Live shows returned (mostly) unbounded in 2022 leaving the coronavirus blues behind and by spring it seemed like nothing ever happened. Attending concerts, I think, has gotten a bit old. Certainly the violence that continues to plague Portland weighs heavily … Continue reading Best Concerts of 2022
The Last Summer on Earth got a reprieve from Armageddon as the tour of the same name headed by Barenaked Ladies and supported by Gin Blossoms and Toad the Wet Sprocket showed the war on Covid finally over, at least … Continue reading Concert Review: Last Summer on Earth Tour Snubs the End Times
With a year off and nothing to do, 2021 unleashed a torrent of new music as many bands used the forced lockdown of 2020 to write new music. Veteran bands were especially prominent this year as aging rockers rolled back … Continue reading Top 10 Best Albums of 2021
Updated Concerts resumed the second half of 2021 as pandemic fears waned and life returned to a mandated normal. Some states enjoyed live shows sooner than others but by the end of summer people seemingly filled arenas and theaters across … Continue reading Best Concerts of 2021
A busy week as December rolled in with lots of listens for the forthcoming Top 10 Best Albums of 2021. The new releases have slowed down for the year as nothing has peaked my interest in recent weeks but just to mix it up I listened to a remixed album. But tis the season… 1. Merry Axemas (album) Expect this one to appear on this list for a few weeks. A fun guitar oriented approach to classic Christmas songs. “The Little Drummer Boy” my favorite for some obvious reasons. You can check out the artists and what they contribute here. … Continue reading The Weekly Playlist – Nov. 28 to Dec. 4
A pretty deliberate attempt this week to getting in some listening, the whole point of The Weekly Playlist. Some new music, one of them a surprise, and a favorite album from the past escorted me across the border into Washington. Let’s take a look: Athey Music – Goodness & Mercy (album) A new group or “collective” as they put it, out of Portland, OR, released their first album yesterday. A very nice collection of songs that were written as a result of the pandemic and lockdowns. Check out the review of Goodness & Mercy. Rush – Signals (album) Earlier this … Continue reading The Weekly Playlist – Oct. 31 to Nov. 6
Nearly two years since I last prepped for a concert! Therefore, much of the week centered around a deep dive with Toad the Wet Sprocket. But I also managed another new album review and listened to a few more singles released from a local group. On the surface not a whole lot of music but read on, I actually listened to quite a bit… And then I discovered three Alex Lifeson demos released from his archive. Toad the Wet Sprocket – Starting Now (album) and various songs A listened to their new album Starting Now again which I reviewed in … Continue reading The Weekly Playlist – Oct. 24 to Oct. 30
Let’s see if I can remember how to do this… Toad the Wet Sprocket hit Revolution Hall in Portland on Friday for the penultimate date of their 44 city tour to promote their seventh album Starting Now playing six off … Continue reading Concert Review: Toad the Wet Sprocket Brings a Casual Affair to Portland
Toad the Wet Sprocket released Starting Now today, their seventh studio album and first in eight years, stepping a bit outside of their usual range but ultimately staying within the confines of comfortable rock songs that peaceably relax but sometimes … Continue reading Album Review: Toad the Wet Sprocket – Starting Now
Drew's Reviews 