I have had the pleasure of seeing CAKE five times and this was probably the most memorable.  The format for this, and the previous tour, is “An Evening with CAKE.” There is no opener and the band plays two sets with a short intermission break.  The three of us were excited for a 7:30 start time when the rain and lightning decided to strike.  The show was delayed for 45 minutes and the band hit the stage at 8:45.  They didn’t have a light show, but nature took care of that.  You couldn’t have planned the lightning any better if you tried and it helped with some of the music.

The park was a fun place for a show and the band had a good time playing to their fans.  The interaction between singer/guitarist John McCrea was sarcastic and touching as always, while the band soldiered through their hits, fan favorites and a few new songs from their album due in the fall.  The band dedicated “It’s Coming Down” to Keith Relf, the former Yardbirds singer who died of electrocution; they were hoping to avoid the same fate.

To help keep the planet green, CAKE has been giving out trees if someone in the crowd can answer their trivia question.  This time the question was: what is percentage of people on the planet that have running water?  The answer: 35%.  After some time a woman gave the correct answer and got to take a tree home with her.

Setlist:
Comfort Eagle
It’s Coming Down
Arco Arena
Frank Sinatra
Sheep Go to Heaven
Love You Madly
Wheels
Stickshifts and Safetybelts
Sad Songs and Waltzes (Willie Nelson cover)
Jolene
-Intermission
Long Time – New
War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)
Guitar
Away, Away (?) – New
Sick of You – New
Mexico
Never There
-Encore
Short Skirt/Long Jacket
The Distance

Cheap beer, no cover charge, and watching a friend’s band is the recipe for getting me out on a Tuesday night.  A local Manchester publication was hosting a Battle of the Bands that turned south when several groups dropped out.  However, Mugshot played a solid set of cover tunes that would baffle some and bring many to dance.

Mugshot has been making a name for themselves in Manchester and the surrounding area as an eclectic live cover band.  A lot of cover bands stick with one genre, artist, or style and assume the image that is associated with said genre, artist or style.  This is not the case for Mugshot, opening with ‘Take Me Out’ and mixing in the chorus of ‘Give It Away’, these boys bring their own style to familiar favorites.

Fronted by Brien Sweet, vocalist, soundman, guitarist and theremin player, he gives each song his own signature vocal styling.  Patrick Crozier can be seen on guitar or keys blending riffs with ease.  The duo of Jimmy Z on bass and Jon Chartier on drums provides a perfect rhythm prescription moving from songs like ‘Use Somebody’ to ‘Whip It’.

Aside from the above I mentioned  songs they also played: ‘Paralyzer’, ‘Are You Gonna Go My Way?’, ‘Love Song’, a funky version of ‘Closer’ complete with theremin, ‘Amber’, ‘Bad Fish’, ‘I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)’ and ‘Ballroom Blitz’.  You have to hand it to a band that has fun on stage while adding some spice to old favorites.  The crowd was excited and sang in appreciation of hearing songs they recognized and a few people even danced.

The boys play Manchester regularly.  You can check their website for more song information or show dates or to contact them.

Driving in to go to work Monday through Friday, I always find myself switching the radio stations to find one that is actually playing music. Sometimes I listen to the chatter of the Matty in the Morning show on “Boston’s Hit Radio Station–Kiss 108″ to hear what they have to say. They are pretty funny sometimes, but other times I just cannot stand to listen to more than 10 seconds of what they are talking about.

I hear the same commercials day after day and the same “hit songs” week after week. I usually hear a “hot song” at least three times during my 30 minute commute, but this is because I jump around all of the available stations. I really should start putting some music on my iTouch, huh?

In any case, for the past few weeks all I have been hearing about on Kiss-108 is their Kiss Concert 2010. It happened on May 22, 2010, and it was a blast, as always. I did not go to it, but I asked one of my friends who did how it went and what she thought of it.

She told me that there were not too many surprises and that the line-up was okay. Some of the performances included Boys Like Girls, Jason Derulo, Ke$ha, The Script, Emily Osment, New Boyz, Orianthi, Kevin Rudolf, Ada, Lambert, Iyaz, Kris Allen, 2Am, and Ayla Brown. There were a few other acts, but she could not remember them all. The concert started at 12pm with the performances starting at 1pm. Everything was extremely prompt and well organized.

