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, they released their fifteen studio album “Future Past”, released last October. The record sounds very retro, reminding me of past records from the 80s and …
Continue reading "Duran Duran celebrate Future Past at Budweiser Stage in Toronto – Aug 22, 2022"
On Thursday, August 11th, Billy Joel continued his non-stop tour with an incredible show at PNC Park in Pittsburgh. It had been six years since Joel played here and the capacity crowd showed their appreciation. Many fans came to the stadium early to tailgate, getting ready to party with their idol. Having been a Billy …
Continue reading "The Piano Man is still keeping the faith at PNC Park – Aug 11, 2022"
The 80s were the heyday of the hard hitting hair bands, shredding the stage but with smiles on their faces. They played to sold out stadiums of eager young’s fans and partied like there was no tomorrow. Not privy to backstage antics, I don’t know if they’re still partying and the hair is definitely not …
As the “it” band of the last year, Wet Leg has been selling out venues faster than you can say “Isle of Wight”! Toronto was no exception as they stopped by the Phoenix Concert Theatre on Tuesday, even though there were at least four other amazing shows that same evening: Glass Animals, Cage the Elephant, …
Continue reading "Wet Leg sells out Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto – Aug 2, 2022"
The Houston based trio Khruangbin hit ArtPark in Lewiston, NY last night. In the midst of their cross country Space Walk Tour, the Buffalo show was a late addition and the fans in western New York could not be happier. The venue was packed before the opener even started, with many dressed as if they …
Continue reading "Khruangbin brings some funk and some fun to ArtPark – Aug 1, 2022"
It's been six years since Warpaint headlined the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto. Returning to a full house at the Opera House, the band saw eager fans packed into the beautiful venue. Personally, I saw the quartet of Emily Kokal (guitar/vocals), Theresa Wayman (guitar/vocals), Jenny Lee Lindberg (bass/vocals), and Stella Mozgawa (drums) at the Music …
Continue reading "Warpaint makes triumphant return to Toronto – July 27, 2022"
Indie pop sensation Clairo (aka Claire Elizabeth Cottrill) has been making music since she was 13 and it only took five years to introduce herself to the world when one of her songs “Pretty Girl” went viral. With her hit debut record “Diary 00” and successful tours in 2018 and 2019 (who jumps all the …
Continue reading "Every teenage girl in Toronto came to History to see Clairo – July 26, 2022"
The Pretty Reckless headlined their first show since December 2017 at Stage AE in Pittsburgh on Friday, July 22nd. After their Paris show in 2017, little did they know that it would be almost five years before they would headline a show again. They had a tour planned in spring/summer 2020 that was pushed to …
Continue reading "The Pretty Reckless play first headline show since 2017 – July 22, 2022"
When New Kids on the Block announced their "Mixtape Tour" would include Salt-N-Pepa, En Vogue, and Rick Astley, I was in! Not having been much of a boy band fan, I did listen to the other three acts quite a bit back in the day. As I entered the KeyBank Center in Buffalo on July …
Continue reading "New Kids on the Block brought some friends to the KeyBank Center – July 17, 2022"
With a new LP "Asphalt Meadows" set to be released in September, Death Cab for Cutie hit ArtPark's mainstage in Lewiston on July 11th for a welcome back party. The band is touring extensively through 2022, first with Illuminati Hotties supporting (as they did at ArtPark), then with Low, and finally with Yo la Tengo. …
Continue reading "Death Cab for Cutie plays to packed ArtPark – July 11, 2022"
At the age of 67, 80s hit-maker Howard Jones continues to tour extensively. Yes, those high notes are a little harder to hit now but his fans are there to help him through those. I covered his Acoustic Trio tour when he, bassist and ex-Kajagoogoo member Nick Beggs, and guitarist Robin Boult performed in Ithaca, …
Continue reading "Howard Jones and Midge Ure keep the 80s alive in Buffalo – July 7, 2022"
Everyone has a significant other that adores the handsome operatic crooner Josh Groban. With his boyish good looks, dazzling smile and smooth voice, I can see why. Yeah, it's may not be cool to enjoy what's considered "old people music" but you can't deny the fact that he's been immensely successful and has developed quite …
Continue reading "Josh Groban has Darien Lake swooning – July 1, 2022"
