Joseph Arthur 07/15/2008 The Troubadour - West Hollywood, CA Words/Photos by Justin (note, this review was first published at MTVnews.com.  I have shared it From The Vault as I will be paying Mr. Arthur a return visit at The Troubadour this Saturday Night.) The teams were supposed to be even - 3 straights and 3 gays. However, at the last minute one flip flopped and we found ourselves with the upper hand at 4-2. As we sat open, pillow-filled booth down the street from the Troubadour ... Read More

Neil Diamond 10/01/08 Hollywood Bowl - Los Angeles, CA Words/Videos by Justin aka concertconfessions.com This article first appeared on MTVnews.com Hot Autumn Nights - Neil Diamond Peforms At The Hollywood Bowl In the magical summer of 1995, my parents needed a break from raising their two young sons. So they packed our bags and sent my younger brother and me a few hours north to the wine country of Northern California. There we spent a week with our grandparents. Many important things happened that week. We played ... 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

Warped Tour 2008 Seaside Park - Ventura, CA 06/22/08 Words/Photos/Videos by Justin (With Warped Tour kicking off this week, and things a tad slow here I figured we would look back at my experience on the long running festival last summer.  Note, this first appeared on MTVnews.com) A good rock festival is very similar to a good meal at a buffet. If planned correctly, you can get a nice sample of everything you love, try something new, and hopefully avoid items that you simply don't agree ... Read More

(Editor Note:  These reviews first appeared on our myspace blog.  I figured I'd bring it over here since it has been a slow week so far.  Words by Justin, Photos by Justin and his wonderful wife Erinn)   12/02/08   As any fan can tell you, it's not easy being loyal to The Smashing Pumpkins.  Being a fan of The Smashing Pumpkins is much like being in an abusive relationship.  They break your heart and beat you down, yet you keep coming back for more.  In ... Read More

So on wed. Nov. 26 I faced Thanksgiving Eve traffic and headed to downtown LA to the Nokia Center for my first ever New Kids on the Block show. Some people gave me a lot of shit for going to this show, but I didn't care. And to be honest it was one of the best shows I have ever gone to. I was a little worried that since I started listening to them 18 years ago and stopped 15 years that ... Read More

(This review was originally published on MTVnews.com in June 2008) In 1993 I walked from my parents’ house to the only music store in San Carlos, California. The store was called Rod’s Records Videos & Tapes, and on one warm summer day I slapped my hard-earned Hamilton down on the counter. In exchange for the cash that I had earned sweating away over the lawn mowing and bathroom cleaning, I was handed a cassette tape by Stone Temple Pilots called Core. I removed ... 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

The Forum: Inglewood, CA 12/18/08   It was somewhere during their second song during their second night in Los Angeles (ok, Inglewood) that I realized – I have never actually seen Metallica live.  Sure, this was my 5th Metallica concert, but every time I have been in the back of the arena/stadium/amphitheatre.  Not this time however, as I lucked into a below market value pit ticket for the greatest heavy metal band on the planet.  I hoped into my car and after two hours ... Read More

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