Ke$ha was first to bring the stadium to an uproar with her ridiculous poppy hits, such as “BlahBlahBlah” and “Take it Off”. She had about 30 minutes on the stage– which was what most of the performers got. Boys Like Girls did a decent job, but Kevin Rudolf’s performances of “Welcome to the World” and “Let It Rock” were nothing too special. Who stole the show? Well, no surprises here, this Kiss Concert’s star was Adam Lambert. He opened up with “Whataya Want From Me” and continued with songs like “Sleepwalker” and “Strut”.

Most of the performances were not outstanding or anything, but it was a good mix of performers. In any case, at least the atmosphere was amazing!

The lines went down the street and past Fenway Park, as people lined up to see OK Go at the House of Blues in Boston, MA, this past Friday. Of course, those were not the only people lined up near Fenway. With the Red Sox at home and playing the Yankees, there were plenty of people hanging around that day! If you do not know who OK Go are, you may know them for their famous music video for “Here It Goes Again”. It is the video that features the band members on treadmills and they do a lot of funky move and pretty fantastic choreography on those pieces of exercise equipment; ring any bells? Well, if it does not, go Youtube.com it because it is certainly a sight to see!

I used to be head over heels in love with this band. Their old stuff is great, and I loved their alternative rock sounds. However, as they became more famous, they started to cater more to the pop culture, and I have been starting to stray from them. Nevertheless, I still thought one of their concerts would be fun to attend.

The concert was satisfying to most but disappointing to those hardcore fans. I am not sure if that was the band’s fault or if it was due to the lack of enthusiasm in the audience. The night started off with Robert Francis and Earl Greyhound, but those two bands were not too impressive. Some even have said that Earl Greyhound’s jam improv-sessions sent listeners out of the room in search of a place to give their ears a break. At 10:00, OK Go finally came on to the stage and started their set off with “Invisible”.

The music was not disappointing, but the atmosphere of the concert was. There were not too many people out there partying along to the music, and it seemed like a struggle to get the fans to bob along or sing along with the music. Don’t get me wrong, sometimes I like it when the fans don’t sing and ruin the songs for me, but without some energy in the room, the concert becomes a little dull.

All in all, it was a good concert, but the excitement was at an all time low.

When it comes to live music, it is pretty hard to keep me away.  Especially if it is at a bar, pretty cheap and you know the lead singer.  Mixing in originals with some interesting covers, The Sea Captains put on a solid performance.

There is a lack of good guitar pop and smart lyrics in the world, which is where the Captains seem to fit.  They’ve been playing shows between Manchester and Portland, Maine, since 2005 and have built a steady following.  The lyrical wit of Cake, early Weezer and a penchant to get up a groove is what motivates these boys.

Crowd favorites like: “Ulcer”, “Come On, Sugar”, “Lonely All the Time”, “Feel So Bad”, and “Evil (How Could You Be So)” blended very well with covers of “Mother Mother” by Tracey Bonham, “Inside Out” by Eve6, and “Are You Gonna Be My Girl?” by Jet got the people singing and jumping.

Tim’s vocals were accompanied well by Carl and Adam’s guitar work, while Marty worked a bass groove for Chris to pound along to on the drums.  It is interesting to mention how Chris bears a striking resemblance to Turtle from HBO’s Entourage.  The boys played well and worked the small crowd into a frenzy with each song.  During some technical difficulties, each of the guys was given a few seconds to try their hand at stand up comedy.  One thing is for sure, Jerry Seinfeld has nothing to worry about.

Check out The Sea Captains on YouTube and their website, or hit up a Bullmoose Record Store and pick up a copy of their debut album Unfathomable.  Once you give them a listen it will hard to pick up anchor and sail away.

Last weekend Muse came to Boston and put on an absolutely phenomenal show.

I originally had thought that my seats were pretty bad ones. I was seated so that I pretty much had a view of the back of the stage and set; however, when I paid the price that I did for those tickets I knew what I was getting myself into. I had no expectations for fantastic seats, I just wanted to listen and watch a great show.

