Live Today

Friday, July 29, 2016 saw me back at Largo at the Coronet for Jon Brion‘s monthly show. After two months in a row of live looping, I wondered what he had planned for us this time around. No looping, but certainly some excitement as word spread that there was a grand piano on the stage. We wondered if there was going to be another piano player as a special guest or if it was for Jon. The special guest turned out to be Margaret Cho, who did not play the piano, of course, but delivered a hilarious set of stand-up

I’m In a Los Angeles Cathedral

After seeing The Lone Bellow at the Bluegrass Situation Festival last October, it was exciting to attend another one of their shows, this time as they opened for The National at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles, California on July 28, 2016. It was a little disheartening to see so many seats still open at a sold out show as the band took the stage, but early start times at the Greek compounded with L.A. traffic seem to make this a regular occurrence at this venue. Nevertheless, the band played as if every seat was full. The Greek also has

The Song Where I Listen

On Wednesday, July 20, 2016, I saw Béla Fleck and Chris Thile performing at the Theatre at Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. I love this beautiful venue and wish I could spend some time roaming the theater and photographing parts of the decor (check out the link to their web site to see what I mean if you haven’t been there). Upon entering the stage, the two gentleman careened straight into the lightning quick number “Riddles in the Dark” from Chris’s album, Not All Who Wander Are Lost. (Yes, a young Chris was inspired by The Hobbit.) On its conclusion,

Nothing But the Moment

I headed south to The Observatory North Park in San Diego, CA on July 9, 2016 to see one of my favorite bands, Toad the Wet Sprocket, on their summer tour. I’ve been a fan of Toad since my first year of university and saw them in concert a couple of times at the height of their popularity in the mid-90s. As they are local to Southern California, it has been easy for me to catch their shows multiple times over the past few years. This summer they are on the road with Rusted Root, co-headlining shows and taking turns

Stop the World

Time for the monthly Jon Brion concert report! I certainly was not going to miss this one after last month’s incredible show. Back at Largo at the Coronet on Friday, June 24, 2016, I walked in the theatre to see all of the looping equipment set up. Back-to-back looping concerts, are you freaking kidding me?  After having a rough day myself and still reeling from the repercussions of all the unbelievable things going on in our world, I was ready for this sanctuary — to be transported from all that by whatever Jon had in store. There was no opener