String Cheese Incident’s Roots Run Deep Tour at The Pageant - 12/7/2011 Words and Pictures by Bradley Darby The String Cheese Incident has been doing their thing for almost 20 years (with a break here or there) in the jam community, blending Colorado progressive bluegrass with psychedelic rock, funk, and jam music. They have accumulated quite a large following of loyal fans which makes it difficult to get tickets to many shows, especially when the show in question is one of the more ... Read More

SK6ers & Jon McLaughlin at The Duck Room (Blueberry Hill) St. Louis, MO - 11/29/11 Words and pictures by Bradley Darby   For the past 9 years, Stephen Kellogg has been touring the country with his blend of country-glazed alt rock... usually as Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers, where he wreks havoc on cities with 3 of his friends in tow, and sometimes just flying solo. One thing remains the same though, no matter which form of Kellogg you are seeing.... the energy of the ... Read More

Words and Photos by Bradley Darby After a show scheduled for February was cancelled just days after being announced, Split Lip Rayfield vowed they would be coming back to St. Louis later this year. Their last trip through the Gateway to the West was in May of 2010 opening for Reverend Horton Heat, also at the Old Rock House. I was a little disappointed to have to wait another 9 months to see these guys in STL again. I must say, the wait ... Read More

Yonder Mountain String Band Get By With A Little Help From Their Friends at the Harvest Music Festival Words and pictures by Bradley Darby [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Jeff Austin - Yonder Mountain String Band"][/caption] In a world flooded by music festivals priding themselves on having a diverse lineup that will attract fans of all genres, Yonder Mountain String Bands Harvest Music Festival stands apart. Entering its second year with the Yonder Mountain taking over the main billing, the Harvest Festival features some of the ... Read More

My Morning Jacket Announce December US Tour My Morning Jacket will sneak across the US for a quick tour this December. The band is out in support of the recently released album “Circuital.” The trek will kick off in scenic Universal City, CA on December 1st and wrap with the bands triumphant return to Madison Square Garden on December 14th. Acts set to join Jim James and crew on the tour include Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, Delta Spirit and Band of Horses. ... Read More

By Bradley Darby When Ryan Adams announced in the spring of 2009 that the current tour would be the last for Ryan Adams and The Cardinals,  due mostly to years of abuse to his ears causing a partial loss of hearing and life just catching up to him, it left many RA fans upset, yet not without reservation. After taking a brief hiatus, Adams released his take on an 80s Space Rock album on his newly founded Pax Am label and called it Orion. ... Read More

The Jay Porks Experience (Mr. Sparkly Edition) It felt like 6:30 a.m. arrived earlier than usual at the Gorge Amphitheatre last Sunday. It didn’t help that some a-hole’s phone alarm was going off next to our tent (you know who I’m talking about). Thenaturalstoner, Jay Porks, and I got up, packed up our camping gear, and head off to Spokane, Washington to see Willie Nelson and Family at the Northern Quest Casino and Resort. We arrived in Spokane around mid-morning. After hanging around downtown ... Read More

Dolly Parton 07/23/11 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA Words/Photos by Reverend Justito Every year I make it a goal to catch a living legend at the Hollywood Bowl. In past years I have seen artists including Willie Nelson, Neil Diamond and Aretha Franklin. This year my living legend of choice is Dolly Parton. I could fill this entire post with her accomplishments both on and off the stage, so let’s just talk about the action. For those outside of Los Angeles, for most of the ... Read More

Photo's by: HDBEARCAT I can trace listening to Kid Rock to the era of the playstation. The orginal, grey old school playstation. I still remember playing the game " Cool Boarders II " when I first heard " Devil Without A Cause ". My friends and I had known about Kid Rock long before that. We were very much into Detroit's rap and underground acts and at one time Kid Rock was both. Then there is one of my favorite concert friends. He ... Read More

On 06/28/11, The Civil Wars returned to Utah. They brought along a young man named Rayland Baxter as the opening act. He is a quiet, humble man who simply plays his guitars and sings songs that you know are his own stories. Rayland has a very simple and sweet manner about him. He made jokes and told tales about each song. Rayland makes his music mold to you, and as a singing storyteller he teaches you that the best things in life ... Read More

Words by jenkins Photos by BeeZnutZ Video by jenkins/BeeZnutZ (as noted) Two things happened on June 24th, 2011:  Not only did Dirtfoot and Treehouse perform to a relatively small (but energized!) crowd at 2720 Cherokee, but I also had the pleasure of meeting the other St Louis members of the Concert Confessions family (Bradley Darby and BeeZnutZ). All three of us at one place nearly rendered a tear in the fabric of space/time itself. Not only was this my first Dirtfoot experience, but this was also ... Read More