Noga Erez is Israel’s biggest pop star…at least according to Erez’s brother Gon. But who can argue with him. Having won Best Newcomer of the Year in 2018 (VIA), her sophomore album “Kids” critically acclaimed, and touring along the likes of Tove Lo and Florence and the Machine, her bona fixes are solid and indicate …
Continue reading "Noga Erez plays JCC Buffalo’s inaugural Creekside Concert – June 28, 2022"
If there was one way I would describe Tash Sultana, it would be a one-person jam band. The multi-instrumentalist from Australia makes full use of the available technology and is able to seamlessly able to create music incorporating any number of instruments from guitar, bass, keyboard, and drums to mandolin, trumpet, saxophone, panpipes, and recorder!! …
Continue reading "Tash Sultana parties with Buffalo at Babeville – Jun 22, 2022"
Superstar Patti Labelle picked a great evening to play the beautiful outdoor ArtPark on Tuesday, June 21st, and she was in fine form. Regularly engaging with and waving to individual members of the audience, she showed that she still has the pipes, with a little support from her excellent backup singers. She even danced a …
Continue reading "Patti Labelle wows ArtPark in Lewiston – June 21, 2022"
Canadian punk rock band PUP (aka Pathetic Use of Potential) wrapped up the spring/summer portion of their North American tour in Buffalo, NY at Babeville/Asbury Hall on Saturday, June 18th. This final show in support of their latest record "The Unraveling of PUPTheBand" was a high energy affair with a capacity crowd from start to …
Continue reading "PUP shoot their wad at final tour stop in Buffalo – June 18, 2022"
Why are jam bands so tightly associated with hippie culture and drugs? It's understood that 60s era hippies and psychedelics were an influence that drove some of the music of early jam bands like the Grateful Dead. However, it continued to persist with Phish in the 80s to even current day jam bands like Goose. …
Continue reading "Goose jams through the night at ArtPark – June 8, 2022"
What more can I say about the ethereal being we call AURORA that I haven't previously said? I've been covering her shows for several years now and the last one at Terminal 5 in NYC back in November was one of her best! Since then, she has released her latest album "The Gods We Can …
Continue reading "Otherworldly AURORA takes over Toronto – May 29, 2022"
Back in 2017, when Lo Moon was signed to a major label and was touring extensively, it seemed like the band was ready to explode. It didn’t happen, with differences in marketing strategy between the label and the band. Matt Lowell, formed the band, is the lead vocalist and multi-instrumentalist, and wrote much of the …
Continue reading "Lo Moon lays down some serious mood at Drake Underground – May 28, 2022"
It was the afternoon of November 19, 2019 when I peeked out the door at the Paste Studio in NYC to see if the next band had arrived yet and I saw two kids sitting on the floor in the hallway like they were in high school. It turns out those “kids” were Lili Trifilio …
Continue reading "Beach Bunny wraps up tour with triumphant return to Toronto – May 27, 2022"
When I first heard about the most recent Oh Wonder album "22 Break" and how Anthony Vander West and Josephine Vander Gucht (now Vander West) had been in the midst of possibly breaking up while writing the record, I was completely devastated! I had met them at their Paste Studio session in 2019 and they …
Continue reading "Oh Wonder celebrates life at Brooklyn Steel – May 15, 2022"
When I arrived early for mxmtoon's show at the Danforth Music Hall in Toronto on May 4th, I knew it was going to be a wild ride. The line several hours before the show was already almost two city blocks long! I had met mxmtoon (aka Maia) in 2019 at a session at the Paste …
It was Pretty in Pink and 80s high school proms all over again last night at History in Toronto. If you were music aware in the 80s, there’s no way you could avoid not knowing Orchestral Manouevres in the Dark and their brand of electronic dance music. While they were not the first pioneers (like …
Continue reading "OMD brings back the 80s in a big way at HISTORY – May 3, 2022"
It was a hell of a night for punk rock at Mohawk Place on Thursday with a trio of Sad Place, Skating Polly, and Together Pangea. Whether you call it emo, ugly pop, or garage rock, it was hard, heart pounding punk rock. I had been following Skating Polly since their collaboration with Veruca Salt …
Continue reading "A Skating Polly punk sandwich at Mohawk Place in Buffalo – April 14, 2022"
Nation of Language is one of those bands that seems to have come from nowhere and exploded onto the music scene. That being said, they did form back in 2016 with Ian Richard Devaney on guitars and lead vocals, Aidan Noell on synthesizers, and Michael Sue-Poi on bass. Supposedly Devaney took inspiration from OMD's "Electricity" …
