Where there's smoke.....there's fire

The old adage, “where there’s smoke, there’s fire” was confirmed this past weekend as the band, Dragon Smoke pulled into San Francisco for a stop at The Independent, one of the best venues in the city to enjoy a show. Known for it’s excellent light and sound, it was a perfect evening with one of the finest bands working in New Orleans (or anywhere else for that matter). Dragon Smoke delivered one of those elusive performances one always hopes to see and hear once in a while. One that is perfectly paced, that has plenty of dynamic and emotional range and delivered by a band where one can sense they are right there…in the moment….at the top of their game. Played to a packed sold out house, the band played until way past midnight and the crowd responded in kind; loudly expressing their joy and satisfaction.

Drum Lovers Unite for Mickey Hart

Mickey Hart

Returning to Asheville, North Carolina’s famous musical venue and social club, The Orange Peel, was one of the founding percussionists of the Grateful Dead, Mickey Hart.  The heavy rhythm and percussion oriented Mickey Hart Band came through in a rolling thunder, playing to a packed out club with Deadheads from all over and of all ages.  The current lineup for the Mickey Hart Band is Mickey on percussion, Crystal Monee Hall on vocals, Joe Bagale on guitar and keys, Reed Mathis on bass guitar, Gawain Matthews on guitar, Sikiru Adepolu on the talking drum and other percussion, Greg Schutte on Drums and Jonah Sharp on keys.  Mickey Hart has spent much of his life studying music from all over the world, and it shows in his versatile range of skills in different types off percussion including djembes of all sizes, cowbells, and digital drum machines.

Phish Warming Up For New Years Run At Madison Square Garden

This month Phish will play a four night stand at New York's Madison Square Garden in the heart of New York City. This is the fourth consecutive New Years run at the legendary venue. The shows begin on December 28th and go up until New Years. Phish has played MSG twenty seven times since December of 1994. Stay tuned for photos of this year's epic performances! 

Images by Doug Siegel