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Billy Bob Thornton the Musician

We wanted something fun for Friday night, so we bought cheap, balcony tickets to see actor Billy Bob Thornton (of Sling Blade and Bad Santa fame) and his rock band, The Boxmasters, at The Show in Rancho Mirage. The stories he told throughout the evening and his clear musicianship made it evident that his passion for music predates his acting career. Their sound was a blend of rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, country rock, and blues, featuring all original music, and every band member performed exceptionally well.

Fran Moran and the Nervous Wrecks served as a very energetic opening band, delivering dynamic covers of Joe Jackson’s “Is She Really Going Out With Him?” and Cheap Trick’s “I Want You to Want Me.”

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Young the Giant at Pappy & Harriet’s

September 10, 2025 – Young the Giant performs “Cough Syrup.”

Last night, my daughter and I had a great time at the legendary Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, where we saw the alternative rock band Young the Giant. This was my second time seeing them, and both times were amazing. Being outdoors under the desert stars made the evening truly magical.

Pappy & Harriet’s is a classic roadhouse-style venue—part bar, part restaurant, and part live music venue. Tucked away in the remote Mojave Desert town of Pioneertown (just outside Joshua Tree), its rustic stage has hosted a remarkable list of legends, including Paul McCartney, Robert Plant, Arctic Monkeys, Queens of the Stone Age, and Patti Smith. British new wave band The Fixx was performing on the inside stage later in the evening.

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The Centuries Rock the Cascade Lounge

July 23, 2025 – Playing “Crazy Baby” by the Rockin’ R’s.

Last night in the intimate Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs, the Los Angeles–based rockabilly trio The Centuries played an energetic 90-minute set as part of the Desert Blues Revival series held there every Wednesday. The Centuries—who have been performing at venues and music festivals across the U.S. and Europe since 2011—brought their signature high-energy show, mixing rockabilly and rock & roll covers with original songs written by the band. Given the midsummer heat, the crowd wasn’t as large as it could have been, but everyone there seemed to be having a good time. We sure did!

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The Marshall Tucker Band

May 10, 2025 – The Marshall Tucker Band performs “Cattle Drive.”

After spending Friday in Las Vegas, we headed down to Laughlin, NV to see Southern rockers The Marshall Tucker Band perform Saturday night at The Edge Pavilion. Aside from a few songs that had gotten radio play, I wasn’t familiar with most of their music. What surprised me was how seamlessly they blended genres—rock, country, jazz, and blues. All in all, it was a fun night on the Colorado River.

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Desert Jam 2025, Indio

May 3, 2025 – Fatso Jetson playing “Dream Homes.”

Fatso Jetson headlined Desert Jam 2025 last night at Little Street Music Hall in Indio, topping a five-band lineup. Hailing from Palm Desert, they’re widely credited as pioneers of the desert rock scene, blending stoner rock with punk, surf, jazz, and psychedelic influences into a sound all their own. I was especially excited to catch The Pandoras, who had reunited with three of their original members. Other bands on the bill included Salton City Surf Club, Paradise Vultures, and Bombshelter Alley. Desert Jam 2025 is a 3-day festival taking place this weekend across multiple venues throughout the Southern California desert.

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Tango Obsession

March 19, 2025 - Camaraderie performs Piazzolla.
March 19, 2025 – Camarada performs Piazzolla.

Last night at the Rancho Mirage Library, the distinguished chamber music ensemble Camarada delivered an invigorating performance of Argentine musical masterworks in a program titled Camaraderie: Tango Obsession. Andrés Martín, the group’s bassist and composer-in-residence, introduced each piece with brief comments about its cultural and historical context. I enjoyed hearing the scintillating rhythms and seductive melodies of Tango Nuevo music and learning how it evolved.

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Tribute to Led Zeppelin

March 7, 2025 – Zeppelin USA plays “Stairway to Heaven.”

The Show at Aqua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage is a modern 2,000+ seat concert venue that brings a wide range of entertainment to the Coachella Valley. It’s only about 5 miles from home, so it’s easy to get there, and ticket prices are usually inexpensive. Friday night, Zeppelin USA paid tribute to rock legends Led Zeppelin, and we were there to rock out and enjoy the evening.

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Music in the Gardens

"Music in the Garden" at Sunnylands.
March 2, 2025 – The Reed Brothers performing with John Malcolm Penn.

Every Sunday in March, Sunnylands offers free concerts to the public. It is located in Rancho Mirage and just a short bike ride from home. Sunnylands is a historic 200-acre estate, once the winter retreat of Walter and Leonore Annenberg. Known as the “Camp David of the West,” it’s hosted numerous prominent figures, including presidents and world leaders.