Continue reading "Dancing the night away with Nation of Language at Lee’s Palace – April 7, 2022"
With her new single "Shotgun" already out and her new album "Sometimes, Forever" about to drop in May, it almost feels like I'm seeing Soccer Mommy (aka Sophie Regina Allison) just a month early. That being said, this spring tour is really what we had expected back in 2020 in support of her then new …
Continue reading "Soccer Mommy thrills crowd at Mr Smalls – April 2, 2022"
When I saw that Wolf Alice was playing at Stage AE in Pittsburgh, I thought it was great that they were playing larger venues. They are an amazing band, especially live, and are not to be missed. When I arrived, I discovered that they were playing on Stage AE's "club stage", significantly smaller than the …
Continue reading "Wolf Alice rolls on in Pittsburgh – April 1, 2022"
If all you know about Gary Numan is his big 80s hit “Cars”, then you’re missing out. Yes, he was an icon back in the 80s but he’s been putting out new music and touring regularly ever since. If you’ve ever been to one of his shows, you’d remember it vividly. And his music has …
Continue reading "One of the best shows of the year? That’s right…Gary Numan! – Mar 12, 2022"
The last time I saw Tame Impala was at the Capitol Theatre in Port Chester, NY in 2017. At that show all attendees were asked to place their phones in Yondr pouches for the duration of the show. Fast forward five years; same amazing band, different restrictions (vaccination cards). The band opened up their 2022 …
In late 2019, I had just started to get into The Regrettes' sophomore album "How Do You Love?" after kicking myself for missing their show in NYC. I was hoping for another tour in 2020 but, unfortunately, that was not to be. However, the band stayed busy during the lockdown, releasing two stand-alone singles "What …
Continue reading "The Regrettes slay Rec Room Buffalo – Mar 2, 2022"
I was enjoying the warm almost summer-like 68 degrees in Washington Square Park as I anticipated the show I was to see last Wednesday night. The lineup was definitely something to look forward to with British indie folk singer Fenne Lily as the headliner. Her beautiful voice had been hanging on the skirts of my …
Continue reading "Fenne Lily’s music was warm and soothing on a cold night – Feb 24, 2022"
I was just eighteen when “Human’s Lib” was released. With new wave music in full swing at the clubs and “What is Love?” being pondered by young men and women everywhere, Howard Jones and his music became an integral part of my college experience. I had said debut album, “Dream Into Action”, and “One to …
Continue reading "The Howard Jones Acoustic Trio re-ignites at the Hangar Theater – Feb 11, 2022"
How does a pop artist release an album in 2019, go through the pandemic and come out even more popular than she was going in? That's exactly what happened to Caroline Polachek. It seems that album "Pang" resonated with the public and brought her a huge following for her electro-dream dance pop. It's been a …
Canadian indie-band Tokyo Police Club was originally going to celebrate the ten year anniversary of their Juno nominated second full length album "Champ" in 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic shut things down but when live music started to come back, the band immediately put together a "replacement" tour and a re-issue of that great record. The …
Continue reading "Tokyo Police Club celebrates “Champ” at Bowery Ballroom – Nov 19, 2021"
For two consecutive nights in November, young fans of FINNEAS (AKA Finneas O'Connell, AKA Billie Eilish's older brother and collaborator) could be found lined up for blocks around Irving Plaza. And why not? His debut studio album "Optimist" (released Oct 15, 2021) is stupendous. His charming good looks (kinda reminds me of a young Darryl …
Continue reading "Finneas brings the house down at Irving Plaza – Nov 17, 2021"
When talented Norwegian singer/songwriter/activist/fairy Aurora announced just two shows in the United States for 2021, I knew I had to be at Terminal 5 on November 14th. Having attended every one of her NYC shows since 2017, I've had the pleasure of watching her grow and evolve as an artist. Besides having a beautiful voice …
Continue reading "Aurora makes Terminal 5 the happiest place on Earth – Nov 14, 2021"
UK rock band Wolf Alice stopped by the Bowery Ballroom in NYC (Nov 12/13) as they wind down their first tour in three years. Their critically acclaimed third album "Blue Weekend", released last June, has the been the source of much press coverage and garnered them a nomination for the 2021 Mercury Prize. After attending …
Continue reading "Wolf Alice crushes two nights at Bowery Ballroom – Nov 13, 2021"
