By Mike Finkelstein For years, it seems that I’ve brushed up to a nice bushel or two of “keeper” songs from Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals. These tunes are the good stuff, the type of songs people use in their weddings, and the band’s reputation as performers is similarly top shelf. Still, I never… Read More Live Music: Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals at the Greek Theatre
By Mike Finkelstein Last Tuesday night, a good old-fashioned triple bill pulled into town at the Greek theater, a triple bill headlined by Barenaked Ladies, and supported by the Violent Femmes and Colin Hay. It seems that in recent times, acts don’t interact much on stage during one of these tours. They simply go onstage… Read More Live Music: Barenaked Ladies, The Violent Femmes, and Colin Hay at the Greek Theatre
by James M. DeFrances Los Angeles, CA. No introduction? No problem…Daryl Hall and John Oates commenced their show Sunday night at the Greek theater in Los Angeles after Mutlu, the opening act, without any prior announcement. As a matter of fact at 8:45 they were exactly 15 minutes ahead of schedule. So early that the… Read More Live Music: Hall and Oates at The Greek Theatre
By Don Heckman They were back again Friday and Saturday at the Greek Theatre. The incomparable Crosby, Stills & Nash. And once again they delivered a performance that will surely be recalled by the enthusiastic full house crowd as one of their most memorable experiences. One could have made the same claim for their prior… Read More Live Music: Crosby, Stills and Nash at the Greek Theatre
By Don Heckman What is there to say about a 90 year old French singer/songwriter with the ability to mesmerize a packed house at the Greek Theatre? Not much that Charles Aznavour didn’t himself say at the Greek on Saturday night. Not just in his words, although there were plenty, in both French and English.… Read More Live Music: Charles Aznavour at the Greek Theatre
By Mike Finkelstein Los Angeles, CA. Cool is one of those qualities that, although hard to precisely define, we sure do recognize when we see it. On Wednesday night at the Greek Theatre, Jeff Beck and Billy Gibbons, two of the coolest guitar personalities to ever spank the plank, shared a double bill, and also… Read More Live Music: ZZ Top and Jeff Beck at the Greek Theatre
By Mike Finkelstein It’s rather phenomenal, the way the Grateful Dead tradition continues to thrive. On Saturday evening, Furthur, featuring two original G.D. smembers — rhythm guitarist Bob Weir and bassist Phil Lesh – hosted the second night of a sold out, jam-packed, three-night weekend stint in perfect evening weather at the Greek Theatre. Last… Read More Live Music: Furthur, with Bob Weir and Phil Lesh, Celebrate the Music of the Grateful Dead at the Greek Theatre
By Don Heckman Los Angeles, CA. One of the great pleasures of reviewing music is the rare opportunity to observe the creative evolution of a gifted artist. It doesn’t happen often. But when it does, as it did at Diana Krall’s concert at the Greek Theatre Saturday night, it’s an experience to remember. Diana’s Los… Read More Live Jazz: Diana Krall at the Greek Theatre
By Mike Finkelstein Sometimes life can be so poetic. In 1980, as Peter Frampton’s career was at a low ebb, he lost his most prized possession. He lost his Les Paul black beauty. This was his main axe and a huge, iconic part of his musical identity. It’s the one he played on Humble Pie’s… Read More Live Music: Peter Frampton’s Guitar Circus at the Greek Theatre
By Mike Finkelstein Los Angeles, CA. Last Friday night at the Greek Theatre, Heart and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience shared the bill and the stage with the looming presence of Led Zeppelin in absentia. There actually were more Led Zeppelin songs played this evening than those of anyone else. Friday’s show saw Heart… Read More Live Music: Heart and Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Experience at the Greek Theatre
The International Review of Music 