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Written by: Stephanie Hussey

Published: June 12, 2012

Review by S. A. Hussey

Photos courtesy of the Cult management.

Hampton, NH.

June 9, 2012

As the lights went down in the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom the cover from the Cult's latest CD, Choice of Weapon, was projected onto film screens on either side of the stage. In the darkness, sounds of tribal beats and chanting surrounded you. When the drumming stopped, the Cult took the stage and we were off...running like a pack of wolves through the night, stopping just long enough to do a chorus howl.

Read more: The CULT rocked Hampton Beach Casino, June 9, 2012

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Written by: Bluebird and Val

Published: June 11, 2012

Mavis Staples at Mountain Park, Holyoke, MA 2012.

Review by Bluebird

~with Special Thanks to Valerie Jensen Lefevre.

Respectfully submitted to The Boston Blues Society.

Keep the Blues Alive!

Photos provided by publicists.

Mountain Park is an open air venue with rolling hills and a covered stage, that used to be an amusement park. It kicked off the summer season of shows this year with Mavis Staples and Bonnie Raitt. On a beautifully cool pre-summer night, the mountain was ablaze with these soul sisters just doing what they've always done - courageously belting out what is on their minds - and lucky for us, it is earth moving timeless music.

Read more: Mavis Staples at Mountain Park, Holyoke, MA, June 8, 2012

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Written by: Bluebird

Published: June 10, 2012

Lindsey Buckingham at the Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA

Review by Bluebird 

Photos of Mr. Buckingham are from the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton, NH

Courtesy of Micah Gummel.

June 2, 2012 

The big machine vs. little machine: It is all about balance, choices and the Seeds We Sow.

~Lindsey Buckingham

A sparse stage, with only a red Asian carpet, speakers and stacks, marked the setting that tonight unleashed the understated power that is Lindsey Buckingham. He changed guitars before every song in this completely solo set.

Read more: Lindsey Buckingham at the Calvin Theatre, Northampton, MA

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Written by: Whitey

Published: June 04, 2012

Whitey is a bass player in the rock band, The Tall Weeds. He has been writing reviews for BBR for several years now and is a trusted soul in music. He went to Mountain Jam  2012, this year in Hunter, NY. Here's what he had to say:

I had the opportunity to go to Mountain Jam on Saturday. Wow! Now I don't know a lot about the bands that played, but I love to experience live music!

The 1st band I saw was "The Word". This is Robert Randolph, great steel guitar player, John Medeski on keys, and from the North Mississippi Allstars, Chris Chew on bass, with Luther and Cody Dickinson on guitar and drums. What a groove! I saw Luther play with the Black Crowes a while ago and dug him then. Great music and will be very interested in hearing more. They said they would be recording an a new record in the near future. Here is their first album , The Word, produced by John Medeski, released in 2001.

For more information about The Word, visit their page here.

Next I saw, Sister Sparrow and The Dirty Birds. They are a blues band, who had a small woman vocalist with a giant voice. She had a very "Janis" like voice. Then got to see blues guitarist, Matt Schofield. Wow! He rocked. Real good set. Huey Lewis' guitarist was in the band as well.

Gov't Mule was one of the headliners. I never saw Warren Haynes before. He is a very underrated guitarist. His playing was on fire, and his singing was soulful. The band jammed for a long time. I was very into their vibe. It was great. 

They brought out the remaining members of the band and played a set of music in honor of Levon Helm. I was very moved by the music and love. Gov't Mule came out to jam some more. It was a great night and I became a fan of some new music. I will be at Mountain Jam next year. Till then rock on!

Life without music is like life, without life.

~Whitey.

To purchase music related to this show, check out the Radio Woodstock Store here.

Read our review of Keys to the Kingdom by the North Mississippi Allstars here.

Read our live show review of NMA with Robert Plant here.

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Written by: Bluebird

Published: May 29, 2012

May 25, 2012

Photography by Chris Joles.

Review by Bluebird.

We support the Boston Blues Society.

"Keep The Blues Alive" in your region of the world!

With special thanks to Deb Hebert and Ann Joles.

Joe Bonamassa at Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton, NH, 2012. With Special Guest, Johnny A.

Welcome to Hampton Beach. The community of Hampton Beach has something to offer its members everyday - the shared experience of the ocean right outside your window. I spent some time here before the Joe Bonamassa show. The people were warm and inherently considerate, building years of friendship and businesses on trust and handshake deals. Anyone that I spoke to knew that Joe Bonamassa was coming to the Casino. There was a quiet force to be reckoned with this weekend.

Read more: Joe Bonamassa at Hampton Beach, with Special Guest, Johnny A.

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Written by: Bluebird

Published: May 22, 2012

Do you know Doug Ratner and The Watchmen?

From Springfield, MA, I caught this live classic rock band at Pearl Street in Northampton. In the line-up to support the Spin Doctors, it might as well have been a double bill. Stocked with the bands' own fans and massive amounts of loyal energy, Doug Ratner and The Watchmen put on a great show.

Read more: Doug Ratner and The Watchmen