I’m Trying to Catch Some Kind of Spark

On Saturday, May 14, 2016, I headed to the South Pasadena Eclectic Music Festival and Art Walk to catch Glen Phillips playing on a free outdoor stage. This was a rare chance to hear his solo music with a backing band, as usually I catch him solo acoustic. The band was made up of Paul Bryan on bass (who is producing Glen’s forthcoming album Swallowed by the New), Chris Bruce on guitar, and Abe Rounds on drums. Singer Khäsy Modisette provided background vocals. There were a few calls from the crowd for songs from Glen’s band Toad the Wet Sprocket,

Just Don’t Break Up the Connection

Thursdays, April 21, 2016, Largo at the Coronet hosted a show titled “Sweethearts,” featuring musicians Susanna Hoffs, Jon Brion, Greg Leisz, Paul Bryan, Chris Bruce, Abe Rounds, and Sara Watkins. With all of these talented musicians on the bill it seemed to be the making of an excellent concert. Then, that afternoon news broke of the death of music legend Prince. The Bangles had famously recorded a song written by Prince, “Manic Monday.” How would the news affect this concert and the song choices, if at all?  Well, as much as Jon Brion and Greg Leisz tried to blast the