Shot for QRO Magazine. You can also view the gallery here. After seeing the crowd at the Sea Hear Now Festival (see my coverage here) singing along to every Billy Idol song just this past weekend, I kinda knew what to expect as I drove up to Port Chester for his headlining show at The …
Ok so maybe it won't be the last concert ever but, with the COVID-19 pandemic, voluntary social distancing, and many tours/venues cancelled in the near future, Princess Goes to the Butterfly Museum's show at Mercury Lounge sure felt like it was going to be the last concert ever. Princess (I'll abbreviate from now on), with …
Continue reading "Princess slays Mercury Lounge for last concert ever – Mar 12, 2020"
NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography except for setlist photo thanks to Gabrielle Pires I have to admit that for much of the late 1990s / early 2000s, I was working so much that I didn't pay too much attention to music that was coming out during that time. It wasn't until …
Continue reading "Spending the day with Silversun Pickups – Mar 6, 2020"
Today may be International Women's Day but a few days ago on Wednesday, March 4th, female artists helped Mercury Lounge celebrate early. Two Rochester based bands with female leads, Roses & Revolutions with singer/keyboardist Alyssa Coco and KOPPS with singer Patricia Patrón, were the co-headliners but, like me, many were here for opener Caroline Vreeland. …
Continue reading "Caroline Vreeland gets the party started at Mercury Lounge – Mar. 4, 2020"
Friday night was a good night for me to catch up with a couple of local bands that I've been following for awhile: Purr and Wilsen. Also turns out they both had record releases that day. Purr did a signing for their debut record "Like New". Oddly enough, even though I've been seeing them at …
I seem to have been on the Echosmith promotion tour the last few months, having seen them at Paste Studio and Songkick even before they kicked off their Lonely Generation Tour at le poisson rouge in the Village in NYC. This sibling band (Sydney, Noah and Graham Sierota), with their dad as manager, producer, tour …
Continue reading "Echosmith leads young LA bands at LPR – Feb 13, 2020"
Swedish pop star Tove Lo (aka Ebba Tove Elsa Nilsson), known not just for her danceable tunes and high energy live shows but also for her sexually direct lyrics and for flashing the crowd, hit NYC for two shows as part of her Sunshine Kitty Tour. Having celebrated her record release back in September at …
Continue reading "Tove Lo throws party at Brooklyn Steel – Feb 12, 2020"
East coast met west coast at Paste Studio on Feb 12th. We started with LA band Saint Motel with their cool LA vibe and finished the afternoon with soulful sounds from Brooklyn based Ron Pope. Both are on tour right now so catch them while you can. Click on photos to enlarge Saint Motel Ron …
Continue reading "Saint Motel and Ron Pope at the Paste Studio – Feb 12, 2020"
I always believed punk bands lose their anger as they get older, become more successful, etc. Sir Bob Geldof, Boomtown Rats frontman and the driver behind Band Aid, throws all of that out the window. He is still angry, whether it's about disco and "shit rock", as he calls it, or the political situation in …
Continue reading "Legendary musician and activist Bob Geldof talks to Paste Studio – Feb 11, 2020"
It's been a few years since Grace Potter hit the stage in New York. After a hiatus where she wasn't sure she would return to music, she took inspiration from the birth of her son, Sagan, and started working on a new record. "Daylight" was the result and she hit the Beacon Theatre on Feb …
Continue reading "Grace Potter returns to NYC with new record “Daylight” – Feb 1, 2020"
It was so good to see Grouplove on Thursday after an almost two year hiatus. After last seeing them perform at OzyFest in 2018 and hearing about Hannah Hooper's brain surgery, I wasn't sure if I would ever see one of the most fun bands again! YouTube was nice enough to bring them to a …
Continue reading "Grouplove is back with a bang at YouTube Space – Jan 30, 2020"
Having only recently discovered Your Smith, I was not ready for the amazing evening that awaited me at Rough Trade in Brooklyn on a cold Wednesday night. Caroline Smith had been playing music since she was a teenager in her native Minnesota and after performing under her name for years, she moved to LA in …
Continue reading "Your Smith rules Rough Trade – Jan 29, 2020"
You know you're doing something right when your debut LP is nominated for a GRAMMY award for Best Americana Album. At just 22 years old, Madison Cunningham has done just that with her record "Who Are You Now". While she did not win the award, it shows how mature and respected her music is within …
Continue reading "Madison Cunningham provides her fans a double dose in NYC – Jan 28, 2020"