We’ll Steal Your Heart Away

The Watkins Family Hour always puts on a good show at Christmas time and this year was no exception. The concert was held on Tuesday, December 22, 2015 at Largo at the Coronet. In the pre-show rundown we were told that this would be the last Watkins Family Hour at Largo until possibly April. Sara and Sean Watkins stepped onto the stage first, wishing us all a “Merry Christmas” and Sean started off the show singing, “There’s a last time for everything.” The band was then invited onstage and consisted of Sebastian Steinberg on bass, Don Heffington on drums, Greg

Where My Heart Wants to Be

There was a short set of songs in The Little Room at Largo at the Coronet on Friday, December 18, 2015 after Jon Brion’s show. Gosh I love this space, even though it is pretty cold on the winter nights! So great to sit just a few feet away from the performers. The set on Friday night was led by David Garza. He started off pretty soon after Jon’s set, inviting his friend, singer Gaby Moreno, on stage for a couple songs.  They started off with the song “Los Peces en el Rio,” with Sara Watkins joining in on the

Someone Really Gets You

Friday, December 18, 2015 found me back at Largo at the Coronet for the last Jon Brion show of the year. Surprise opener was actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis, who delivered a short, yet hilarious, set of new jokes. As usual, Jon started off the show by playing a couple instrumental pieces on the piano. He began slowly with chords alternating between the treble and bass until he created a full sound; it was reminiscent to me of something from a Rachmaninoff concerto.  The second piece felt like it could be the accompaniment to an old-fashioned murder mystery, perhaps a

Are You Nostalgic For a Time

The Hotel Cafe (not a hotel or a cafe!) was my destination on Saturday, November 21, 2015 to see musician Gabriel Kahane.  This was my third time seeing Gabriel, the first being a performance last year at the same venue and the second time when he opened for Punch Brothers this past April. I bought his album The Ambassador at that concert having been thoroughly impressed by his cerebral and masterful songwriting. Gabriel is a versatile composer and his catalog of music includes beautiful ballads, eclectic kitsch pieces, emotional explorations, and diverse ruminations on themes. His lyrics are thoughtful and

And Do It All Night Long (Set 2)

For the second (10pm) set by Rhett Miller at McCabe’s in Santa Monica, CA on November 20, 2015, the mood was more loose and relaxed. The audience was a little smaller than the earlier sold out show (recapped at My Name’s Stewart Ransome Miller (Set 1), but clearly made up of dedicated fans. Rhett had changed into a fresh shirt and was just as eager and enthusiastic in his playing as he had been during the earlier set. Because he is so dynamic and powerful in his performance, his voice did sound rougher by the end of the night, but clearly