Good Karma with Culture Club

March 14, 2026 – Culture Club and friends perform “I’ll Tumble 4 Ya” at The Show.

Through much of the 1980s, I managed several Sound Warehouse Music and Videos stores in Houston, TX. A perk of the job was getting to see (and frequently meet) pretty much any band on a major label that came to town. One of the few ’80s bands I didn’t catch back then was Culture Club. Last night, I finally saw them perform at The Show in Rancho Mirage, where a large and enthusiastic crowd cheered them on throughout the evening.

I wasn’t sure what to expect—not all ’80s bands can still deliver as well as they once did—but Culture Club didn’t disappoint. They were energetic and incredibly fun. They knocked out some of their classic hits and did great covers of songs by The Clash, David Bowie, T. Rex, and Prince. I was pleasantly surprised by Boy George’s constant interaction with the audience. Seeing them live after all these years was a perfect reminder that great music doesn’t just hold up—it evolves, and it’s still just as much fun as it was back in the day. Well, maybe not quite as much fun.

The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall

Attending The Proms at London’s Royal Albert Hall was a surreal and unforgettable experience. This storied venue has welcomed everyone from classical titans like Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Stravinsky to popular icons such as The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, and Led Zeppelin — a testament to its place at the heart of musical history.

The BBC Proms — short for “Promenade Concerts” — is an eight-week summer festival founded in 1895 by conductor Henry Wood to make great music accessible to all. Today, it remains one of the world’s most celebrated classical music events, bringing together leading orchestras, soloists, and conductors for an extraordinary range of performances.

Our evening featured the world premiere of Gavin Higgins’s Concerto Grosso for Brass Band and Orchestra, a new work performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and The Tredegar Band under the baton of Ryan Bancroft, followed by a powerful rendition of Berlioz’s Symphonie fantastique — a fitting finale in such an iconic hall.

The French House, London

Aug 7, 2022 - The French House in London.
Aug 7, 2022 – Enjoyed a few pints at The French House.

The French House in London is a legendary Soho pub steeped in charm, history, and bohemian spirit. It’s known for its quirky rules — no music, no machines, and no pints (only half-pints served). During World War II, it served as a hub for the Free French, with General de Gaulle famously linked to the place. Over the decades, it’s been a favorite of artists, writers, and eccentrics like Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon.