It’s the time of year when you really don’t have to pay to hear live music. You still can, if you want, drop hundreds of dollars to see a show _ but there are other options.

For one, try the Summer Jazz Series at the Stanford Shopping Center in Palo Alto. This seasonal event, now in its 22nd year, always offers an abundance of worthy shows for cost-conscious music lovers. Here’s the schedule of the free shows, with my comments added at no extra cost:
Read the rest of this entry »

(Great news! Here’s the official press release:)

PHISH WALNUT CREEK TO BE RELEASED
AUGUST 5 BY JEMP RECORDS

TWO-DVD SET INCLUDES COMPLETE, UNCUT CONCERT

On July 22, 1997, Phish performed the second show of their U.S. summer tour
at Walnut Creek Amphitheatre in Raleigh, NC through a torrent of rain,
thunder and lightning related to Hurricane Danny. Rather than cancel the
gig, the band played on with the music mirroring the peaks in the storm¹s
intensity. 1997 was a particularly fertile period in the band¹s creativity
onstage, as exemplified at Walnut Creek. Phish¹s own JEMP Records is proud
to offer the complete Walnut Creek show on DVD, in stores everywhere August
5. Phish¹s first full concert DVD since 2006¹s acclaimed Live In Brooklyn
set, Walnut Creek features more than 2 hours of 5-camera footage in 5.1
Dolby Surround or optional stereo sound on two DVDs.
Read the rest of this entry »

New on sales from Ticketmaster:

On Sale Friday, June 27, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Frank Caliendo
Saturday, December 6, 2008
The Warfield
San Francisco , CA

Islamic Relief Presents Evening of Inspiration: Zain Bhikha, 786, Baba Ali, Islamic Relief
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Flint Center
Cupertino , CA

Great Big Sea
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Palace Of Fine Arts
San Francisco , CA

Luis Miguel
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Save Mart Center
Fresno , CA

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo
Friday, September 5, 2008
Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino
Coarsegold , CA

On Sale Saturday, June 28, 2008 at 10:00 AM

Martina McBride
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Sleep Train Amphitheatre in Wheatland
Wheatland , CA
Read the rest of this entry »

What’s the safest live music bet in the R&B/soul game?

The answer is elemental: Earth, Wind & Fire.

Since forming in Chicago at the tailend of the ‘60s, EWF has consistently been one of the top acts in the concert industry. The principals _ vocalist-percussionist Philip Bailey, bassist Verdine White and percussionist Ralph Johnson _ are now all in their 50s, but they still deliver in a fashion that easily tops what most young R&B acts can muster up.

Having wowed fans last July at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, EWF returned to the East Bay and gave local fans another joyous ride on Tuesday night (June 24) at Wente Vineyards in Livermore.
Read the rest of this entry »

June 24, 2008
Wente Vineyards, Livermore, CA

Set list:
“Boogie Wonderland”
“Sing a Song”
“Shining Star”
“Sun Goddess”
“Serpentine Fire”
“Kalimba Story”
“Evil”
“Brazilian Rhyme”
“I’ll Write a Song for You”
“After the Love Has Gone”
“Reasons”
“In the Stone”
“Got to Get You Into My Life”
Read the rest of this entry »

One listen to “Blues Blast,” guitarist-vocalist Debbie Davies’ most recent offering on the Telarc label, and you know the author has a healthy respect for blues history. The disc is full of tributes and other tips-of-the-hat to blues legends.

The “West Coast blues” star, born in Los Angeles, but blessed with a true “Texas shuffle” sound, opens the new album by paying tribute to her guitar mentor, Albert Collins, on the track “A.C. Strut.” Later on, she’s joined by labelmate (and fellow guitar pro) Tab Benoit in homages to two legendary blues masters: John Lee Hooker on “Crawlin’ King Snake” and Howlin’ Wolf on “Howlin’ for My Darlin.”
Read the rest of this entry »

Four things you aren’t likely to hear said at a Death Cab for Cutie show:

1, “The mosh pit is getting out of hand.”
2, “This reminds me of the time I saw Rage Against the Machine in concert”
3, “The security guards sure have their hands full tonight.”
4, “Dude, just chill out!”

To say that the crowd was mellow during Death Cab for Cutie’s sold-out gig on Saturday (June 21) at the UC Greek Theatre in Berkeley is like saying that some people kind of suspect Barry Bonds used steroids. Quite simply, you might’ve found more movement at Stanford’s Rodin Sculpture Garden than in the audience at the Greek on this night.

In a way, however, that made for a fascinating evening of people watching. It’s hard to think of another pop culture event where you’d see this many folks standing so still. Watching the fans, most with their hands by their sides and their feet stuck firmly to the floor, was like looking at a wide-angle photograph taken at a concert.
Read the rest of this entry »

Set list
Saturday, June 21, 2008
UC Greek Theatre, Berkeley, CA

1, “Bixby Canyon Bridge”
2, “The New Year”
3, “Why You’d Want to Live Here”
4, “Crooked Teeth”
5, “Photobooth”
6, “Long Division”
7, “Grapevine Fires”
8, “A Movie Script Ending”
9, “Company Calls”
10, “Title Track”
Read the rest of this entry »

The widespread rap on county fairs is that they mainly feature rank newcomers and real old-timers, artists who are either on their way up or down in the music business. Many folks don’t expect to see acts that are in the primes of their careers on a county fair concert stage.

Yet, then how then do you explain the fact that Los Lobos are playing as part of this year’s Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton? These rockin’ Wolves, who will take the fair stage on July 5, rank as one of the most vital, important and downright awesome acts in music today. The band is anything but your prototypical county fair offering.

The Alameda County Fair, which opens June 20 and runs through July 6, has always been one that has surpassed expectations when it comes to live entertainment. Its concert lineup regularly features some mighty impressive entertainers, and this year is no exception to the rule.

For a fraction of what it costs to see a concert at most other venues, fans can watch such big-name acts as Los Lobos, Boyz II Men, War, Paul Rodriguez and Ronnie Milsap. Others set for 2008 include Terri Clark, Eddie Money, Pablo Cruise and Wayman Tisdale. Collectively, the entertainers will represent a plethora of stylistic genres, from R&B and gospel to children’s music and comedy to classic rock and country.

The following is a breakdown of the fair’s 2008 lineup:
Read the rest of this entry »

The fans had to have faith.

It had been 17 years since George Michael’s last North American tour. Meanwhile, the pop star had racked up far more tabloid headlines than hit singles.

Yet, his fans were still willing to brave ticket prices that topped out at $175 and turn out in full force to see Michael on Thursday night (June 19th) at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, which marked the singer’s first Bay Area performance since Oct. 1, 1991 at what was then known as Oakland Coliseum.

Their faith was rewarded _ at times, handsomely _ during Michael’s two-set show. The 44-year-old Londoner, who came to fame as a member of Wham!, managed to put on a likeable enough 2-hour show, despite delivering a set list that was iffy at best.
Read the rest of this entry »