Review | Music Junkie Press

Loveless dominates stage at August Hall for last night of US tour

June 24, 2023

It was the last night of the US dates for Loveless World Tour and it ended in San Francisco at the August Hall. It featured openers Honey Revenge and you can check out their photos here. The crowd were ready and amped up for the show as Loveless took the stage to eruptions of cheer and screams and they kicked it off with Haunting Me. The party started and didn’t stop until the band left the stage. Being the last night of tour, the crew had some fun with the band as they had given playful and different set lists to each member. I tell you, I would have loved to see them play Bodies by Drowning Pool. They would have killed it. The crowd went wild when they played their 2020 debut single Better. It was non-stop fun and a spirited set that intensified the adrenaline with each song with a minor break during Killing Time. The band had to stop the song due to a fight in the crowd. We actually [Read More]

Greta Van Fleet soar to new heights with the upcoming release of The Battle at Garden’s Gate

April 9, 2021

ev·o·lu·tion: noun the gradual development of something, especially from a simple to a more complex form. “The evolution of Greta Van Fleet’s music is wildly apparent with their new release of The Battle at Garden’s Gate.” First, I must reveal that our love for Greta Van Fleet began long ago, in early 2017, as their gritty old style rock n roll captivated us from first listen. Their music soon became the soundtrack to some of our most difficult times. We sifted through what remained of our home and business which were lost in the Santa Rosa Tubbs Fire, blaring Black Smoke Rising, the music providing a cathartic release. Over the years, their music and shows have satisfied our intense need for Rock n Roll. As we waited for their new release in hopes of another “Highway Tune” or “Safari Song” to whisk us away into rock abyss, we were teased with music that was definitely of a different style. With each new prerelease, we could sense that with the arrival of The Battle of Garden’s [Read More]

Matt Jaffe hits his stride with Undertoad – picking up where David Bowie left off

March 11, 2021

Matt Jaffe has hit his stride with his latest album, Undertoad. I have been following Jaffe since he was 14 and playing hugely good guitar at a house concert series in Northern California and have been waiting for this album since then. At the age of 16 he was discovered by Jerry Harrison of Talking Heads and together they produced his first album. Seven good albums later, Undertoad has positioned him for the very big time. With 7 sophisticated songs that transcend the boundaries of rock and create an urgent universe of their own. Undertoad opens with “Broken Flowers” , a song that makes you sway, cry, and think as its hypnotic guitar and his high-pitched but perfectly modulated voice carry you into a Leonard Cohen-like cinematic world, but with a rock beat. Keeping up the energy in “Punch Drunk Love” Jaffe moves the pitch even higher, while staying smooth and addictive as he spins out a tale we all know. He stays in the deep emotional narrative mode with “Beacon in the [Read More]

PHOTO GALLERY: Greta Van Fleet delivers unparalleled performance in San Francisco

October 3, 2019

As we are still reeling from covering the Greta Van Fleet show in Las Vegas, our exhilaration has been lifted to a new level with GVF’s performance in San Francisco. (If you missed it, check out our photo gallery and review of the Las Vegas Sept. 27th show here). Last night, we were excited to catch GVF perform in our hometown to a massive crowd at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Fans lined up early, some arrived in the wee hours of the morning, ready to ride the rail of today’s hottest rock band. After you have experienced a Greta show, you fully understand wanting to be right up close and personal, to experience the energy and charisma that the band delivers to their fans. But fear not, whether you are riding the rail or kicking it in the back, you are treated to one hell of a ROCK SHOW when Greta Van Fleet performs. And when it’s over, all you are thinking is, “When is the next show?” Last night was no exception as [Read More]

Maggie Rogers; Beauty and Light personified, delivers spellbinding performance at Greek Theater

September 24, 2019

Last Friday evening at the Greek Theater in Berkeley was the place to be. The majestic setting of the Greek Theater was the perfect backdrop for the beauty and dazzling performance by Maggie Rogers. We first saw Maggie Rogers perform at Outside Lands just two years ago and we knew she would be well on her way to the top. Selling out the Greek Theater, no problem for her. There is no stopping the effervescent and mesmerizing Maggie Rogers. Show after show, she exceeds our expectations and delivers spot on spellbinding performances. Her vocals captivated the audience and you could feel a positive energy race through the crowd. If I could compare it to anything, it would be to that one moment in How The Grinch Stole Christmas – that the Grinch’s small heart grew three sizes that day. At a Maggie Rogers concert, you can’t help but have your heart grow. You feel a positive energy that grabs a hold of you and the songs become the life line to your soul. From the first song to the [Read More]

Angel Baby by Las Cafeteras is a familiar yet fresh gift to music lovers of any age

August 19, 2019

Patrick O’Heffernan Rosie Mendez Hamlin’s “Angel Baby”, recorded in San Marcos CA by the 15-year-old Latina, debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960 and hit Number 5 a month later, staying on the charts for 13 weeks. The iconic doo-wop song has subsequently been covered dozens, if not hundreds of times, by artists including John Lennon, the Delerons, Linda Ronstadt, Jennie Rivera, and System of a Down. The Chicano Alliance posted a bilingual version on Spotify and last year LA-based jazz/mariachi/fusion singer Nancy Sanchez garnered praise for releasing a bilingual version and video that updated the story to 2018, charged the characters to Latinos who return as helpful angles. So, with this history in mind, I opened up the video for a new version of “Angel Baby” recorded by one of my most favorite bands, Las Cafeteras. Could they put their stamp on such a familiar musical icon and yet be true to the music of the ‘60s? Yes, they could, it turns out, by being their mischievous selves. If you know this [Read More]

Raspin Stuwart delivers soulful passion with his new CD, NY2LA

April 11, 2019

Music for us, has always been the thing that keeps us going. Whether we are having a bad day and need a song to lift us up, or whether we are having a good day and turn to the music to celebrate. In good times, bad times, all times, music is always present. What is even more magical, is when you can listen to new music for the first time and you can truly feel the emotion and passion that comes with each song. It brings you closer and draws you in for a musical journey through the music. That is exactly what happened the first time I played the new CD NY2LA by Raspin Stuwart. Raspin is an amazing musician/singer/songwriter that brings to life soulful blues in his new CD. The album starts right off with one of our favorite tracks, Down Low. It feeds your soul with low down good blues. His title track NY2LA is an infectious jazz track. Throughout the album, you are greeted with horns that create the perfect full [Read More]