Well, Muse exceeded all of my expectations. Not only that, but they had the Silversun Pickups open for them– can we say, awesome? I will answer that question for you, “Yes!”

So, for the opener I was a little bummed about the seats because even though the view of the back of the stage was very lovely, I really could not see any of the musicians. To make things even worse, I was stuck behind this pillar that had been incorporated into the set. I was so annoyed by this pillar because it did not seem to even serve a purpose, but my original thoughts soon changed as soon as Muse took the stage.

Why would I become less upset about the pillars once Muse came on? Well, their grand entrance consisted of Muse appearing on top of these pillars that actually turned out to be light pillars! I had no idea! From then on, I was completely engaged and loving their set and music. The best part of their show was that they were always moving around and facing every direction, including mine, in the TD Bank Garden. I had no problems at all, even though I was behind the stage. I actually ended up having some of the best seats in the house because I was so close to the stage, and they spent a lot of the show playing in our direction.

I knew that Muse’s concerts were known for being amazing because of their light-to-sound syncing, but I did not know that it was going to be one of the best concerts that I’ve seen! (And I don’t even like a lot of their new music.)

He is no Dave Matthews or Jimi Hendrix and the way he deals with relationships is also unattractive, but I must admit that he is a very talented musician. Who? John Mayer. I will admit it, I used to not like his music. I thought a lot of it sounded the same and that it was not too interesting. However, as I listened to more and more of his tunes, I grew to like him more. One of his best albums is Try! by the John Mayer Trio. This Trio includes Steve Jordan, Pino Palladino, and John Mayer, and they tend to create music that caters more to my liking. For instance, I actually like their version of “Daughters”!

Speaking of “Daughters”, I was very happy to find that John Mayer did not include this song in his concert in Boston on February 24th. Instead, he incorporated it into a funny little story in which he told his audience about how he likes to book his own shows. What happens is that when he tells the venue that they are talking to John Mayer himself and they seem skeptical and ask him to prove it he whips out “I know a girl. She puts the color inside of my world…” Once he told that story he had the whole audience laughing.

His show was phenomenal! He intro’d songs so that you did not really know what he was about to play until the moment the actual song started, he teased us by mixing in “Message in a Bottle” (Yeah! Message in a Bottle!) with “Why Georgia”, lead into “Neon” by using “Who Did You Think I Was?”, and more. With a packed and sold out TD Garden,  this show was exciting, vibrant, and alive and John Mayer amplified this fantastic atmosphere.

If you have the chance to see John Mayer, you really should. He does not usually go on Winter Tours, but this year he did and I’m so glad that he did.  With Michael Franti with the Spearheads (their popular song is Say Hey (I Love You)) as the opening act and the following as the setlist, this was a great concert!

Setlist:

Heartbreak Warfare
Good Love is On the Way
No Such Thing
Vultures
Perfectly Lonely
Bigger Than My Body
Assassin
Who Did You Think I Was -> Neon
Waiting on the World to Change
Belief
Ain’t No Sunshine
Half of My Heart
Why Georgia (Message in a Bottle tease)

Who Says (encore)
Gravity (encore)

“Why not London?” asked Caleb Followill to the sold out crowd during the June 30^th show this past summer, and why not London?  Considering England embraced these bearded Southern gents when their first album came out this is a thank you to the people that propelled them into the status they are in now.  Nothing says thanks like filming a live DVD in front one of the biggest crowds they ever played, if you don’t count the Glastonbury Festival from the previous summer.

I saw the boys back in 2007 at the Orpheum in Boston, and not much has changed since then.  I mean that in the best sense possible.  Some bands blow up with some extra album sales and get a crazy light show, but not the Kings.  Rather than pull away from their music with lighting and effects, you have a simple set, minimal talking and a lot of great songs.  Nothing against the bands that use effects, but maybe they are compensating for something. 

The Kings plow through big hits and incorporate new songs with a good selection of old ones.  You can see how they have grown on the stage and road during this performance, and opening for U2, Bob Dylan and Pearl Jam helped a lot as well.  They all look comfortable on the stage and don’t try anything too adventurous- they do what they do best: give a great live show.

