Bishop Allen (9/8/14)

I can’t believe it’s been 7 years since I’d seen these guys.  It’s been a little while since they had an album as well (2009).  Those things combined, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect for this Musica show in Akron - other than to get there on time.  It was a Monday night, so the crowd was light, but that left some great positioning for this show.

Catching Jesse Marchant was a treat.  I’m looking forward to his new album… Check out this song.

Bishop Allen took the stage in stride and played a great set. These guys had so many good songs, there was no way I was going to do individual videos for the songs.  Just sit back and relax, and watch you what you missed.

Bleached @ WRUW's Studio-A-Rama (9/6/14)

I didn’t get to spend much time at Studio-A-Rama, but was glad to catch Bleached.  Their grungy, pop-punk sound was a real treat, especially for free on the campus of Case Western Reserve University.

Great Lakes Brewery Block Party / Modern Electric (9/5/14)

Not much of a concert review, but got to catch a bit of Modern Electric, while spending a gorgeous night out at the Great Lakes Brewery Block Party - enjoying the tail end of what’s been a great Summer.

Retro Futura Tour: Howard Jones / Midge Ure (8/25/14)

Sometimes I enjoy when other people take the lead on shows, and I get to just tag along.  That was the case for this 80’s showcase, which included Howard Jones and Midge Ure, as well as one of the Thompson Twins and some other bands.  Being this was the same day that we drove back from Chicago, so it would only be a couple bands for me on this night.  While I can attest to being tired and not having high expectations for this show, other than to accompany friends - I can now see why people get excited about seeing Howard Jones live.  High energy and even doing some fun new EDM takes on his 80’s classics.  Midge Ure was spot on with quality as well.  Now if only the show had been better promoted and attended...

Robyn & Royksopp (8/24/14)

The last night in Chicago, we were fortunate enough to get 3rd row seats for the few (and oft-sold-out) shows for the Royksopp & Robyn tour.  This was a the Jay Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park in Chicago.  This show was presented in 3 parts… part Royksopp, party Robyn, and then they played together.  Royksopp knows how to delight a crowd, with both sounds and lights.  Stunning & clean performance.

Robyn was also great - as expected.  Besides, I think she was the biggest draw of the night, based on the crowd.

Put them together and  you get greatness…  If I had one complaint - its that her vocals were too low.  You can tell in the videos.

Deer Tick (8/23/14)

Hot on the heels of the Gay Games, we were off to Wizard World’s ComicCon in Chicago.  While we were there, we caught up with Deer Tick at Metro.  I finally got to see this venue - and it was amazing!  Not great sight lines, but the charm was through the roof.  Deer Tick had total command of this audience, played their typical raucous country-tinged rock.  We even got a surprise when John McCauley’s pregnant wife - Vanessa Carleton - took the stage.

Gay Games 2014

So while I posted all my videos & photos from the Gay Games, I never did an official blog ost about it.  But, since August was one of the busiest months of my life, and i have a lot of shows to catch up on - I’m gonna be quick.  I’ll just say that it was an honor to be involved and I had one of the best weeks of my life.  I thoroughly enjoyed helping to pick and organize bands, and to work the festival that week.  We had amazing volunteer staff - amazing volunteers - and some amazing music.  While the early nights were not the best weather-wise, I think Cleveland put in a hell of a show every night for the games.

Here are a couple of my favorite photos & videos.  You can catch all my videos on my YouTube channel, and see all my photos over at Flickr.

and some videos:

Video Day #tzachill

Lily & Madeline has a new album coming out, so here comes a new video for The Wolf is Free.  The War on Drugs has a long, spaced out (and gorgeous) video for Under the Pressure.  Glass Animals has a slick new vibe for Hazey.

Bonus: Mary Lambert tells us how it really is, with Secrets.

Tomorrow: twenty one pilots @ Jacobs Pavilion

A new find!  I first heard about twenty one pilots when I attended the Alternative Press Music Awards Show back in July.  I then just recently checked out their videos - and these guys are amazing.  Passionate, talented, and should put on a great live show (if that scaffolding climb from the awards show was any indicator).

I couldn’t decide on a video, so here are a bunch.

"Twenty One Pilots. Thursday, Sept. 11, Jacobs Pavilion.

Guitarist, all-everything instrumentalist and vocalist Tyler Joseph scared the bejeebers out of me when he climbed the scaffolding at this year's Alternative Press Music Awards. Then he and drummer Josh Dun went on to stun me with their musicianship. This Columbus-based band could be the hottest thing in indie pop/alt-rock today."

(Via. From Bob Dylan to GWAR, from Don Everly to the Black Veil Brides, autumn shows will thrill: Fall concert preview | cleveland.com)

Tomorrow: Tokyo Police Club

I only caught a glimpse of these guys back in 2010, but was sold on seeing them again.  That time has come.  They’ll be playing at the Grog Shop tomorrow night ($16), with The Velvet Teen (who supposedly should have a new album soon).