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R.I.P. Marianne Faithfull

Marianne Faithful Book Autograph
Autographed Marianne Faithfull Book

I met Marianne Faithfull in the early 2000s at the very cool Book Soup bookstore in West Hollywood, CA. Like many, I knew about her history with Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, but it was her raw, powerful 1979 album Broken English that made me truly appreciate her as an artist. I was also lucky to see her perform live at Numbers Nightclub in Houston, Texas, on October 7, 1983. I was awestruck to see this rock ‘n’ roll icon in such a small venue.

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Billy F. Gibbons Up Close

Jan. 25, 2025 – Billy F. Gibbons & Mike Flanigin jamming out on “La Grange.”

I’ve seen the band Z.Z. Top in concert 3 times and Billy F. Gibbon’s performance tonight was like seeing them a 4th. This time in a small, outdoor venue, the Agave Caliente Terraza at Agua Caliente Cathedral City, with Mike “The Drifter” Flanigin on bass and Chris Layton on drums. It was chilly outside, but the energy from the crowd (and the beer) kept everyone warm.

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Backstage with R.E.M.

REM Ticket Stub Signed by Bassist Mike Mills
Nov. 20, 2024 – Ticket Stub signed by R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills.

Thirty-seven years ago today, I saw the pioneering rock band R.E.M. perform at the Sam Houston Coliseum in Houston, TX. I got to hang out backstage with them before the show and happened to get bassist Mike Mills’ signature on my ticket stub. I saw them again at the Greek Theatre on Aug. 9, 1999—same great band, just an older crowd.

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Legends of Swing

Legends of Swing at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater.
Jan. 27, 2024 – Legends of Swing at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater.

“Legends of Swing” is one of the premier Big Bands in the United States. It was fun listening to them play tributes to Benny Goodman, Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Harry James, Stan Kenton, and many others.

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Brubeck Vibes at Cascade Lounge

Sept. 14, 2023 – Jason Fabus Quartet performing “Take Five.”

The Jason Fabus Quartet has been honoring jazz legends Dave Brubeck and Paul Desmond with a series of performances inspired by the classic Time Out album. Last night, they brought their tribute to the Cascade Lounge for Jazzville, delivering a dynamic set that included favorites like “Take Five” and “Blue Rondo à la Turk.”

“We’re not just playing the notes,” said bandleader and saxophonist Jason Fabus. “We’re trying to channel the energy and creativity that made Brubeck and Desmond so groundbreaking.”

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“Pussy Riot” Rocks Pride

"Pussy Riot" at Palm Springs Pride 2022
"Pussy Riot" at Palm Springs Pride 2022
"Pussy Riot" at Palm Springs Pride 2022

There was something really intense about seeing “Pussy Riot” perform last night at Palm Springs Pride. Knowing that band members were imprisoned for speaking out against the Russian government gave their performance a heavy seriousness. Musically, their roots are in punk rock, riot grrrl, and electronic punk. But sound isn’t really the main point—it’s the message that drives everything. Their songs often feature aggressive beats, spoken-word vocals, and raw energy.

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Basilica of St. Michael

Aug. 15, 2022 - High altar in Basilica of St. Michael.
Aug. 15, 2022 - The nave of Basilica of St. Michael.
Aug. 15, 2022 - Basilica of St. Michael exterior.

Our visit to the Basilica of St. Michael in Mondsee was a beautiful blend of history, art, and movie nostalgia. As a fan of The Sound of Music movie, seeing the church famous for the wedding scene in person was incredible. Its soaring Baroque interior and twin towers were even more striking than I imagined. The basilica itself is part of the former Mondsee Abbey, a Benedictine monastery founded back in the 8th century that later transformed into a significant spiritual and cultural center.

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Branford Marsalis Shines

Jan. 13, 2022 - Branford Marsalis w/Orpheus Chamber Orch.
Jan. 13, 2022 – Branford Marsalis w/Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.

Tonight at the McCallum Theatre, saxophone great Branford Marsalis lit up the stage in three of five pieces, with the standout being Carmen Jazz Suite on Themes by Bizet, an 18-minute reimagining of Bizet’s Carmen by composer Courtney Bryan. Commissioned by the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, the piece recasts the opera from Carmen’s point of view, celebrating her love, freedom, and fearlessness—ending not in tragedy, but in triumph. Marsalis brought it all to life with a stunning blend of jazz and classical, delivering a performance that was both soulful and bold.