Songs like “California Waiting”, “On Call”, “The Bucket” and “Crawl” all proved to be huge fan favorites.  You also have their latest hits “Sex on Fire” and “Use Somebody” but it is “Cold Desert” that gives you the chill that these guys could really be great.  Until they release a new album, enjoy this tidbit to hold you over.

More musical events are coming your way, from Louisiana to Michigan and more.  With such a variety of styles, there is bound to be something for everyone in this list.

Boston Music Festival

October 13-22 in Boston, Massachusetts.  See six different genres of music at different locations throughout the city.  With over 500 bands applying to participate, and only 36 bands being chosen, you are certain to hear some great music!

Edgefest

October 14-17 in Ann Arbor, Michigan.  Edgefest will feature an international roster with a focus on reed instruments as it presents some of the most celebrated and creative multi-instrumentalists on the scene today. In the tradition of Edgefest, the roster also includes performers and ensembles that live in our home community of SE Michigan.

Royal Flush Festival

October 15-19 in New York City, New York.  The Royal Flush Festival is a brand new force in the film, art and music scenes that will rock its way from New York City’s East Village with a program of independent films, music videos, live music performances, and underground art openings.

39th Annual Santa Cruz Youth Band Review

October 17 in Santa Cruz, California.  The Santa Cruz Band Review draws 55 marching bands from schools around Northern California to Santa Cruz for a colorful parade of talent. Bands march through Santa Cruz, along Beach Street to the historic Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

Western Open Fiddle Championships

October 22-24 in Red Bluff, California.  The Western Open Fiddle Championships are held in the historic town of Red Bluff and draw in fiddlers from all over the state.  The contests consist of several different categories and age groups.  Contestants range in age from under eight years old to over 80!

Exotic Erotic Ball

October 23-24 in San Francisco, California.  Halloween is one of the most popular holidays, and this year, the largest, longest-running and sexiest Halloween party in the country, The Exotic Erotic Ball, is celebrating its 30th anniversary.  Live performances confirmed for this month’s anniversary show include DJ Skribble, Missing Persons, The Frail, CRGruve, LZ Love, Super Geek League, and the return of the Impotent Sea Snakes.

A Musical Journey

October 24 in Frankenmuth, Michigan.  The tour guides: Andrew Lloyd Weber, Brahms, Rodger and Hammerstein. An ensemble of singers and musicians guide you through hundreds of years of memorable compositions. Sit back and enjoy the ride.

Phish Festival 8

October 30-November 1 in Indio, California.  A three-day extravaganza of Phish performances starting at 4:00 pm on Friday and ending with an 8:30 pm performance on Sunday, you are bound to hear lots of great music.

Voodoo Fest

October 30-November 1 in New Orleans, Louisiana.  With a multitude of artists, including Eminem, Jane’s Addiction, and Lenny Kravitz, Voodoo Fest is the perfect Halloween weekend destination.

Creed has come full circle since their break up in 2004 and are now on the brink of releasing their comeback album, which aptly is titled Full Circle. This album title is pregnant with meaning. We know that it’s an allusion to what happened to them as a band, what they’ve learned from their break-up and how they’ve decided that a reunion was necessary.  Full Circle is their return to starting point, their trip there and back, and all that has changed in them and the people who continue to love them.

Comeback albums are especially interesting because they could spell redemption or dismissal; they could bridge or cleave the then and the now. What is in for us Creed fans in Full Circle? What is in it for Creed?

On August 6, Creed made their first gig since 2003, in Pittsburgh.  Rolling Stone has reported that the band opted to stick with their old hits and debuted only one song from their new album during the performance. That one song is “Overcome,” which is most likely to be the first single to be released from the album.

Scott Stapp has confirmed that the album is finished and that it is due to be out in October. Stapp described the album this way, “It’s very unique. Very fresh. It’s got some of the heaviest rock tracks we’ve ever done, and some slower songs, and some slower songs — straight-up-rock kind of songs that you can’t really call a ballad.” Most of the things addressed in the album are Stapp’s experiences about life, love, growing up, and loss. The title track “Full Circle” addresses the years that the band members were not together, from the point of view of Stapp.

The first single of the nine-track album will be released on August 25th. The Full Circle reunion tour is ongoing and will conclude on October 14th. The album release date is October 20th.