USELESS KEYS 01/08/10 The Viper Room - West Hollywood, CA Words/Photos/Video by Justin/concertconfessions.com Often times in Los Angeles, music fans blow off opening acts and only show up for the main event. On the second Friday of 2010, I did the exact opposite. Last summer when I walked in on USELESS KEYS’ set closer at The Roxy, I was so impressed I promised myself I would seek them out again. Not one to break a promise, the Los Angeles-based band’s set at the Viper Room ... Read More

The 90's are back! did they ever left? who would have though that in 2009 musical groups that began their carrers in the 90's were going to be crashing the party in the new millenia? With the return of bands like BLINK 182, LIMP BIZKIT (touring in europe), JANE'S ADDICTION, CREED, NO DOUBT, PHISH (justin's hippi-fave), THE CRANBERRIES, THE PIXIES, SUGAR RAY and STONE TEMPLE PILOTS (2008 tour) and adding the continuing carrers of NIN, PEARL JAM, ROB ZOMBIE, 311, PAPA ROACH, GREEN DAY, ... Read More

My Morning Jacket 09/21/09 Greek Theatre - Los Angeles, CA Words/Photos by Justin/Concertconfessions.com Editors note:  This piece made it's original debut on mtvnews.com.  I am basically reposting here to test out and see if I can insert youtube videos into a blog. Jim James For President - My Morning Jacket Campaigns in Los Angeles For most of the decade, every jaded junkie brown nosed rock critic scumbag has declared My Morning Jacket saviors of rock and roll. MMJ front man Jim James has been dubbed the second ... Read More

Blitzen Trapper/Jenny Lewis/Ray LaMontagne w/ The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra Hollywood Bowl: Los Angeles, CA 07/12/09 Words/Photos/Videos by Justin There are a million things I could write about the KCRW World Music Festival at the Hollywood Bowl (featuring Blitzen Trapper/Jenny Lewis & headliner Ray LaMontagne w/ The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra). I could write all about how it will be the last show I be able to walk to at the historic venue (as we are about to move across town from Hollywood closer to the great ... Read More

Useless Keys/Into The Presence 07/09/09 The Roxy Theatre - West Hollywood, CA Words/Photos/Video by Justin So there I was Thursday night, standing outside the Roxy Theater chatting with The Maldonado brothers when adult film legend Ron Jeremy strolled by. As scenesters sucked on cancer sticks oblivious to their surroundings, we watched as a homeless man tried to sell the King of Porn roses as he made his way up the strip to the Rainbow Room. Just another Thursday night in Hollywood, I suppose. A few hours ... Read More

Ahoy, Rotterdam, The Netherlands - July 2, 2009 Dear Caleb Followill, Everyone has their good days and their bad days. No matter how much money you make, when it's uncomfortably hot in a 10K capacity venue, filled to the rim with people coming and paying to see and hear you - the heat is still uncomfortable. I get that. When you just got off a, say, one hour flight from London but with 7 hours time difference to make up for, you will start your show ... Read More

Death Cab For Cutie W/ The Los Angeles Philharmonic (Special Guests: The New Pornographers, Tegan and Sara) Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA 07/05/09 Words/Photos/Videos by Justin For as much as I love the historic Hollywood Bowl, I often wonder if we would be better off having the venue burn down in a forest fire. Don’t get me wrong, I love a summer evening under the stars in the venue that 9 out of 10 times will allow you to bring your own food and alcoholic ... Read More

Peaches 06/06/09 Music Box @ Fonda - Hollywood, CA Words/Photos/Videos By Justin Saturday Night on Hollywood Blvd. The smell of hobos, trash, bad perfume and bacon wrapped hot dogs. Sitting soaked in sweat, twittering about some random star upon the blvd, I just had to take a few moments to contemplate what had just happened. Wow, did that really all go down? Did I really consume that many chemicals? Did I really show up here with five beautiful women on my arm, only to be ... Read More

Days before my 18th Birthday, my Mother took me to San Francisco for an event dubbed Sky Concert by local radio station KFOG.  As mobility challenged Red Cross Volunteer, she needed my help to haul all of the supplies to and from the First Aid station she would run at the event.  While I would like to say the reason that I agreed was to help my Mother, truthfully I went to check out an exciting new band I had recently discovered.  ... Read More

LINKS w/ Misdelphia 05/20/09 Alterknit Lounge @ Knitting Factory - Hollywood, CA Words/Photos/Videos by Justin Just nine short subway stops from the venue where the shocking conclusion of American Idol was held, two unknown bands were being judged by a much smaller, but just as important audience. As I walked into A&R Knight inside the Alterknit Lounge @ Knitting Factory Hollywood, I was greeted to the sounds of five young men who call themselves Misdelphia. Hailing from San Diego, I caught the last two songs ... Read More

(First published by MTVnews in 2008)   I am looking forward to the George W. Bush tax rebate check that I still have not received. $600 bucks to inject back into the economy. Being a good American, I have decided to take that chunk of change and spend it. I live within walking distance from the Hollywood Bowl, and I really wanted that money to go back into my community. Tonight I was rewarded for the first donation I made with a chance to ... Read More

As Gov’t Mule played a bluesy two hour set, I watched many physically challenged Dead Heads struggle to get to their seats. As much as it was a struggle for the aging fan base to reach their seats, it was even more of a struggle for me to stay awake. I really do enjoy Gov’t Mule, and it was cool to hear “Lay Your Burden Down” & “Soulshine” again after all these years. For me, with an evening of slow blues based ... Read More

Into The Presence 01/30/09 On The Rox - West Hollywood, CA Words/Photos/Videos by Justin/concertconfessions.com [caption id="attachment_47" align="alignnone" width="600" caption="Into The Presence - On The Rox 01/30/09"][/caption] Friday night, I took another $12.00 cab ride down the Sunset Strip to check out the exciting new rock band Into The Presence. After being blown away by their set two weeks ago, I knew I could not miss the final Friday of their month long residency On The Rox. After saying hello to the venues wonderful door woman Stephanie, ... Read More