Real letters about real women
4:32 a.m., May 22
Concert Reviews
Let's go crazy: Prince packs 'em in at the Hard Rock Hotel
When Prince sang the words “let’s go crazy” during the third of his four Hard Rock Hotel shows, was he talking about the people who forked over an eye-widening $250 a ticket? Was he referring ...
Ladies and gentlemen, the Rolling Stones!
Iconic rock band the Rolling Stones continues to defy the odds with their ability to seemingly turn back the hands of time. After 50 years, they continue to fill arenas, ignite crowds, and deliver Satisfaction ...
Gaslight Anthem brings the '59 Sound to Belly Up
"You can tell Gayle if she calls, that I'm famous now for all of these rock and roll songs," sang Brian Fallon. "And even if that's a lie, she should've given me a try," he ...
The Evens dig deep at the Irenic
The Evens, a D.C.-based duo of Ian MacKaye (formerly of Minor Threat and Fugazi) and Amy Farina (formerly of the Warmers) performed a lively, powerful set at the Irenic, playing several songs from their debut, ...
Nick Cave and his Bad Seeds bloom at the Balboa
Nick Cave's shadow bounced across the wall, resembling a black skeleton dancing a jig, while he wailed about a mofo named "Stagger Lee." Alongside his band the Bad Seeds, Cave tore through a two-hour set ...
Mindbending Mexicali
Musicians and fans from around the globe descended upon Mexicali for Baja Prog 2013 lured by the possibility of aural utopia. This international festival brought out many musical giants in the progressive-music world, including the ...
Cult of Living Colour rocks Belly Up
The last time I saw Living Colour was a clip of them performing on the Arsenio Hall Show. They played “Cult of Personality” and tore down the house. Arsenio was elated. This was the late ...
The Specials set the ska bar high at House of Blues
The music, the people watching, and dancing side-by-side to the propulsive classic ska of the Specials at a packed House of Blues performance took listeners back to the 2 Tone ska scene of the late ...
Soma infected by Bad Religion
"This is the second stop on a tour that will take us around the world," Bad Religion's lead singer and cofounder Greg Graffin informed a packed Soma, as the band opened their 26-song set with ...
Yes pulls out the stops at Pechanga
This show marked the seventh time I’ve seen the progressive rock band YES in concert, including the short-lived Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman, and Howe at the Greek Theater in Los Angeles. Gone are the Avatar-like stage ...
Muffs revisit glory days with a full Soda
If Muffs front woman Kim Shattuck regrets days gone by, as she sang during the final song of her band’s 100-minute set at Soda Bar, you’d never know it — she and bandmates Ronnie Barnett ...
A rose for Moz
Fresh off a food-fueled feud with late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Morrissey rolled into town and delivered a rocking set at the Balboa Theatre downtown. Appearing forlorn as usual, Morrissey kept the ranting against ...
Reality TV stars shine at Soda Bar
Former American Idol winner Kris Allen made his first West Coast tour stop at the Soda Bar. The Arkansas native embarked on his “Out Alive Tour” early this year to promote his second record, Thank ...
Welcome to the grand illusion — 40 years of Styx at Pechanga
For 90-plus minutes, a room full of 50-somethings was transported back to, as Styx guitarist/singer James “JY” Young said, "The Ford Administration," at Pechanga Resort and Casino. Styx was in town and suddenly it was ...
Townshend, Daltrey, & Co. deliver Quadrophenia to Valley View
Forty years after the album’s release, the Who have hit the road with Quadrophenia, a tale of Jimmy the Mod’s identity crisis, as told by rockers of stadiums. From ambient opener “I Am the Sea” ...