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David Bowie Alumni Tour

A Bowie Celebration - The David Bowie Alumni Tour
March 6, 2020 – “A Bowie Celebration – The David Bowie Alumni Tour”

“Bowie Celebration – The David Bowie Alumni Tour” brought key alumni musicians of Bowie’s bands together to perform the albums “Diamond Dogs” and “The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust & the Spiders from Mars” in their entirety. It happened at The Rose in Pasadena, CA.

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Hanging in The Hood

June 1, 2019 – Thrash metal band “Instigator.”

I was in the mood for something loud last night, so I headed over to The Hood Bar and Pizza in Palm Desert to check out a few local bands that were playing. I arrived in time to see thrash metal band Instigator deliver a hard-driving set that got everyone motivated and ready to party. After that, theatrical industrial punk band Sticky Doll took the stage and put on an unforgettable show that combined punk music with performance art. I had a great time and look forward to my next adventure at The Hood.

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Fitz and the Tantrums

January 21, 2017 - Fitz and the Tantrums at PGA West.
January 21, 2017 – Fitz and the Tantrums at PGA West.

After a sun-soaked Saturday at the CareerBuilder Challenge golf tournament in La Quinta, the energy didn’t fade with the final putt. As twilight settled over the desert, Los Angeles-based indie-pop sensation Fitz and the Tantrums hit the stage and jolted the crowd back to life. Their high-voltage set kept fans dancing well into the evening. It was a full day of golf, sunshine, and music.

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Young the Giant in Chicago

Nov. 18, 2013 – Young the Giant performing their hit “My Body.”

I had an amazing time at a private show by alternative rockers Young the Giant in a cozy space above the legendary music venue Metro Chicago. Meeting charismatic lead singer Sameer Gadhia in the green room afterward made the experience even more special. His family has a rich musical background, with his grandmother being a professional singer and his father playing classical Indian instruments.​

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Iggy Pop at Riotfest 2012

Sept. 16, 2012 - Iggy & The Stooges at Riotfest.
Sept. 16, 2012 – Iggy and the Stooges at Riotfest 2012.

It was so cool seeing headliner Iggy Pop at Riot Fest 2012 last night! It’s the second time I’ve seen him perform—the first was at the intimate Numbers Nightclub in Houston, TX, on February 28, 1983. Riotfest is a three-day celebration of punk, rock, alternative, metal, and hip-hop, held annually in Chicago’s Douglass Park. This year’s Sunday lineup included Elvis Costello & The Imposters, NOFX, Less Than Jake, The Jesus and Mary Chain, and other great punk and alternative bands.

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Muse at Lollapalooza 2011

Aug 5, 2011 – Muse performing “Uprising” at Lollapalooza.

Muse crushed it last night at Lollapalooza 2011—truly a highlight of the festival. Unfortunately, my video footage doesn’t quite do it justice. In fairness, we were positioned far from the stage, it was the final performance of the evening, and I had partaken in a few too many celebratory drinks by that point.

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2011 Midsommarfest

Midsommarfest 2011
June 12, 2011 – Midsommarfest entertainment.

We had such a fun time at Midsommarfest on Sunday! This vibrant event, held annually in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood, is rooted in Swedish tradition and celebrates the summer solstice with a modern twist—blending cultural heritage with lively music, food, and festivities. I absolutely love all the summer festivals in Chicago!

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2011 Chicago Blues Festival

June 11, 2011 - Chicago Blues Festival in Millennium Park.
June 11, 2011 – Chicago Blues Festival in Millennium Park.

It was cold today in Chicago, with temperatures in the low 50s, but that didn’t stop us from having a great time at the Chicago Blues Festival. The annual festival is one of the largest and most iconic free blues events in the world. It’s a vibrant celebration of the city’s rich blues heritage, rooted in the Great Migration, when musicians from the Mississippi Delta brought their sound to Chicago and electrified it—both literally and figuratively.

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U2 Backstage

My U2 backstage pass stuck to promo album.
My U2 backstage pass stuck to a promo album.

One of my favorite rock ’n’ roll memories is meeting Bono and The Edge backstage at The Summit in Houston—back in 1985 when it was an amazing concert venue. Bono had a sore throat and didn’t stay long, but I was lucky enough to be introduced before he left. The Edge, though, pulled up a chair at our table, and we ended up having a great conversation.

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An Extraordinary Sunset Strip Experience!

This show easily ranks among my all-time greatest rock & roll memories: Chester Bennington, Perry Farrell, Slash, Robbie Krieger, Ray Manzarek, and other phenomenal musicians came together at the iconic—and intimate—Whisky a Go Go in November 2006 to celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Doors. A legendary lineup in a legendary venue, it was an unforgettable night of pure musical magic.