A Life of Music Posts

Like many others, I waited a long time for this show. I just missed seeing The Police at the tail end of their original incarnation. I never really thought the opportunity would present itself but when I learned at the end of the previous year that …

Going to see The Jayhawks is like catching up with old friends. Since discovering them with Hollywood Town Hall (American, 1992), their songs have been part of my life's soundtrack. I had not seen them since moving to the Pacific Northwest almost e…

Yo La Tengo, Town Hall, New York, NY, February 29, 2000 with support act Lambchop This was a slow, quiet show in support of And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside-Out, a slow, quiet record.  The band may have taken that aesthetic to the extrem…

In addition to my work as host of Spotlight On, I manage to keep my hands in several business and creative ventures. I am incredibly pleased to share with listeners that Burning Dervish, an ambient music project of mine, has a track - Five Wonders …

Black Sabbath, with support acts Pantera and Deftones, at Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ on February 5, 1999 Once I decided to go see the reunited Black Sabbath (which really didn't take much deciding at all) it became obvious ther…

Donny McCaslin, Village Vanguard, New York, NY, January 22, 2016, Late Show Donny McCaslin and his band were, of course, the musical collaborators with David Bowie on his final album, ★. This show took place less than two weeks after Bowie's 2016 p…

Lou Donaldson Quartet, Early Show at the Jazz Standard, New York, NY, January 19, 2012 Lou Donaldson is one of the most-sampled artists of all time and supposedly the holder of that title for the Blue Note Records catalog. His "Ode to Billy Joe", f…

Rolling Stones, Madison Square Garden, New York, NY, January 16, 2003 This show was #39 of The Licks Tour, an international run that ultimately tallied 117 performances. This night was also a 'dress rehearsal' for a live HBO broadcast two nights la…

Twisted Sister, with opening act Dokken, at Veteran's Memorial Coliseum, New Haven, CT, January 12, 1986 This one's a whole other kettle of fish, isn't it?  I have always liked a lot of different kinds of music, the only issue is that it took…

Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio at Jazz Standard, New York, NY, January 11, 2012, Early Set This recording is from my personal archive. There is some room noise in the quieter spots - the sound of dishes clanking and such, but it is more than worth a listen.…