A Day In Richmond With Hanson

When the name Hanson is said, most people are going to say or think, "the teenyboppers that have that MMMBop song." To us Hanson fans, we see them as Isaac, Taylor and Zac: three brothers who have managed to surpass the MMMBop craze and pave a career over the past 13 years. Yesterday, I was reminded why I have remained a loyal fan of this band. As the Shout It Out Tour was announced, I was bummed that they weren't coming to Hampton Roads area of Virginia, at first. Then I saw that they were doing a show at the Hat Factory in Richmond which is only an hour and a half away from me. I purchased my ticket and waited eagerly for July 28th to approach. When the day finally came, I could hardly contain my excitement. The last time I saw them was back in 2000. I was stoked. I decided to take the drive early so... Read More »

Concert Review: Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights

Jonathan Tyler and the Northern Lights is a versatile soul-meets-rock group unique in its genre-crossing love for music.  Opening for such legends as Hank Williams, Jr. and ZZ Top, the group's stage show is one you don’t want to miss—from the moment the band rolls out its instruments and hops onstage without any ado to when Mo Brown sings with her sultry, soulful voice, "I've got a feeling, a crazy feeling..." into her microphone.  And if selling its debut album, Pardon Me, for only $5 to the audience isn't enough to win you over, just imagine the group playing "Paint Me a Picture": Jonathan Tyler clutching a harmonica and strumming his guitar center-stage, guitarist Kansas behind his classy fedora, drummer Jordan Cain in aviators pounding out the driving beat, and Nick Jay showing off his mad bassist skills.  The down-to-earth band members even stuck around to chat afterward, making them my favorite of the night... Read More »

Get Wrecked by The New Collisions

On August 16^th of this year I was working a show for the B52s. There was to be an opening act, a band called “The New Collisions.” I had never heard of them, nor had anyone else I work with at the theatre. Shortly before the B52s sound check is to begin a group of younger musicians appears—my 1^st thought is they’re too young to be the opening act—I was wrong. It was four guys and a girl. They looked like the fairly typical “college” type though the girl had very short platinum blonde hair. I was thinking that I shouldn’t get my hopes up and just be glad the headliner was gonna rock out. The B52s finish their sound check and we scramble to get the opening act set up so they can do their sound check and we can all eat dinner before the show starts. After they get set up, I head... Read More »

Jessica Harp Live at Joe’s Pub

Jessica Harp, known as one half of the duo The Wreckers has been making music long before anyone knew she existed. That didn’t stop the songwriter from making timeless music. So it comes as no surprise to the fans who have been following her career for a while that she’s finally stepping out into her own bright spotlight. The long-awaited major label debut of Harp is entitled A Woman Needs and is due out later this year (much to the chagrin of her faithful followers; they’ve been waiting forever it seems.) Tuesday, July 7th, Harp previewed her upcoming record in New York City at Joe’s Pub. The small venue was intimate and quiet, and seated around one hundred people. Guests could sit at a table and order dinner and drinks while watching Harp perform. I opted not to order dinner and sat at the bar where I had... Read More »