Jason DeBord's Rock Subculture Journal

Oingo Boingo Dance Party – Live Shows Happening in California Throughout October

by

Oingo Boingo Dance Party concerts are happening throughout California in the month of October, with a final Halloween show taking place at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano.  I was lucky enough to catch their tour last year and the show at Thunder Valley Casino Resort (where they will be returning to on October 26th) was one of my favorite shows of 2017.  If you are a fan and the band and the music, it is one of the best live concert experiences around, as the original members of the band keep the spirit of what they created alive still today. [Read more…]

Simple Minds: Walk Between Worlds Tour In North America Underway (September, October and November)

by

The “Walk Between Worlds Tour” featuring Simple Minds celebrating 40 years of music is currently underway.  The iconic band will be performing “an evening with…” style shows all over North America in September, October and November, playing two full sets with music spanning four decades of music. [Read more…]

Ziggy Marley at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium | Grass Valley, California | 8/12/2018 (Concert Review + Photos)

by

“We have to love one another.  We can always find a way.  We can always find a way”.  Ziggy Marley at Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Grass Valley on Sunday night, before a crowd of people that seemed to be very receptive to his messages and ideas shared throughout his set.  Playing in support of his latest album, Rebellion Rises, Ziggy Marley brought a message that seems to run counter to the general vibe that we encounter day to day in the U.S., which I found both refreshing and timeless.  He is all about positivity and the power behind everything that is about, rather than the current climate permeating social media and the news that is more about dividing and judging one another and being intolerant.  Personally, I would choose to stand beside Ziggy Marley and celebrate his music and his message of coming together with one another, and I think that would hold true for the fans in attendance at this concert.  The show was excellent and I am really enjoying the new music, which mixes together well with his massive catalog of work as well as the handful of covers done in tribute to his father’s work as well.  Really a fantastic experience and nice escape from the day to day negativity found out in the “real” (and not so real) world.  This is definitely a tour to come out to see if it is headed to a city near you in the next couple of months.

[Read more…]

Florence + the Machine at Harvey’s Outdoor Arena | Stateline, Nevada | 8/9/2018 (Concert Review + Photos)

by

“Thank you so much for having us back; this is the first night of the “High As Hope Tour”.  This next song is from… oh you guys flustered me!  This next song is from High As Hope and I wrote it about the place that I was born which is south London, which has a lot less trees than this…”  Florence Welch of Florence + the Machine at Harvey’s Outdoor Arena in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday night, kicking off her latest tour in support of her amazing new album.  “I’m with you…  I’m with you like… at the moment my heart, it hurts a lot of the time and I just want to say I want you all to hold hands because I really believe in you and I believe in the power of change.  And I believe in love and I want you to hold hands for this song because if we connect, I really think amazing things can happen”.  A lot of performing artists say things about connecting with their audience, and say those things from the stage, and the audience watch from below as they perform.  With Florence, it is not just words.  Toward the end of her set, into the song “Delilah”, Florence came off of the stage and ran deep into the audience while she sang, literally connecting with fans in the crowd.  Then she actually came running across (barefoot of course) the seat in the row I was in, and I got to witness first hand something unlike anything I’d ever seen at a concert.  Florence was engaging with fans one at a time, one on one.  In many instances she was grabbing their faces and pressing her forehead against theirs, as if she was forming a mystical bond with them.  She was right in front of me for a good length of time, and it was kind of surreal to hear her voice singing directly from her, not just through the sound system.  It’s actually been years since I uploaded concert footage to my YouTube channel, but it was such an incredible experience, I thought this would be the best reason ever to share a snippet of this amazing concert moment (iPhone quality, unedited): LINK  Really, it takes a lot to put me at a loss for words, but this concert really transcended what anyone might expect from a live show.  For some fans, I think it was a near religious experience.  Currently tied for my favorite concert of the year.  Definitely the best tour of 2018 I am guessing.  And since this was the first show on this tour, everyone has time to try to get out to make one of the upcoming dates.

[Read more…]

Alice Cooper’s Fall Paranormal Tour Underway, Hitting North America in August, September, October

by

Alice Cooper’s latest concert appearances for his Fall Paranormal Tour are happening now, with the shock rock legend covering cities all over North America from now through the end of October.  As a follow-up to his latest studio album, Paranormal, which was released last year, he will be releasing a 90-minute live album – A Paranormal Evening At The Olympia Paris – on August 31st. [Read more…]

Ziggy Marley: Rebellion Rises 2018 Tour Comes to North America in August and September

by

Supporting the release of his seventh solo studio album, Rebellion Rises, Eight-time GRAMMY® award winning musician and reggae icon Ziggy Marley will be touring North America throughout August and September, starting with eight concerts across California. [Read more…]

Florence + the Machine North America Tour Kicks Off in Lake Tahoe Next Month; World Tour Dates Thru 2019

by

Florence + the Machine’s latest album – High As Hope – is out now on Republic Records… all in advance of the upcoming 23-city tour in North America this fall. [Read more…]

Psychedelic Furs 2018 North American Tour Kicks Off This Weekend

by

The new tour for 2018 with Psychedelic Furs launches tomorrow at the Pleasantville Music Festival in New York, and then heads west with shows in Arizona, California, Oregon, Washington and Utah through the rest of July.  The English post punk/New Wave band is one of my favorite live acts, and they did not disappoint with their Singles Tour last year.  Definitely one of the tours to catch up with in 2018. [Read more…]

Michael McDonald at Crest Theatre | Sacramento, California | 7/10/2018 (Concert Review + Photos)

by

“I know you know the words to this song; we love the words to this song because it’s more timely and relevant right now than it’s ever been…  It was relevant in the 60’s when it was written but it seems to have grown only more relevant with the years.  This song, if people sing along with us and sing it loud, maybe the rest of that world out there will hear what we’re saying tonight…”  Michael McDonald at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento on Tuesday night, in preface to his encore beginning with a soulful cover of Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On”.  It was quite a night for fans of one of the great voices of his generation, as he played hits from his solo career as well as works he created with the Doobie Brothers.  Special with his most recent tours is the showcase of several songs from his latest album, Wide Open, which was released in late 2017.  His first studio album of all-new material in 17 years, it’s really a brilliant work and the songs are even more remarkable live in concert.  If you have seen Michael McDonald in concert in the past, it is well worth turning out for this current tour just to hear some of the new songs.  Fantastic show. [Read more…]

Michael McDonald’s 2018 Tour Brings “Wide Open” Across North America

by

Music legend Michael McDonald will be kicking off his 2018 tour this weekend, with shows taking him all over North America through the end of September.  The upcoming live dates follow last year’s release of his first album of original material in 17 years, Wide Open.  The first week of shows coming up in California include July 7th at Fantasy Springs Resort in Indio, July 8th at Rodney Strong Vineyards in Healdsburg, and July 10th at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento. [Read more…]