NEW YORK – No one can trust anyone on The Challenge Double Agents, the spy thriller inspired reality show where contestant can turn on contestant in pursuit of ultimate victory. But Mike Grabowski knew exactly who he could count on when lighting the final “Reunion” episode of the popular MTV program at Manhattan’s legendary NEP […]
TEMPE, AZ – It can’t be found in any dictionary, but the word “SpaffNerds” has special meaning to devotees of the jam band Spafford. They’re happy to identify themselves with this appellation too, caught up as they are in the magical atmosphere of the group’s live shows. Through their exuberant sound, big personalities and onstage […]
ST. LOUIS – Harmony arises when opposite forces are balanced. Gerry Dintelman demonstrated this ancient philosophical principle in convincing fashion in late March and early April when he lit “I Watched Music On The Internet,” a four-part six-hour livestream marathon featuring 11 different bands. Dintelman’s harmony wasn’t of the gentle flowing yin-yang variety either. Instead, […]
NEW ORLEANS – “Strong” is a word that comes up often in reviews of Judith Hill’s music. But hers is not a strength borne of brute force. Instead, its power is drawn from the pure joy and expectation she conveys with every note. When the Grammy winning vocalist shot a promotional video for the Elans […]
NASHVILLE – An artist whose career has been fueled by his tight connection to fans, Josh Turner creates his own brand of magic when performing before audiences, something he’s rarely been able to do since the pandemic struck. But recently, the Grammy-nominated, chart-topping country star got to savor the live concert experience, as he played […]
HARARE, ZIMBABWE – The rhythmic Afro-pop dance floor sound of Ammara Brown flows through a musical path that is distinctly different from the jazz infused offerings of Tamy Moyo. Yet both of these multi-instrumentalists and All Africa Music Award winners exude a captivating aura every time they step on to the stage. This was plain […]
CHANDLER, AZ – For a large venue, the 115,000 sq. ft. Sonoran Lawn at the Rawhide Event Center often feels intimate to concert goers. Perhaps that’s because of the crowds that, prior to the pandemic, packed the site for the national acts that performed there. When Sullivan King, Ghastly and Shiba San appeared at the […]
HARRE, ZIMBABWE – Winky D and Jah Prayzah both draw passion and inspiration from the same rich, deep and fertile wellspring that is the Zimbabwean musical tradition. However, the two gifted artists take this inspiration in slightly different directions; the former favoring chanting dancehall reggae beats, while the latter opts for a sound that is […]
BERLIN – By definition a “hybrid” is something that blends two different and distinct elements together into a single new and unique entity. Such hybridization is very much in evidence at Fine & Bright’s HYBRID STUDIO BERLIN, not only in terms of the combined live and livestreamed events it has the potential to create, but […]
RALIEGH, NC – “New Year’s Eve at Lincoln Theatre has become one of our favorite traditions,” alt rockers BIG Something declared when announcing plans for a two-night NYE stand early in December. But during a pandemic, even traditions continued are traditions changed. This was true for BIG Something as well as the design team that lit their […]
AUGUSTA, GA – Livestream concerts are not just for rock. The Augusta Symphony demonstrated that in spirited fashion recently with its A Little Night of Music, a pay-per-view Friday night show that drew an enthusiastic response from music lovers throughout its market. Taking place at the historic Miller Theatre in downtown Augusta, the livestream performance […]
SCOTTSDALE, AZ – It was “like riding a bike.“ That’s how John Garberson described his experience working the lighting console for the opening acts at Arizona Bike Week. The president of Creative BackStage, Garberson hadn’t run the boards at a show in six years (his work managing his business prevented that!), when he sat down […]