On February 28th, the pews of the "Mother Church" filled with electricity and expectation. Ryman Auditorium has seen its share of legends, but there was a different charge in the air this time. The room buzzed with the promise of a record that helped redefine modern blues three decades ago. Kenny Wayne Shepherd was back to celebrate 30 years of Ledbetter Heights, the album he began writing at 16, recorded and released at 17.

On Friday February 27th 2026, legendary guitarist George Lynch brought his Mr. Scary Mini Tour to Empire Live in Albany NY for a night full of rocking music and guitar solos. It was a full evening of music with several opening acts. "That Metal Show" comedians Jim Florentine & Don Jamieson performed a few minutes of metal comedy before introducing each band.

With freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall, on February 20, 2026, TAZ performed at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke, MA. The performance is part of the “Taz” Niederauer Tour 2026. Born in 2003 in Dix Hills, New York, Brandon “Taz” Niederauer, is a renowned young American blues/rock guitarist, singer and actor.

Belphegor kicked off their "Praise the Beast" North American Tour 2026 in New York City at The Brooklyn Monarch on February 19, 2026. The highly anticipated show featured support from notable acts including Incantation, Hate, and Narcotic Wasteland, creating an electrifying atmosphere for fans.

At The Momentary in Bentonville, Arkansas, 1VERSE did not simply perform. They expanded. This was not a return. This was a beginning. And beginnings are dangerous in the best way. Under the creative leadership of CEO Michelle Cho and A&R visionary Joseph Lim, 1VERSE stepped onto an American stage not as a test run, but as a fully realized statement of intent. From the first note, it was clear this was not a group chasing noise. They are building architecture.

Foxy Shazam at Eastside Bowl on February 21st felt like a fever dream. Walking in with MoonDough and Descartes a Kant on the bill, it was obvious this had the potential to tip into too much sideshow and not enough circus. Too much flash, not enough foundation. Instead, what unfolded was a masterclass in how spectacle and musicianship can collide without canceling each other out.

There are definitely a few prerequisites for a memorable rock show: good bands, a crowd willing to sweat for it, and a room that doesn’t just hold sound but weaponizes it. That’s exactly what unfolded February 22nd at Eastside Bowl’s new room, The 58, a 225-capacity echo chamber named after the exact gold paint mixture from the 1958 Gibson Les Paul Goldtop, specially granted to the venue by Gibson. Not a metaphor. The real thing.

Bush performed a sold-out solo show at the Wind Creek Events Center on Friday February 20th. The venue had an open pit floor and raised seated sections to each side; there were so many fans in the pit that it overflowed into the concession area behind the venue floor.

I was invited, to STS9’s concert in Boston, take a few photos and write a review. The show was at Big Night Live, a luxury, multi-level music hall. I have photographed a lot of Jam bands, but I have never seen STS9, and I was not sure what to expect. STS9, an acronym for Sound Tribe Sector 9, is an American instrumental band renowned for their distinctive “livetronica” sound. Formed in 1996, the quintet masterfully blends elements of electronic music, jazz, funk, rock, an

Valentine’s Day is usually for candlelight, roses, and pretending you enjoy prix-fixe menus. Instead, hundreds of people gathered to scream about emotional damage together at Marathon Music Works for the 10-year anniversary of Emo Night Nashville, brought together by Nashville Is The Reason. Romance, but make it eyeliner.

On February 12, 2026, Umphrey’s McGee performed two sets at The Citizens House of Blues in Boston as part of their “Sky’s the Limit” tour, drawing of fans. Although a frigid night, the audience was excited to listen to the group composed of Brendan Bayliss (guitar, vocals), Joel Cummins (keyboard, piano, vocals), Ryan Stasik (bass), Andy Farag (Percussion), Jake Cinninger (guitar, vocals), Scotty Zwang (drums).

ommy James & The Shondells returned to Penn’s Peak in Jim Thorpe, PA on February 14th for a Valentine’s night of rock, romance, and groovy 60s reminiscence. Though this event was postponed from its original date of mid-October, it was hard to be annoyed that they had somehow picked the perfect date to reschedule it for. Groups of lovers flocked to the top of the chilly mountain this past Saturday, their hearts set on taking in all the legendary tunes.

The night before Valentine’s Day, Friday, February 13th, 2026, Plain White T’s came to Wabash, Indiana to spread some love. With their pop-punk/pop-rock sound, they rocked at the Honeywell Center. Drifter, indie-pop/indie-rock with folk vibes, opened up the stage for Plain White T’s. The Honeywell Center was pretty much full with fans.

On February 10, 2026, the psychedelic rock band Moe performed in Concord, New Hampshire, as part of their 2026 “Born to Fly” Tour. The performance is part of a tour celebrating their 35th anniversary. Although it was a freezing night with heavy snow, many hundreds of fans were there to participate in the live concert. It was an unforgettable night of music with the legendary band, Moe. At the beginning to the end, people were singing, dancing, and encouraging the artists by a

How can I get enough? Yes, I have once again traversed up to the great white north for a double close encounter of the Gowan kind. When the Strange Animal comes around, I’ve got to follow! To say these shows were “unexpected” would only be scratching the surface of how surprised I was to hear that this king of the airwaves intended to come back to Ottawa after only 9 months of absence. Gowan (along with myself and several of my friends) recently spent a few warm January night