Alison Krauss and Union Station 06/29/11 Mcmenamins Historic Edgefield Manor – Troutdale, OR Words/Photos by Phishbeard Alison Krauss and Union Station blessed the Edgefield Motel in Troutdale, OR with their presence. The day started out with a nice overcast that tempted rain all day long, but fortunately it did not rain till the evening time. This weather made for a pleasant drive to the venue and the traffic on the I-5 was fairly decent for once. I met a friend of mine who is from ... Read More

Ryan Adams 06/28/11 Amsterdam Concertgebouw - Amsterdam, Netherlands Words/photos by Esther Editors Note: Cameras were not allowed at this show. Our pal Esther was busted by security for simply having her phone out. When An Accoustic Evening with Ryan Adams at the main hall of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw went on sale, I was lucky enough to get my hands on the best seats in the house: not front row, but eleven rows in. The acoustics in that part of the hall are outstanding. To say I ... Read More

Words, pictures, videos by Bradley Darby Two months from now I will be voyaging to the magical land of Colorado to see three amazingly talented bluegrass/jamgrass bands at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, apparently one of the most beautiful venues in the world. Last night I had the opportunity to see one of those bands in the intimate setting that is The Duck Room, located in the basement of Blueberry Hill. That band was none other than the Infamous Stringdusters (www.thestringdusters.com) While you may not ... Read More

Words and Photos by Bradley Darby It is an interesting time in the music world right now. Concert ticket sales are way down, yet prices seem to be up. Massive tours have been forced to cut dates due to slow ticket sales. With the music industry in disarray and the future leaning towards digital music (and quite possibly the return of the vinyl!!) the multi-day music festival made famous by Woodstock has made a strong return. There is something unique about being able to ... Read More

Written by Bradley Darby The only front porch, whiskey swillin’, foot stompin’, bean can shakin’, gypsy, punk, country, grumble, boogie band in the land Dirtfoot, who have received previous attention on Concert Confessions and will be supporting Primus for five shows in May, are asking for their fans help to fund their newest creation, Dirtfoot: Live and In Prison recorded live and in front of actual prisoners at the Wade Correctional Center in their home state of Louisiana. The band had to undergo ... Read More

Words and Photos by Bradley Darby When it was announced that there would be a two day bluegrass concert, and that mandolin players Jeff Austin from the Yonder Mountain String Band and Drew Emmitt from Emmitt-Nershi Band would be sitting in with Head for the Hills (Saturday) and the The Travelin' McCourys (Sunday), well it was certain that this was a don’t miss Bluegrass Ball. Then to make it better, days before the show they announced that the lovely and talented Allie Kral ... Read More

Words and pictures by Brad Darby Video Courtesy BeezNuts Only one band can be described as Front Porch, Whiskey Swillin, Foot Stomping, Gypsy, Punk, Country, Grumble, Boogie.....and that band is none other than Dirtfoot. The Shreveport, LA group came through town and played with St. Louis’ own Clusterpluck at 2720 Cherokee, an up and coming music spot that is also an art gallery, located in the art and shopping district of the Cherokee neighborhood. The first band of the night was a new bluegrass outfit ... Read More

Photos and words by: Bradley Darby Anymore it seems though every average Joe has to come up with their Best Of... list for the end of the year. Well, I’m no exception! This list started at 21 shows and I was able to knock it down to 10. I then decided I couldn’t make this list without including Split Lip Rayfield. So 11 it is! 2010 was a great year for me in terms of live shows. It all started off in February where ... Read More

Little Big Town 11/19/10 Peppermill Concert Hall - West Wendover, NV Words/Photos by feliviaevita What to do on a Friday night?   Last Friday, three of us opted for the Fun Bus, what with the seafood buffet, $5 spending money, and all the other couponed trappings ... what's not to like?  I know plenty who sneer and despise Wendover, but for an opportunity to hear Little Big Town at Peppermill Concert Hall, one of the best concert halls within miles of Salt Lake City, it wasn't ... Read More

Over the Rhine (w/ Lucy Wainwright Roche) 11/12/10 The Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA Words/Photos by Reverend Justito/concertconfessions.com In the 20 months since I have started concertconfessions.com, I have received numerous last minute invites to concerts.  This past Thursday, I got perhaps the most unexpected and yet rewarding invite of all.  It was a message from my Mother who lives 400 miles away in the Bay Area.  She asked if I wanted to check out Over the Rhine with her at The Troubadour in West ... Read More