Posted on by James Kampas

Christmas in Vienna (in the Desert)

The Vienna Boys Choir at The McCallum Theatre
Nov. 22, 2025 – The Vienna Boys Choir at The McCallum Theatre.

Tonight felt like the true beginning of the holidays for me. The Vienna Boys Choir performed a program titled Christmas in Vienna at the McCallum Theatre. It included a mixture of classical works by Brahms, Pergolesi, Bruckner, and Mozart, alongside recognizable carols like “Silent Night” (sung with lights dimmed and each boy holding a candle), “Little Drummer Boy,” and “O Tannenbaum.” It was a truly mesmerizing concert.

It is easy to see why this group is so legendary. The Vienna Boys Choir is one of the world’s most famous and historic choral ensembles, made up of boys aged 10 to 14, trained in the rich tradition of Austrian sacred and classical music. Founded in 1498, the choir is known for its pure, bell-like sound and its close association with composers like Mozart, Haydn, and Schubert, whose works helped define its legacy. Today, the boys live and study at the Palais Augarten in Vienna and travel the globe performing everything from Renaissance polyphony to modern pieces.

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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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Mozart’s Requiem at the Hollywood Bowl

Sept. 4, 2025 - LA Philharmonic and LA Master Chorale on stage.
Sept. 4, 2025 – The LA Philharmonic and LA Master Chorale.

Last night’s concert at the Hollywood Bowl was an unforgettable evening. The Los Angeles Philharmonic, led by guest conductor James Gaffigan, delivered an awe-inspiring performance of Mozart‘s “Requiem in D Minor,” featuring the celebrated Los Angeles Master Chorale. The first half of the program was also impressive, with a new LA Phil commission by Ellen Reid titled “Body Cosmic” followed by Brahms‘s moving “Schicksalslied” (Song of Destiny). It’s a truly amazing venue for a concert under the stars, and it brought back great memories of my summer working there back in 1993. Nights like these are what make the Hollywood Bowl so special.

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The Proms at the Royal Albert Hall

August 8, 2022 – A memorable night in London.

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.

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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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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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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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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.