Concert Reviews

HARDY presents two separate but equal musical personalities

January 23, 2023 - You might say Hardy's live celebration of his just-released "the mockingbird & THE CROW" was a tale of two Hardys. He began the evening by performing the album's (mostly) country-er songs at The Troubadour, then relocated to The Roxy Theatre to rock out (once again, mostly) on the ...

Scott, Bradbery, Scott, Whitters pull it off

January 11, 2023 - A good, old-fashioned guitar pull typically has something to offer everyone. And that pretty much summed up the Songs & Stories night of music with Dylan Scott, Danielle Bradbery, Matt Stell and Hailey Whitters in the first show for each in the new year. Over the course of 90 minutes, Scott, Bradbery, ...

Lake Street dive rings out the old, new just right

December 31, 2022 - Yes it was New Year's Eve, but the dress by a portion of the sold-out crowd of Lake Street Dive's show was not your typical festive or concert fare. PJs were in the house – mainly it seems among the female crowd – as well as the three bands that were onstage. ...

All the good times are gone? No way with Trampled by Turtles in the house

December 29, 2022 - The year may have been rapidly drawing to a close for Trampled by Turtles – they had but one show left in 2022 – but they apparently have an unbridle resources in the energy department . The pride of Duluth, Minn. was once again a musical tour de force and more in their bluegrass songs with ...

Nefesh Mountain brings the musical warmth

December 22, 2022 - It may have been none too pleasant outside weather-wise, but Nefesh Mountain brought the warmth of the season with its very narrow (and unique) niche of Jewish bluegrass and mountain music during Chanukah. And with a supportive, nearly sold-out crowd in the house, Nefesh Mountain combined superb ...

Los Lobos have something new to say - every night

December 17, 2022 - 49 years (!) into its existence as the finest of bands out of east Los Angeles, no one would or could accuse Los Lobos of resting on its laurels on what is becoming an annual trek out east during the holiday season. How else to explain their schizoid take on the songs with which they are perhaps best ...

Fine singing + memorable sings = enjoyable Andrews concert

December 14, 2022 - It seemed appropriate Courtney Marie Andrews played the historic Troubadour on her Los Angeles tour stop. This was a venue where Linda Ronstadt performed early in her career, and Andrews' singing style oftentimes gets positively compared to Ronstadt. Andrews' fine singing voice (applied to ...

Not your typical gig, but Cash, Tuttle display musical wares

December 4, 2022 - The concert featuring Rosanne Cash, Molly Tuttle and Golden Highway, Loudon Wainwright III and Ali McGuirk seemed great on paper. Artists at different stages of their careers. Different musical styles and sounds. And a low-key, but enjoyable atmosphere. But this not a "regular" night out for ...

Waldon stays true

November 30, 2022 - To her credit, you won't hear Kelsey Waldon on commercial country radio stations. At least not these days. When you sing with a whole lot of twang, showcase a monster pedal steel player backing you up not to mention another supporting musician who knows her way around a fiddle, that ought to give ...

Flying solo, Hood does DBT justice

November 29, 2022 - With the Drive-By Truckers off the road until 2023, lead singer Patterson Hood hit the road anyway. Following in the footsteps of DBT guitarist Mike Cooley, Hood appeared at the same club exactly two weeks later with a slightly larger, but small crowd. And like Hood's band mate, there was a lot ...

The Lone Bellow makes joy palpable

November 17, 2022 - Throughout their decade-long career, The Lone Bellow have been a model of consistency both when over the course of five albums and live performances. And with another winning album, "Love Songs for Losers," out just two weeks ago, not much has changed for The Lone Bellow on those two counts. ...

It all works for Marlowe

November 16, 2022 - Kameron Marlowe is a bit of a conundrum. Most likely a good conundrum. On the one hand, he offers nods to traditional country music and underscores that with his covers (Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" definitely done his way – a bit bluesy, a bit punky and the country rock of ...

DBT's Cooley offers songs his way

November 15, 2022 - If longing to see Drive-By Truckers – that is, if you missed the band on tour this year - about the best you could have done on this night anyway was to take in DBT guitarist Mike Cooley solo acoustic. Now, that's not exactly the same as seeing the Truckers, but Cooley acquitted himself ...

Russell's hard won joy can never be taken away

November 15, 2022 - Seeing Allison Russell live makes it clear how Americana is the only genre category that can approximately encompass this singer/songwriter's eclectic talent. She opened her debut Troubadour performance by playing clarinet along with her all-female, interracial band. Yes, much of her music ...

Nitty Gritty Dirt Band is forever young

November 12, 2022 - It would be easy to be cynical about a group like the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. Still plying its musical wares and no longer a factor on the charts, they could be accused of surviving and living on their past. But that would be cutting the band, which started in Long Beach, Cal. in 1966, short. Very short. ...

Townes may have it covered

November 3, 2022 - Covers may tell the story of Tenille Townes of where she's at. The Canadian singer/songwriter has been pitched out of Nashville - meaning country. When it came to covers, though, the ebullient singer set her sights on Alanis Morissette's "Ironic," Sheryl Crow's "Steve ...