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- Written by Dave "Bippy" Boyer
The Singing Element of Ms. K. D. Lang, at Turning Stone Casino, Oneida, New York
Wednesday August 15, 2012 
Review by: Dave "Bippy" Boyer, Rochester New York.
Sketch by Dave "Bippy" Boyer.
I'm a newbie. This is my first review. And my first time ever seeing Ms. K. D. Lang perform with the, "Siss Boom Bang" band. But on that, I hope it's not my last. Because basically it was a celebration of everyone just being themselves and accepting of each other.
A dear long time artist friend quickly bought two tickets to the August 15, 2012 K.D. Lang concert. And good she did that. The Showroom at the Turning Stone Casino (Oneida New York) 800 seat capacity filled up very fast. Everyone applauded warmly as K. D. Lang walked down stage dressed in a black suit with a black vest, white blouse and a bright red scarf or cravat. Behind her was her band called, "The Siss Boom Bang" band. They capably played anything from sliding steel guitar for a country sound - to base, drums, lead guitar, and keyboard accompaniment that sounded like "Leslie" spinning speakers sometimes.
Read more: K. D. Lang, at the Turning Stone Casino, Oneida, New York
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- Written by Bluebird
July 21, 2012
Many thanks to GET THE LED OUT and Front Row Dave for making this review possible!
Mountain Park, Holyoke, MA.
FINS UP!
Mountain Park hosted a fundraiser called, SUMMER STATE OF MIND, on July 21, 2012, which will forever remain in my mind. It featured four tribute bands, The Rum Runners, Changes in Latitude, The Machine and Get The Led Out. These talented artists came together to offer the spotlight not on themselves, but on all people and their families getting treatment for cancer. The benefit supported the Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber Institute, and Allie's Five O'Clock Fund. It is these programs and the people they serve who were the rock stars that night. I knew the music would be great and the crowd would be generous.
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- Written by Matthew Joel Phillips
SLASH feat. Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
w/ Monster Truck
MONDAY, JULY 30th, 2012
CASINONB
MONCTON, NB
by: Matthew Phillips
Fredericton, NB CANADA
Monday night was alright for headbangin' in Atlantic Canada's mecca for metal
(Moncton, NB) with the return of Slash to the hub city roughly 25 years after
his former band Guns 'N' Roses opened there for The Cult in 1987.
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- Written by Bluebird
Fort Adams State Park, Newport, Rhode Island 
July 28, 2012
Review and Photos by Bluebird
Patty Griffin can do anything.
I first saw her at the House of Blues in Boston (2011) with the Band of Joy. Harmonizing with Robert Plant, playing with Darrell Scott and ruckusing with Buddy Miller, her voice was faithfully doing what was best for the bluegrass, slow core, and Zeppelin remake songs that they engaged her to take on. She handled this record and the live set beautifully, with vocal control and wisdom.
When I left that show, after almost passing out, because I was reeling from the image of Robert Plant, hovering over us in the front row, singing "Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down" and "Ramble On," I had two thoughts. First, my husband who witnessed this, will never be the same again. And second, I knew I had to pursue Patty Griffin's music outside of this context, because I could imagine her solo work would be a journey to enjoy.
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- Written by Bluebird
Photography and Review by Bluebird.
I had some directions from the Managing Editor of the Boston Blues Society, as I headed out to the Newport Folk Festival for my first time this year. "Bird, if you hear any blues out there, you have a standing order to send me a review!" I had first heard of the Alabama Shakes from one of the readers here on Bluebirdreviews. So I knew well enough to make sure I stayed in my spot, to catch this fast rapidly rising band, while the multiple stages were running their sets. You want to catch the Alabama Shakes here in the Northeast? Act fast, they've sold out the House of Blues in Boston and Terminal 5 in NYC. When I got back from Folk Fest, I sent Mr. Managing Editor of the Boston Blues Society some music from the Shakes. He said, "Why don't you tear into this one (first)."
I was at their set during sound check and the band took this very seriously. Playing everything from blues riffs to Zeppelin phrases, their warm up could have been a performance in and of itself. A fan yelled out, "We LOVE YOU BRITTANY!" She smiled and quietly went on with her work. They take their music to the ultimate note. Then a big chicken came out! This is the type of fun mayhem you should expect from the Newport Folk Festival. Silly antics, friendly people and dancing chickens, but the bottom lines always come down to quality music. 
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- Written by Bluebird
~For My Sister Grace, " ... say a prayer for The Pretender ..".
Review and Photos by Bluebird.
The Newport Folk Festival has been running for decades, drawing fans and musicians from New England, but expands its reach around the world. It is an outdoor event, held at the Fort Adams State Park, which is accessible by road and water taxi off the Newport harbor. Fort Adams hosts four stages with vendors and facilities accommodating tens of thousands of people. The festival runs for two full days, starting at 11 am, with the last act hitting the stage around 6 pm. The line-up of this year's festival was an eclectic mix of historic folk that spanned the Guthrie's, a tribute to Levon Helm, and a shot of straight out funk, soul performance by Charles Bradley, making way for a kickin house jam, with the up and coming rock band, Dawes.
The headliners for the festival this year were, My Morning Jacket and Jackson Browne. And right on cue for both nights of performance, just in time for these long awaited acts - RAIN! Now, I don't mean drizzle or a summer mist to cool off the heated, tie dyed, crowd. I mean a heavy, coastal, ruin-your-cellphone-in-your-pocket, kind of rain.
So what do faithful folk fans do when Jackson Browne comes on and the skies open up?
We 'Stay'.
And so does Jackson Browne.
Read more: Jackson Browne at the Newport Folk Festival, 2012
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- Written by Bluebird
"GOOD MORNING NEWPORT FOLK FESTIVAL!"
Rhode Island's own, Brown Bird, opened the Fort Stage, with a mix of folk to blues and a deep sense of soul vocals. MorganEve Swaine played the upright bass and cello, and introduced Dave who plays, "everything else!" There was a new mix of songs with fan familiar material, the cello pieces were beautiful and Dave offered up foot-pedal drums to accompany his electric guitar instrumentals.