Live Show Reviews

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Ladysmith Black Mambazo

Nine young South Africans, four of them sons or grandsons of the group’s originator, Joseph Shabalala, continue true to the musical tradition he started in 1964. I first heard this … Read more

Bush

Photos by Bob Parsons   In the early ’90s, I remember having tedious drawn-out conversations over Bush. If you liked Nirvana, you couldn’t like Bush. If you liked Bush, you … Read more

Peter Wolf and the Midnight Travelers

A Bronx boy by origin and at heart, Wolf was on home turf with three of his trusty Midnight Travelers: guitarists Duke Levine, Kevin Barry, and bassist Marty Ballou. Opening … Read more

Jason Isbell, Mark J. SMith

Jason Isbell

Damien Jurado opened for Jason Isbell and he was outstanding. Anyone who can sit on a chair with only his voice and guitar and keep the attention of the audience … Read more

Reverend Horton Heat, Rockabilly, Gramercy Theatre

The Reverend Horton Heat

Deep in the heart of America, no matter what city you are in, exists this other culture, frozen in the time, before the Beatles played Ed Sullivan, where Elvis is … Read more

Scars on 45

Scars on 45

After a high seas bacchanal on the Rock Boat, indie-pop band Scars on 45 were glad to spend an evening playing in a fan’s living room. The four musicians from … Read more

Sam Smith, In the Lonely Hour, UIC Pavilion

Sam Smith

“Before I made this record,” Sam Smith said, “I made the shittiest music. It wasn’t until I was 18, moved to London and started kissing too many people that I … Read more

Richard Thompson, Linda Thompson, Teddy Thompson, City Winery, Thompson Family Band

Thompson Family Band

Photos by Ebet Roberts   On sale at the merch table at the City Winery Thompson Family Band shows was a printed and signed family tree—apropos for a show that … Read more